PERSUASIVE ESSAY

It has been said that the giving of one’s time to others is the best gift one can give. Life is
short and we all die, so time is of the essence. Time can be seen, to some people, as being
more valuable than anything else. Even though many people do not take the opportunity to
pursue volunteer pursuits for a variety of reasons. In fact, for most people, it is a time-
consuming endeavor. So why should we volunteer? Why should we involve ourselves in an
experience that does not have any financial value, is time-consuming and the motives are
generally negative and wrong? The answer is clear: We should volunteer to support the
general welfare of our communities and world.

First, we should volunteer so we can garner the benefits through community involvement.
Volunteering is not just a fulfilling experience - it is a chance for an individual to be a part of
their community. Community involvement is a great way to build a resume and volunteer
positions can be a great form of on-the-job training. Many skills can be obtained through the
wide variety of volunteer opportunities available. Another positive to volunteering is the
chance to learn about the diverse communities in our society. Tolerance is bred through
understanding. When we understand the different cultures in the communities around us,
then we are able to accept the differences between us. Also, a volunteer can bring their
personal skills and enthusiasm to community sites, which in turn will positively impact other
lives, as well as their own. However, some communities do not offer the unique diversity
setting as a volunteering option; therefore a person must look to other positive qualities to
volunteering.

Another positive of volunteer work is the enhancement of education and development of a

career network. One of the best ways to learn is through experience; as a result, volunteering
is a great way to enhance skills. There is no better way to gain knowledge than to work at an
organization hand-picked to fit personal needs and interests. Many educational experiences
cannot be taught in a classroom. Additionally, a career network can be established through
volunteering. Networking is an incredibly important part of searching for jobs and building
careers. Community involvement is one of the best ways to make connections and foster
relationships that do just that. Not only will a network be formed, many people who volunteer
at an organization are offered permanent positions. If the volunteer is a student who recently
graduated from college, this is an excellent way to start a career. However, if the lack of pay
is a drawback; consider one more thing – variety.

The variety of volunteer opportunities is endless. Volunteering can range from reading to
non-English speaking children to building houses for the poor and disenfranchised. Natural
disasters create many volunteer experiences in which an individual can travel to remote
locations in order to clean up after a disaster, meanwhile creating relationships with a variety
of people. Long-lasting friendships are created through volunteering because each person
values their rewarding work. Volunteers are surrounded with like-minded people and see the
positive change they are making on their society and world. Although volunteering is not a
paid position; it is evident that many life skills are gained from volunteering which wealth
cannot provide.

Yes, work without pay can be a hard thing to do. However, the experiences gained from
volunteering should off-set that disadvantage. From community involvement to
development of a career network, it is clear that volunteering is a fulfilling experience.
Creating long-lasting friendships, traveling to remote locations and seeing the fruits of your
labor are additional reasons why volunteering is something to consider. The volunteer
opportunites are endless as long as the personal motives are positive and good. As
Mahatma Gandhi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world” – be that change.