Service Brings Us Together!

September 3, 2019 Educator's Corner

Community service is important because volunteering teaches people of all ages and backgrounds compassion and understanding. Being with the senior SIHM sisters and other retired teachers reminds me that there’s an underlying goodness in people that is reflected in service.
Accordingly, volunteering and putting on service events can be used as a way to advocate for causes that you are personally passionate about (Joie Henry, 2014).
As what Meriam Gao-ay said, “I love giving back through community service because it is extremely rewarding”. This provides an opportunity to apply academic learning to real life events. It also improves lifelong communication, interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Based on UC San Diego Journal dated December 31, 2018 volunteering also provides us with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into our personal and professional life.
The benefit of community service is profound. Wharton professor Cassie Mogilner wrote in the Harvard Business Review that her research found those who volunteer their time feel like they have more of it. Further, other research shows that people who donate to charity feel wealthier. Verily, this develops an increased sense of social responsibility.
“The results show that giving your time to others can make you feel more time affluent and less time-constrained than wasting your time, spending it on yourself, or even getting a windfall of free time,” said Mogliner.
Growing into our full potential is our ultimate goal as individuals. Focusing on what people are willing to do keeps us from getting too overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges that we face.
It bridges ideological differences, theological differences and economic differences (Heather Lafferty, 2008). Lastly, let me quote Gordon Hinckle when he says that one of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she is served.

Mary Grace D. Payad
Pines City National High School