 "Photo: Illustration by Brianna Kerwood")
College students today are often seen as self-centered and unmotivated, and nobody expects them to be interested in anything but the next party. This image needs to change.
College students need to do more to be seen as productive members of society, if only because we all want jobs someday. It does us no good to continue to be viewed by society as a whole as unproductive, unmotivated and generally uninterested in the world around us. Even if we are interested in the global goings-on, we rarely take the initiative to do something about it. This is unacceptable in a nation founded on the ideals of activism.
The best way to go about changing this negative image is through volunteering. Not only does it look good to volunteer, but it actually does good for the world around us.
Some of the biggest changes in the world have been made by groups of volunteers, be they environmentalists like Green Peace or humanitarians like the Peace Corps. No matter the cause, though, volunteering goes a long way toward debunking the image of the lazy, unmotivated college student.
There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities either, locally or abroad.
If you only have a few weeks to spare during the summer, consider taking a trip with International Student Volunteers. Not only does this program have amazing projects, like working with endangered sea turtles, it also has a number of exotic locations available. Also, the second week of your trip is dedicated entirely to having fun and broadening horizons with activities from mountain climbing to black water rafting and even spelunking.
If you have more time, maybe a couple of years, consider the Peace Corps. With a minimum volunteer period of 27 months, the Peace Corps is a considerable commitment, but think of the good that can be done in that amount of time.
It isn't just padding for a resumé; it's about making a genuine difference in the world. Not only that, but consider the life experience helping those in Third World countries will afford you.
If neither of those examples is your style, and you're feeling more like an eco-terrorist (excuse me, pirate), then maybe an organization like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a better fit for you. While the organization's tactics are questionable, its cause is to prevent the destruction of ocean ecosysteme, and the group is always in need of new volunteers. And who knows, maybe you'll even get to be the cause of an international incident, all for a good cause. With the variety and number of volunteer opportunities available, there is no excuse for college students to choose not to participate. If you don't see yourself abroad, consider volunteering locally. There are volunteer opportunities available on campus and around town at places like the zoo, the animal shelter and homes for the elderly. All it takes is a couple hours a month to make a difference.
Not only does it look good on your resumé to have a background of volunteerism, it actually benefits the world around you. There is so much that we, as college students, have to be grateful for.
Maybe it's time we give a little of that back. Nobody else is going to.
- Jessica Hensley is a senior in political science. Please send comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.
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