A whole week off! And it will be here sooner than you think. What will you do? Maybe the way things work out this year, you will not be spending the week on a sunny beach somewhere. You may be stuck at home, due to family or work scheduling conflicts. Happily for you, this could be an opportunity to do something surprisingly worthwhile. Recently, a psychology professor at George Mason University asked his students to explore the distinctions between feeling good and doing good. In the course of the class, students were directed to “perform an act of selfless kindness.” Across the board, these students learned that “doing good is good for you.” Sure, it would feel good to lounge around all week, hang with your friends and perfect your skills on Guitar Hero, or some such…but what about exploring some opportunities to do good in your community?
In any community, you will find opportunities to “do good.” Go online and use Google or check out craigslist. There may be listings for volunteer opportunities in your area. Check out Habitat for Humanity, local homeless shelters or organizations that routinely need volunteer helpers to pick up litter, plant trees, collect clothes, etc. You will not need any special skills – just a willingness to roll up your sleeves and pitch in. Who knows? You may discover that you are a valued contributor and they want you to come back – and that you want to keep helping out!
Using your Spring Break to volunteer can open up whole new worlds for you. If you have been looking for a way to explore some aspects of a career, you may be able to get in a week’s worth of experience. It’s a win-win situation: you are building some skills (and a resume, although that is secondary) and helping someone who really needs your help.
If you have particular skills, you might offer your services to people who could benefit from them – either with music, computers or reading. It isn’t too soon to find out if you need any special training or clearance to do these sorts of things. Your local library might be a good place to learn about opportunities. If your school has a job board or a place where community service options are posted, start making it a point to check these out, starting today.
You never know what might come from “doing good.” It could turn out to be the best way to spend your spring break and the beginning of a new passion.
