When volunteering, students often have a tendency to get distracted. At first they will participate, helping a lot, but after a few hours students often get sidetracked, texting their friends and avoiding heavy work. When this happens it may not be terrible for the student, but it’s disappointing for the people or organization who were counting on them to help.

There are many ways to increase the amount of effort you can put in while volunteering.  First thing is communicate. Communicating with the adults running the volunteering area allows for them to easily inform you about any work you could do to help.  Good things to ask them could be, “What else can I do to help?” or even a simple question like, “What’s next?”. Using one of those simple questions could help out in a major way. 

This method could also be used here at Bolles. According to Mrs. Miller there are numerous opportunities here at Bolles that gives students the chance to better the community, such as food drives, clothing drives, and coats drive. 

Another great way to increase productivity while volunteering is to invite friends or family. With your friends and family it doesn’t only make the work load less for an individual person, but it also makes it more enjoyable since you are with your people you enjoy. Many people also do camps together to make it more enjoyable. 

The most important way to maximize your effort while volunteering is choice. Choose to volunteer for something that you are interested in and enjoy doing. If you enjoy doing a specific task, find a volunteering opportunity that is related to that task. Mrs. Miller, an advisor, said “Find the group that you are most passionate about, have a passion for what you are doing. Have a relationship with the group you are participating with.” When you enjoy doing something it increase your work ability and attitude.