This is how all altruistic stories start. Young bright minds with an ambition to change the world, acting selflessly for the greater good. To an extent, that’s an accurate summary. However, it is not the full picture. We rarely admit to the selfish drives behind our decisions to volunteer, because we are afraid of the stigma attached to them. . .

 

“She only does this because it makes her feel good.”
“Why is he constantly bragging about his gap year?”
“Volunteering for the sake of CV-building is so ugly.”

. . .but sometimes, it is precisely these selfish reasons which make volunteering so invaluable to us as individuals and to society at large.
 

VOLUNTEERING MAKES ME FEEL GOOD

 

I like to be useful. I also like my actions to have tangible consequences. To many this sounds like a feeling of self-importance, and as such has no place in community outreach. However, because I am a keen bean and like to contribute, I channel this in a productive way. I only volunteer to do things which I know I am good at, which in turn makes me feel good, but it also means I do a better job. The two are not mutually exclusive, and shouldn’t be.

 

I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT 

 

Two years ago, I cut off my hair for the Little Princess Trust. I didn’t post any ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots, or a long status announcing it to everyone. . . and I regret that. I regret it, because when asked about it by a fellow classmate at my stage school, I motivated her to do the same.

 

If word of mouth can have such power, imagine social media. Now, when I visit the VOLO office, I put it on Snapchat because the place is super cool. I then get asked about it. It sparks a conversation, and people sign up.

 

Now, when I judge Debate Mate competitions at investment banks, law firms, and the House of Lords, I put it on Facebook. Yes, it feeds my ego, but it also motivates people to get involved.

 

We share our excitement about winning a football game, getting good grades, new jobs, and promotions at work, so why should we draw the line there? Our volunteering experience takes just as much initiative and hard work, and actually impacts other people; it is much more inspirational to others to see posts of gap years abroad than of our personal achievements.

 

IT HAS HELPED ME GROW AS AN INDIVIDUAL

 

Reducing our volunteering experience to a CV-builder alone is wrong, but that does not mean it shouldn’t be a motivation at all.

 

By partaking in voluntary work, I have developed soft skills which make me a valuable member of the workforce. I have worked with people aged 9 to 65, worked in teams, led groups, solved problems, taken initiative, challenged myself. I have become a living, breathing, corporate buzzword bingo machine.

 

However, the way in which I develop these qualities is rooted in community outreach. As such, all of these qualities have instilled in me a culture of doing good to get ahead. In this way, I will bring this culture to the workplace. This is how we change the corporate mechanisms and work in a more ethical way.

 

Corporate social responsibility is no longer a tick-box exercise. It is becoming a vital part of the working world.

 

By becoming well-rounded individuals with an appreciation of society, we change the culture which underpins personal and corporate development, and in turn become valuable members of our workplace, as well as our community. There is nothing wrong with that.
Overall, I enjoy what I do, because I am good at it. I share what I do, because I am proud of it, and I want to inspire others. Finally, I do what I do, because I want to be a better person, and yes, maybe I do want to be partly responsible for changing the world.

 

Instead of sweeping our personal motivations under the rug, I say it is about time we start embracing them.