Many students struggle to cross volunteer hours off of their to-do lists. It can be difficult to decide who to contact, where to go, or how even to begin. However, the process is simpler than it seems and has several benefits beyond a diploma.
Lots of businesses are always looking for volunteers, giving students various options when looking for a project. Volunteer hours can be achieved at venues, on campus, or even at home. The process is simpler than it seems!
Multiple students across PPCHS volunteer at Feeding South Florida. This organization, based in Pembroke Park, aims to end hunger in South Florida by providing those in poverty with food. “[At Feeding South Florida, they] ask you to sort through these crates of food [to]… see if they’re expired because the food is donated,” says junior Isabella Abohasen, who has been volunteering at the organization since this summer.
Abohasen has also been involved with Feeding America through her dad. “He always taught me and my siblings that it was important to give back to the community so he would bring us along for food packing and distributing and he would tell us about the operation,” she said. Because of this, Abohasen figured it was a no-brainer to invest her time in Feeding South Florida.
One student, sophomore Connor Geskus, volunteers at his local church, City Rev, here in Pembroke Pines. “I teach second and fifth grade,” he said. The church offers volunteer opportunities in hospitality, weekend services, student ministry, and kids ministry, the section that Geskus volunteers in.
Though many aspects of volunteering include serving the community, many students volunteer with career-based projects to gain experience in their projected profession. PPCHS student Hannah Flores, who is a senior, has been volunteering for a little over a year at Miramar’s Memorial Hospital. “I work in the physical therapy department, so I help with paperwork, cleaning, and holiday [decorations] and art,” she said. Flores recommends the hospital for those who are interested in healthcare and want experience in the field.
Some Charter students even volunteer in their own homes. Senior Sarah Zhang has been helping her piano teacher instruct younger students in the comfort of her home since 2022. Since her teacher has to prioritize what to teach students during class, Zhang offered to teach piano theory outside of school. Music theory is a difficult topic to memorize, especially in piano, so Zhang’s help has given her teacher ample time to help her students.
It’s often stressed that volunteer hours should correspond to a chosen major. However, it is also imperative that students participate in a volunteer activity that they love. Students should do something that sparks joy, something that they find exciting. PPCHS students have shown that volunteering can be immensely heartfelt and personal, proving that volunteering is not as complicated as it may seem. On the contrary, it can be a worthwhile experience that is fun for students.
