What are you doing after graduation?

Before you jump head first into the corporate world or get stuck behind a desk, 

Think about a year of volunteer service

Volunteering makes good sense.  Read on to find out why even your parents might think it's a good idea:

Gain real work experience

It's tough getting a first job.  Employers all want to hire people with experience.  A year of service can pack your resume with the real job experience you need.  Many volunteer agencies actually create a job tailored to what you want because they really need your skills.

Develop new areas of expertise

If you are one of the many people that discovered half-way through college that your major isn't really you, but you stuck with it anyway, a year of service is ideal for you.  You will get valuable work experience that can open doors to the area you are really interested in.  Even if you love your major, any secondary expertise makes you more attractive to future employers and helps you grow as a person.

You can make a difference

By doing a year of service, you leave behind the cold study of social problems and meet real people who work to make change happen.  With them, you do more than talk about the problem, you become part of real solutions.  You become food for hungry families, shelter for homeless people, teacher for the uneducated, translator for the international community, etc. Most volunteers also stress how good it feels to "give back" to the community in appreciation of all the blessings they have received.

A new adventure

Maybe you have always wanted to spend a year or two in another country, learning about a new country.  Or maybe you've never lived and worked in the low-income part of town, but feel drawn to experience what that is like.  Whether you end up helping farmers to form a co-op in Tanzania or tutor at-risk children in the south side of Chicago or work at a radio station in a part of Alaska where you have to fly in or out because there are no roads to your little town, you are sure to have an adventure!

Live in community with other volunteers

Many volunteer programs provide not only housing, but the great kind of community experience students have grown accustomed to in their years at UD: young adults with similar experiences and values coming home in the evening to talk about the highs and lows of their days.  A good number of these programs are run by Christian organizations who encourage the community to share prayer together, share meals together, and go on retreat together.

When else will you do this?

Sure, there are a few people who volunteer in their 30's, 40's, or after they retire, but not many.  Family responsibilities, careers, home ownership and other commitments often prevent people from full-time volunteering it later in life.   Being in your early 20's, just out of college, is the best time of your life to do something adventurous and rewarding.  Because of all the benefits to society and to you, deferments of student loans and graduate/medical/law school acceptance are usually available.  So, what are you waiting for? 

What about your parents?

You may be sold on the idea of volunteering, but your parents may not be.  Many former volunteers have had that experience.  While you can't force your parents to support your decision to volunteer, there is much that you can do to gain their respect and support.  Here's some advise from former volunteers:

• Be organized.  Your parents won't take you seriously unless you are serious.  Investigate as many programs and positions as possible.  Your diligence will impress your parents.
• Include them.  Your parents need to feel included in your decision.  Even after you decided to volunteer, they will need to know that you want them to be a part of your life and that you want their support during your volunteer experience.
• Give them time.  It took you time to decide to volunteer.  Your parents will need time to adjust to the idea too.  Even though it is your life, it's important to understand your parents' perspectives.  You are probably their most important investment.  So, give them time to adjust their expectations for you.  You may be surprised at their eventual understanding, or even excitement.
• Share your resources.  Think about what really made you decide to volunteer and share that with your parents.  Introduce them to a person who inspired you to volunteer or share with them a book or article you found helpful.  

UD grads from May 2012 currently volunteering

This list is based on information we were given in May 2012.  Please contact us if information is missing or incorrect.

Kayla Beltz—AmeriCorps

Kelsey Biggar—Mission Year

Patrick Boston 

Samantha Buckner—Lalanne

Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch—Marianists in Peru

Lindsey Cummings—Mar Elias Educational Institutions in Ibillin, Israel or Teach for Palestine in Nablus, Palestine

Rebecca Elderkin 

Katie Fien—Amate House in Chicago or The Working Boys Center in Quito, Ecuador

Meghan Gregus—The Haitian Project in Haiti

Lauren Haner—Lalanne

Jessica Hanley—Lalanne

MacKenzie Harrington—Peace Corps

Sheila Heaton—Lalanne

Danielle Hickman—Bon Secours Volunteers in Baltimore

Jennifer Holzmer—Lalanne

Megan Huml—Lalanne

Michael Hyde—FrancisCorps in Syracuse, NY

Kirk Johnson—Lalanne

Maggie Johnson—Lalanne

Tonica Johnson—Lalanne

Jarrod Kinkley—Change A Heart Franciscan Volunteers in Pittsburgh or Christian Appalachia Project in Eastern KY or Humility of Mary Volunteers in Cleveland

Glenna Knape—FrancisCorps in Costa Rica

Andrew Kuttler—Amate House in Chicago

Will Marsh—LaLanne in Lansing, MI

Janice Matlon—Lalanne

Sara McCrate—Ecuador

Kevin McGrellis—Colorado Vincentian Volunteers in Denver. CO

Emily Mills—LaSallian Volunteers in Philadelphia

Jessica Montan 

Sean Montgomery—LaSallian Volunteers in Philadelphia

Kristin Mullen-Muhr—Amigos de Jesus in Honduras

Kelly Nestor—Jesuit Volunteer Corps

Charissa Qiu—Vincentian Volunteers of Cincinnati

Erin Quinn—Jesuit Volunteer Corps NW in Anchorage, AL

Jason Rader—Lalanne

Seth Richardson—Peace Corps

Brittany Ritter—National Civilian Community Corps

Shayn Roeder 

Kristen Saptya 

Holly Scholten—Passionist Volunteers in Jamaica or Vincentian Volunteers of Cincinnati

Mary Schroeder—Center for FaithJustice in Lawrenceville, NJ

Kate Schuster—Rostro de Cristo in Ecuador

Ashlee Sleet 

Jessica Teater—The Haitian Project in Haiti

Katie Trempe—AmeriCorps

Joe Ulrich—National Civilian Community Corps