You’ve seen news reports about people who need assistance after a natural disaster, or TV programs about how lonely and isolated older people can get. Maybe you’ve walked past people who are living on the streets.【小题1】The answer: you can volunteer. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change people’s lives, including your own. Helping others in need is such an important part of life. So how do you go about it?

Find what’s right for you.

Volunteering isn’t school.【小题2】You can choose what really interests you and who or what is most deserving of your time.

【小题3】

After you’ve discovered what interests you, decide how much time you want to spend and what fits into your schedule.

Expand your mind.

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills — from working as part of a team to setting and reaching goals.【小题4】And it can help you develop a new understanding of people who are different from you — people with disabilities, people in financial problems, sick kids, or the elderly.

Feel good.

Volunteering helps people feel they make a difference — that they do have the power to change things for the better. When people depend on you, it can change the way you look at yourself.【小题5】Volunteering is also a great way to get a view on your own life.