The Iglu Guide | Blog
5 ways that community involvement can enrich the student experience
Community involvement has many benefits for students that extend far beyond the obvious act of giving. Learning about different purposes and causes, getting hands-on practical experience and dealing with real-world issues, these are just some of the upsides for students to enjoy. Whatever the job entails, community work provides an enriching and holistic experience that not only anchors you to the world around, it shapes your understanding and get students right to the heart of what really matters – and the impact that can have on the wider community.
What is community engagement?
For students new to the concept, community engagement is the act of participating or engaging in activities that benefit your local area. It can take many forms, from volunteering at a soup kitchen, to doing a beach clean-up or helping a neighbour with the weekly shopping. Many students find that giving up time and energy to help others in the community to be incredibly rewarding work, as well as providing some surprising hidden benefits.
How to choose
Take your own interests and goals into account when looking for community projects. It doesn’t have to be directly related to your studies or hobbies – it could be something entirely new. Either way, you should have a genuine interest in what you are doing to make it a worthwhile cause. Be realistic with your time – whether you have a few hours or more, it has to fit realistically within your schedule to work effectively. Research the opportunities available, decide what aligns best with your interests and goals, and give it a go! Here’s how it can enrich your world.
1. Personal development
Engaging in community activity is a great way to put yourself outside of your comfort zone, and potentially uncover those interests and abilities you never knew you had. It can add to your personal development in ways that simply aren’t accessible in a purely academic environment.
- Improve self-confidence – Whether it’s a new activity or something you are familiar with, this is a great way to increase your self-belief as well as give a sense of purpose and meaning. Interacting with peers, problem solving and taking on responsibilities are all very adult behaviours that will prove extremely useful for the future.
- Increase empathy and understanding – Having a heightened awareness of what’s going on around you will enhance your emotional intelligence, a skillset that is increasingly in demand as the workplace becomes more automated. Stepping outside the student bubble is a great way to widen your understanding of real-world problems and the effect on others, as well as develop strong self-awareness.
- Learn to make decisions and collaborate – Taking on a community role is likely to come with several layers of responsibility. You’ll interact with all ages and backgrounds and be expected to make decisions on behalf of others. As well as adding to your personal toolkit, you’ll also benefit from being more invested in your local community and will develop a strong sense of social responsibility.
- Diversification – If you are looking to extend yourself beyond your academic studies and try new things, community engagement is the perfect low-touch way to discover hidden interests and new passions.
- Build meaningful relationships – Meet a whole new world of people who may share similar interests with you, or be entirely different. That’s the most exciting aspect of community engagement.
2. Practical experience
Community projects will give you plenty of hands-on opportunities to develop specific skills that will prove extremely useful now and into the future. Think leadership qualities, analytical skills, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and time management. Balancing your community work with your academic studies will improve your ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines, as well as demonstrate your commitment to the cause. It also helps to increase your motivation and engagement across the board, which has a positive knock-on effect with your university work. You might even find the opportunity to work in a career-relevant environment that could help you secure an internship or job opportunity. Any kind of direct experience will give you greater standout, and is even more powerful if coupled with community engagement.
3. Academic growth
Studies have shown that students involved in community activities perform considerably better academically, as they have developed important attributes such as motivation, engagement and self-confidence as well as enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. This improved skillset and self-empowerment have been shown to transfer over to the classroom environment and result in improved academic success. Exposure to diverse communities and social challenges also enables students to gain new perspectives and insights in a way that would simply not be available in a classroom setting. Community involvement is also a useful way to strengthen resumés and job applications, helping you to leave a lasting impression in a competitive job market.
4. Social responsibility
Participating in community engagement is a great way to instil a sense of civic responsibility, learn about important issues that affect those around and advocate for change. It creates a strong sense of belonging, an investment in the local area and it cultivates empathy and compassion. Ultimately, it means you can be part of a generation of students who genuinely care what is going on outside their front door, who are invested in a sustainable future and are willing to do something about it. It brings about a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment that is hard to replicate elsewhere, and results in more responsible citizens who are accountable for their actions.
5. Networking opportunities
Networking is a great by-product of community engagement, as it gives students the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, new mentors and industry professionals. It provides an entirely different environment that you won’t meet in the university gates. And it’s not unlikely to think that at some point, someone might be useful to secure an internship, provide a reference for a resumé or help with a job interview. If you’re working with an organisation related to your studies, it’s the perfect opportunity to gain practical experience as well as meet industry professionals that could be helpful in the future.
