Seniors at Lincoln High School are being required to volunteer in order to graduate, and coming Fall many opportunities are opening up. Since volunteering for LHS seniors is a requirement to graduate, many see it as an annoying task, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t be enjoyable.
Shahla Abrahim, a senior at Lincoln High, who volunteers through an internship at Asian Community Culture Center, says that, “If you’re with your friends I think it encourages you to go, it’s kind of like just you guys hanging out.” Volunteering can have big impacts on people.
Besides it being a fun way to hang out with friends, Abrahim also thinks it has many benefits for the volunteer. Abrahim says, “I think, It just kind of gets me out of my comfort zone I guess because I’m really shy, and pretty introverted so that kinda helped me interact with people more and be more sociable. It’s really important because you get to actually see people from your community.”
Although self growth is an essential part of volunteering, one can’t forget the reason for volunteering, which is the community. Abrahim says, “I think community is really important, and actually seeing the people in your own community and people who are struggling.”
It may be cliche, but it’s clear that volunteering can impact lives, so if you’re interested consider reaching out to some of the many organizations in Lincoln, such as: The Capital Humane Society, Center for People in Need, Food Bank of Lincoln, and Foster Care Closet. Sign up to make a change in our community!