Volunteering for youth work that benefits society will give you a feeling of satisfaction, knowing that you are doing something worthwhile for your community or country. After you finish school, marry, have a full time job and a family to support, you may not feel that you have enough time to devote to charity work. There is no better time to work toward making the world a better place than when you are young and energetic. Even the smallest efforts to improve someone’s quality of life will be appreciated by many people. Ask your local Chamber of Commerce, a church or any service organization if they know of some charitable work that you could do.

If you have a good idea about what type of career you would like to pursue after you finish your schooling, working at some position in that line of work would be beneficial to you in many ways. After spending time doing that type of work, if you find that you really do not like it, or that you are not suited for it, you can change your career choice before wasting too much time studying a subject that you will not need. However, if you still enjoy it, you will know more about what is involved in the vocation and what type of studies would be helpful for that particular profession.

For instance, if you feel that you have the necessary attributes and desire to become a nurse, work as a volunteer in a hospital or nursing home for a while. You will then become aware of the various duties that are performed in that occupation. Observing nurses in action does not give you the full picture that you can get by actually doing the work. If there are some aspects of the job that you do not think you can handle – like bedpans - then you will know that you should focus your studies in another direction. You may still want to be a nurse, but plan to work in a clinic or doctor’s office instead of a hospital so you will not have to deal with bedpans.

To find youth work as a means of gaining experience for a future job, check directly with companies or institutions that interest you. Ask to speak to a manager and offer your services on a voluntary basis. Many employers would be happy to have assistance and give you valuable training in return. If your volunteer work is satisfactory, they may give you a job after your schooling is finished. If they do not have a job for you, they will give you a good reference for your resume or help you find employment with another company.

Consider the amount of time that you feel you can devote to youth work and make sure you do not commit to more hours than you can spare. Do not neglect your homework and family time. Allot some time for worship, rest, relaxation and even a little fun. However, by devoting some time to youth work on a regular basis, you will gain valuable knowledge, skill and experience and be better prepared for full time employment when that time comes.