EFFECTS ON INTERNSHIPS AND VOLUNTEERISM - COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN TIMES OF A PANDEMIC.

• Author: Noormohamed, Nadia Abgrab

INTRODUCTION

Aristotle (born:384 BC) once said, "The essence of life is to serve others and do good" (VolunteerHub, 2020). "Volunteering and performing community service provides essential help to underserved and struggling communities, but it can also provide benefits to the volunteers as well" (Friendship Circle, 2021). It is a valuable way for students to reinforce communication, time-management, and problem-solving skills while being introduced to different organizations.

Getting started with volunteering at an early age is a wonderful way to help others, meet new people, and learn dependability (Friendship Circle, 2021). In a high school survey of 64 percent female and 36 percent males, 71.3 percent of students shared their feelings stating community service has helped them to become more positive members of society. Other students stated it made them appreciate everything they have and to be grateful for what their families provide; while others are more aware of people who are different and/or less fortunate. Such change-making experiences allow students to be more empathic, better to interact, and able to be more considerate of others.

Community service affords teens the opportunity to develop leadership skills and become more patient with consumers, leading to a greater sense of accomplishment... which will be a well-needed asset at the university level. In 2014, thirty-nine percent (39%) of 12th-grade students reported that they volunteered at least once per month according to findings from Child Trends (VolunteerHub, 2020).

A key factor influencing a teen's decision to volunteer is when another family member volunteers as well. A youth with at least one parent that volunteers is twice as likely to volunteer while a youth that has both parents volunteering are three times more likely to volunteer on a regular basis. Married persons volunteered at a higher rate (29.9 percent) in 2015 than those who had never married (19.9 percent)... and parents with children under age 18 years old were again more likely to volunteer than persons without children, 31.3 percent versus 22.6 percent. In 2015, teenagers (16 -19 years old) continued to have a high volunteer rate, at 26.4 percent (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).

Children watch everything their parents do and try to emulate them: "By giving back to the community, [parents] show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help others and enact change." Of those who volunteer at nonprofits, eighty-five percent (85%) donate to the nonprofits for which they worked (Giving Report, 2020).

Volunteering is a personally rewarding activity for the entire family. On average, 25.1 percent of the adult population spend an average of 52 hours per year in 2017 volunteering their time, talents, and energy to making a difference, contributing an estimated 8.8 billion hours (NCCS, 2020) and a value of over $184 billion dollars (VolunteerHub, 2020).

INTERNSHIPS

An internship is a temporary job position is typically reserved for college students and recent graduates to work in exchange for school credit or for base pay and is now required by many collegiate business programs to challenge both the willingness and the abilities of young adults while pursuing their field of interest. Such opportunities enable undergraduates to experience the likes and dislikes of daily work operations, culture, and routines of on-the-job training. While these interactions within the respective field serve as indicators to guide students towards their ultimate career goals, "internships are also helpful for students who have not settled on a career path. According to Indeed, by working in an industry temporarily (from several months to a year), students can take some time to determine whether a career is right for them" (2021).

Internships have become an integral part of job preparation for college students and graduates, offering real-life experience in the workplace to complement years of classroom studies and to provide a chance to develop networks. So, for the many students who spent untold hours researching, applying to, and landing an internship to beef up their resumes, the loss of this opportunity is a serious blow (Mizrahi, 2021). During 2020, a global pandemic known as COVID-19, entered our lives in unprecedented ways causing the restructuring of well-established...