x2VOL Blog: Tracking Service Hours at your School

As a student, you are becoming adept at building relationships. This is an imperative skill to help you succeed in the “real world.” You’ve probably figured out by now that building relationships looks different in every scenario. There are unspoken Do’s and Don’ts for building relationships. Here at x2VOL, our realm is community service. We feel like we have valuable advice about building relationships with nonprofit organizations, and we would like to share them with you.

You might be thinking, "Why do I need to build a relationship with a nonprofit?" Usually when you volunteer, you will choose to do something you’re passionate about or maybe something you are considering for a career. People at nonprofit organizations are very knowledgeable about their cause and will have advice and valuable insight to offer you.

As the current school year nears a close, spring break is a great time to complete community service hours, especially if they are required for graduation! Students, using your time off from school to make an impact in your communities, is a great example of demonstrating personal and emotional growth.

Students! Community service is an important part of your high school career. Through service you have the opportunity to build character, make an impact in your community and develop a resume of volunteer experience you can utilize in your college applications.

Are your students on the hunt for service ideas? We've got you covered. Whether your students are doing in person, socially distanced, or virtual service experiences this semester, there are so many opportunities for your students to get involved and make a difference in their communities. 

Through these service experiences, students have the opportunity to reflect on their impact, grow as individuals, and heal emotionally from the changes they've experienced over the past year. 

x2VOL has received the CODiE Award for Best Social Emotional Learning Platform two years in a row. But what is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
Social Emotional Learning is the process by which individuals learn to understand and manage emotions in order to learn empathy, how to achieve goals, and how to relate to others among many other things.  

With the new school year underway, now is the time for students to start deciding which universities to apply to. Students may be wondering “How can I make my application stand-out from other applicants?” Leveraging community service experiences is a great way to stand out from the competition. It showcases the student’s leadership, compassion, and a commitment to making a positive impact. 

College admissions officers look at more than just grades and test scores when evaluating who they accept into their universities. They want to have an in-depth look of who the student is apart from the numbers behind their name. They want to know the student's personality, their interests, their passions and if they will be a positive addition to the university's campus life.  

College admissions officers are looking for: 

Student development outside of academic achievement has become a priority for schools across the country. Educators focus on student outcomes that revolve around social-emotional growth and skills development in addition to academics.

The holidays are approaching! This is the perfect time of year to spread holiday cheer by volunteering and helping others! For students who have volunteer hours to complete, the holidays offer many opportunities for you to sign up! Below is a list of holiday service ideas for students to consider: