Ever since I could remember, I have always wanted to help others. For me, volunteer work has given me the opportunity to help others and give back to my community. But what is it about volunteering that makes it so rewarding? Is it the gratitude of the people that you help? Or is it the feeling you get when you know you made a difference?

I have given many hours of my time volunteering, and I have learned many lessons from my experiences. When volunteering, it is important to remember that you are helping others. A task that may seem simple to you can mean everything to someone else. Doing small tasks like directing people where to go, sitting and talking, restocking, or making and serving meals may seem like small tasks, but they have made an impact on the people I have helped.

The feeling of helping someone is also rewarding, as it cannot be matched by anything else. In my opinion, volunteering is the best way to help others because I know that there is always something to be done and I can make a difference in the lives of the people that I help.

The only way to describe the joy of volunteering is that it allows you to see true happiness—the kind of happiness you never knew existed. Simple acts of kindness can allow you to see that grand gestures are not needed in order to be thanked for your service. When volunteering, you suddenly can understand the situation the others are living in, and know that what you are doing to help is going to benefit others and allows you to feel like you have made a difference in your community. Helping others also brings joy to you and the others around you, and makes you want to help more people when you see the impact it can have.

In my experience, volunteering is gratifying. When you see the gratitude that those you were helping express, then that is when you can see how others have benefitted from your help. People usually appreciate your help more than what you did, and that is the most rewarding aspect of volunteering.

Volunteering is also a humbling experience, as it allows you to be thankful for what you have. You may be blessed with more than the people you are helping, and you should be grateful for that. When you see others who do not have the things that you have, then that is when you truly become thankful for what you have in your life and see that it is everything you need.

In life, giving back will always be the most fulfilling act that you can do. You should always find a way to give back to others and help them. When volunteering, choose a cause you enjoy or volunteer for an organization that is meaningful to you so you can truly appreciate the experience of helping others and the joy of giving back.