During the holidays, it is easy to find ways in which to help out your community. There are the holiday trees you see in the mall where you can buy a gift for a child in need, there are soup kitchens that are especially packed because of the cold, and there are toy and clothing drives across the nation. Although the holiday season is all about being unselfish and giving, one cannot forget that it is important to give throughout the year because those less fortunate than us are always in need of some help, or even just a smile to brighten their day.

I am so thankful to be able to volunteer as much as I do in my community at school. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to have connections with amazing organizations both on and off campus, providing me with plenty of access to help as many people I can. The reason I love to volunteer is that it is such a special feeling to know that you are genuinely helping someone that is struggling or in need of support. Through a community service fraternity on campus, called Alpha Phi Omega, I have participated and raised money for relay for life, I have helped out at cancer 5k's in Dover, and I have assisted the Durham Public Library with the running of their lego program, an after school program for kids. None of it was easy, but in the end to see the smiles on their faces after I painted their faces, played legos with them, or seen the impact that raising money for cancer has on all of the people it affects is a feeling I would had never felt had it not been for the revealing of my passion for helping people through APO.

It's easy to get caught up in our lives and forget or put aside all of the things happening around us. We get so busy and occupied with work and class, and sometimes all you need to do to cheer yourself up is to step out of your comfort zone and help someone else. Seeing how little they have should not make you sympathize with them, it should make you realize that despite the odds these people are happy and alive, and that is something we should all be thankful.

So, lend a hand this holiday season, but don't stop there. Keep on helping until you change the world, and then help a little more.