Students here at BJU have many different opportunities to get involved in the surrounding community.

On top of having options to help at our local churches each week, we also have the opportunity to get involved in the community around us. Volunteering is a good way to act on your deeply established beliefs as a college student.

You can publicly show what values and morals you stand for when you contribute to a cause that you have chosen. Acting on your beliefs is beneficial to strengthening them and seeing if you can truly support them.

College students should volunteer because it is a good habit to start forming early in life. The habits we form when we are young almost always carry on into the rest of our lives. Students are the next generation and will be the next leaders in our country.

If students can make it a habit to regularly make a difference while young, it can form positive habits, causing people to become more apt to contributing when they get older.

We at The Collegian understand that college students have limited budgets and cannot always give in excess to charities or organizations.

Students can, however, contribute their time and effort. Working events to raise money or spending time in shelters are just two ways that students can get involved.

By just investing time in your beliefs, you can help support and spread them. You don’t need to be rich to make a difference. It is usually the people who have little that contribute the most and make the most difference.

Use caution when choosing a cause to become a part of with your contributions. Make sure that you take the time to research before you give. There are many aspects to an organization, and if you are not careful in your choice, you may end up supporting something that you don’t believe is a good cause.

Many different charities exist for good causes. With the number of students at BJU, we can work together to make a large impact on the society around us.

A quote often attributed to Francis of Assisi states, “Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words.” Working in our surrounding community can also contribute to the largest impact we as Christians can make: spreading the Gospel to those around us.

As a student, you can begin to make an impact now and carry this habit on through the rest of your life.

Choose one charity to begin with and invest into it. Make an effort to make a difference in your community.

If you’re looking for ways to get involved, the Community Service Council often has opportunities for students to get involved in community events. Events from the past include Farm Fest, the Special Olympics and 5K races in the Greenville area.