Service above self was something that was instilled in me at a very young age. When I was 13 years old, I was spending a summer week with my dad, he was a member of the Rotary Club of Kenosha-West. I had no idea what that organization was at that time, as all I know was they put on a legendary softball tournament every summer. A place where it all started for me, without my dad even asking me to volunteer. I just did it because I loved sports and was having a blast helping out. The Rotary moto is “Service above Self”. It reminds Rotarians to think of how they can help others instead of themselves.
For me service above self means is doing something voluntarily that is bigger than one self. I have continued to volunteer at Rotary Club of Kenosha-West’s Softball tournament ever since that summer as a teenager. Starting out by running around and getting scores from all the games as they finished, working the concession stand, working the beer tent, selling beverages on the beer cart, to announcing the women’s games, men’s games and the Kenosha Fire Department vs Police Celebrity game. Spending all week at the park, helping in one fashion or another to help put on a softball tournament where all of the proceeds go back into the community. It instilled a work ethic is me that is still there today. It taught me that in order to get to where you want, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. I have since volunteered for other organizations as I continues to grow throughout my career.
By my father introducing me to their club’s event to give money back to the community, has pushed me to volunteer for other organizations throughout my career. People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. For me it is a way to get involved in things outside of work, while meeting new people and helping to make this world a better place.
Why You Should Put Service Above Self And Volunteer
It’s Good For Your Health – When you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than yourself, your stress levels start to decrease, your immune system is strengthened and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases.
Make A Difference – Volunteering gives you the chance to vote every day about the kind of community and world you want to live in. It provides you the opportunity to be apart of something bigger than yourself and use your civic responsibility for the greater good.
Getting Inspired – It will help you put your life into perspective and putting service above self might inspire an idea or spark an interest. You could come up with ideas on how to improve your own community, discover a new life calling, and have ideas for your own employer. The other aspects of your life will also see an increase in production and happiness.
It’s Fun – Volunteering is not something to take lightly and needs to be treated with the utmost respect, but it is also fun! I have enjoyed volunteering every summer at the Rotary Softball Tournament. It is like a reunion every year now that I have met so many people who watch the games, volunteer and even play. In every organization that I have volunteered for, I have had fun, enjoyed my time and made in meaningful not just for me but for the organization that I was giving my time to. Not matter what we do in live, we need to have fun and enjoy the moment as life is short.
Good for the Career – Volunteering is an excellent way to boost your career. It helps you create a positive impression, makes you more innovative, creative and gives you a range of useful skills. I am not sure what it has done for my career, but I know in all the organizations that I volunteered for, the people I met always asked what I did for a living and where I work, so it gives your employer visibility. They love that.
Combining this with many other reasons to volunteer, makes for an unforgettable experience which will stay with you for the rest of your life. We need to remember that the world does not revolve around us, but what we can do for others, it’s why we put service above self. I can’t thank my dad enough for introducing me to volunteering at such a young age, as it has stuck with me as I continue to grow personally and professionally.
