In September, I started volunteering at “Aceing Autism,” an organization whose aim is to teach children with autism how to play tennis. Initially, I signed up to improve my college application. That is until I met a student named Ben, someone who always smiled and tried his best in every way. Even though he drastically improved, he enjoyed himself, which was all that mattered. This made me realize how much I’ve overlooked the value of volunteering and the impact I can make, one I often fail to fully appreciate.

When most students at Great Neck South think of volunteering, they often overwhelm themselves with ideas about college and falling behind compared to other students, especially with how competitive many students are with one another. However, volunteering should not be put on a pedestal simply for college applications; there are many benefits to volunteering, especially in the realm of mental health and how it correlates to a positive impact on your community.

First, volunteering brings you a greater feeling of gratitude. I experienced this first hand at Acing Autism after seeing incredible improvement in one of my students. I realized at that moment how lucky I was to be able to help these students. According to Western Connecticut State University, volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction—those who volunteer often feel a higher sense of accomplishment. I surely felt this way seeing Ben’s smile after hitting a good forehand. These benefits apply especially during high school, when 40 percent of students have persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness according to the CDC, volunteering can help students feel more grateful and fulfilled.

I also found that volunteering was beneficial to my mental wellbeing beyond my graditude. When I felt down before I volunteered, I couldn’t help but feel cheerful after finishing the tennis lesson. This doesn’t just apply to me, though. In fact, those who volunteered  experienced a 4.3 percent decrease in depression and an 8.54 percent increase in mental health according to the National Library of Medicine. This is more important than ever right now; according to the CDC, more than a third of Americans are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. Considering the pressure that students at South push themselves to, our school’s rate of mental illness may be even higher.

This pressure stems from an aim to be successful in the future and make a positive impact. Many delay this to focus more on being successful. Instead, students should take action now to help their community to feel more fulfilled.

With all the stress that school gives you, don’t let volunteering become another point of stress for you. Instead, embrace it and understand the good it does for you and the world. So next time you volunteer at your local park or soup kitchen, don’t think so 1-dimensionally about your positive impact. Just live in the moment, enjoy life, and remember that it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.