Cayden McPhee reflects on her memories of piano lessons and taekwondo sessions with a smile. Her mother consistently attended all of McPhee’s extracurricular activities. “[S]he was at every single meeting, every single volunteering opportunity, she was there.” McPhee thought back. According to McPhee, her mother was the one who pushed her to give back.

As a second-year Bachelor of Science student, this sense of duty has blossomed into her active participation on campus. She holds executive positions in Circle K International and the PreMed Prep Network. She explains that her volunteer path is motivated by her mom’s initial push and her peer connections: “I learned it from a friend [...] So I was like, you know what? I joined my first year, and I absolutely loved it.”

Research from the “Journal of Youth Development” supports Cayden’s experience that students who volunteer gain self-confidence and valuable skills. The study explored volunteering as a journey of growth, since the exposure to different experiences broadens their life perspectives and helps them discover what career they want to pursue. A 2010 cross-national study in the Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research found that students who volunteer are driven by a genuine desire to help or by more personal benefits, such as enhancing their skills.

These findings show that volunteering has a positive impact on personal growth, like self-identity, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Still, McPhee’s volunteering journey was not always so comfortable. Stepping up as a church lector was a nerve-wracking start. “I didn't like talking at all.” McPhee follows, “And once I did it, I loved it. [...] I read almost every single mass now.” Public speaking became a skill honed over time, while also being an experience to look forward to. “I still have those [...] jitters and those doubts. You can see it in my face sometimes, it just gets red [...] So I can't even hide it, but no, I do enjoy it.”

Although McPhee has overcome the initial stress of starting out, volunteering can still be challenging. She faces the issue of burnout midway through the academic year. Despite that, she seeks advice from her loved ones to see how they would deal with their burnout. Listening to others’ stories can help acknowledge and accept one’s struggles and push through tough times. “I think talking to friends and hearing how they're experiencing burnout, how they're overcoming it, really helps me a lot [...]”

McPhee shares that volunteering has truly had a positive impact on her personal growth. “I feel like I can just talk to people easily [...]” She continues by reflecting on an earlier version of herself, “I was scared they were going to judge me [...]” The friendships that McPhee discovered helped her find a stronger sense of belonging. “I've met a lot of friends through volunteering [...] 
So I think it's definitely affected [my life] in a positive sense.”

McPhee expects nothing in return from volunteering. Instead, she sees volunteering as a source of personal fulfillment. “I'm always tired after a long day, but I do feel like I've accomplished something at the end [...]” She resumes, “Exhausted [...] in a good way.”