Last Updated: Aug 9, 2017
If you are looking to help others in college, mission trips are one of many ways to inspire you to go out and make a difference.
When searching for colleges or universities, you most likely have some student clubs and activities that you’d like to join in mind. Volunteering your time and helping others on campus or in the community may be one thing you are interested in.
Whatever kind of club you are looking for, it shouldn’t be too hard to find it through the search engine of a college or university’s website. You can also use an outside search so a list of colleges with a certain activity will pop up. If you want to help others, a few things to look out for are schools with social justice clubs and/or majors, opportunities to volunteer, and an inclusive and welcoming student body.
It is possible your dream school does not have what you were hoping to find in means of volunteer work. Don’t worry! Many colleges let you start your own club, and there are organizations throughout the nation willing to give advice. Otherwise, to save some time organizing, advertising, and directing, another solution would be to go on a mission trip.
Related: Students on a Mission
Mission trips are typically Christian-based missions where those involved donate their time and effort in some way toward communities in need. But keep in mind there are mission trips for nearly every religion. For college-sponsored mission trips, signup sheets can be found at a campus’s church or religious center. Otherwise, thanks to the Internet, all sorts of mission trips can be found with a few clicks of a keyboard and mouse.
Conveniently, mission trips can take place anytime throughout the year. You can find all sorts during Christmas break, Easter break, and throughout the summer. Different mission trips can take place throughout the nation or even across the world, depending on how far you want to go. They also vary in length—from two weeks to a couple of months—project type, and distance from home. (Remember: the further away from home and the longer you stay, the greater the price of necessities involved in going on the mission trip, such as travel, food, and lodging. But sponsors and scholarships may be available!)
Related: Search for scholarships on CollegeXpress
If you are looking to help others while pursuing a post-secondary education, mission trips are one of many ways to inspire you to go out and make a difference. Mission trips may not be everyone’s “cup of tea,” but they’re worth considering if volunteering is a part of who you are.
Feel free to comment with any feedback or questions! I have been looking to go on a mission trip soon and would love to hear from you.
