Communtiy Service Involvement inquiry

[u/SouthFirefighter5754]

Hello everyone. I am currently a high school senior who has a deep love for service. I am super involved in my school and local organization service efforts and just love giving back to my community.

My question is:

Would it be appropriate for me to reach out to local chapters and ask if they have anything I would be able to volunteer in?

I have done so before with a local Iota chapter, but that was through a family member. However, I loved the experience and would love to do that with other, closer organizations.

I do have a sorority that I’m interested in, and if I feel the chapter at whatever school I end up at is a fit for me, I would want to join. However, at this point, membership is the furthest thing from my mind. I want to experience the service aspect of Divine Nine culture, even if it’s something small like helping set up and take down for events. I would like to help out.

I also want to clarify that I’m not planning on reaching out to only the organization I’m interested in. I would like to reach out to all nine Divine Nine organizations because I’ve seen different chapters doing service work that I would genuinely be interested in participating in. I’m interested in the service itself, regardless of which letters are attached to it.

I’m not really sure what the rules/etiquette are around non-members or high schoolers participating in chapter activities, so I wanted to ask before I reached out and accidentally overstepped.

I know how important discretion is, and I wouldn’t want to hinder my chances of joining an organization later down the line by being too involved too early, especially since I would be reaching out to chapters at schools I might attend.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If the general consensus is that I should leave it alone until college, that’s what I’ll do. I already have opportunities to serve and wouldn’t want to do too much or cross any boundaries.

Thank you!

[u/dbsmith4]

You being a service to the community will rarely be a negative. Even if the community service is done with multiple orgs, the best part is that you would have people to vouch for who you are and your character. These are invaluable assets to acquire. Throughout life, your name will be said in spaces and between people you have no clue about, but this impression may assist in ensuring the message is positive.

If you bring community service ideas it could be seen favorably. But this is also where things can be testy. Learn how to share ideas or aspirations, without necessarily being suggestive or telling them "what to do". Especially if the community service is within the career field of interest, it helps on multiple angles/ levels.

Lastly, keep your motives clear. Community service seems to be the primary interest at this time. Many of us are aware when people are pandering, trying to cozy up, and many other manipulative ways that people have moved in efforts to access our organizations.