Nichole Fanara
The Silhouette

I have mixed feelings about volunteer work, mostly because it can be used and abused by the people who already have enough money and power. But I hope to inspire you, student, to look for something to be passionate about, to apply for an exec position next year, and to keep the good work alive at Mac.

Volunteer work for the sake of volunteer work. There is just some work that is too important to not be done, and yet a paycheck is not involved. These are the things that make us who we are - the free work we do. These are the stories that give us a passionate heart and a compassionate mind, and a sense of being needed, of giving back. And in University, working two jobs, homework, and volunteer work is almost impossible. It can feel thankless. But hold on there, the bright side is coming.

When you give back to the community and don’t ask for anything in return, your web of inspiration falls so deep and touches so many hearts that you can’t possibly see or understand how far it rippled. Volunteer work makes the world go around. It gives people a chance to connect; it helped me understand the importance of sticking with a cause even if the cause isn’t something affecting me personally. No matter what, there is volunteer work out there somewhere for you to do, and even if you’re looking for pay and can’t find it, this could be a good way to realize your potential. McMaster has a million and one places to put your volunteer time. Imagine all the people waiting to meet you, to be inspired by you, to feel less exhausted looking into eagerness and content as you all work together and do something good.

We are lucky. McMaster University has one of the biggest volunteer bases in Ontario, with clubs about virtually anything that will connect you to all kinds of passions and people. I’ve seen words of wisdom shared through cursive letters, galas for those less privileged than the perfectly able-bodied, even working shifts at the Ronald McDonald House next door to our campus.

Sometimes volunteer work doesn’t feel worth it. You can lose your focus when the work you put into running a society drains goodness from other places in your life. Sometimes you put all your efforts into campaigns that become less than what you expected. Remember who you are doing it for, remember why you keep it going, and understand that by doing work like this, you’re making a difference in so many different lives that you could not map it out. You’ll see, one day, when a thank you comes from someone you barely know, just how far out of your personal bubble your helpful hand has reached.

Keep on reaching, volunteers.

Tarun Sanda / Silhouette Staff

As students, in all honesty, we have not accomplished much in our lives.

We are in the process of becoming products of the system. Currently we are searching for our future roles in society.

We spend years of our lives learning and studying for the future.

We remind ourselves every day that we are doing what is necessary so that some day we can live the life we envisioned for ourselves.

Sound like enough motivation?

Hardly. Life as a student is usually stressful. There are deadlines, responsibilities, exams, assignments, and a multitude of things that we deal with on a daily basis. Occasionally the pressure gets to us, so we decide to seek a release. These moments are important, they are vital to keep you sane, to prevent overkill. It can relieve your stress, and the next day you return a more focused, and calm individual.

The problem arises when you get too fond of these moments. Suddenly an occasional drink may turn into a weekly endeavor. Soon it has consumed you.

You begin to make excuses that you may never experience such an opportunity again in life. This notion that our lives are very short and we must do what we please otherwise we might be missing out has been pressed upon us.

Living for the day, or the night, and not worrying about the consequences of the future. You only live once.

Stop for a second and imagine yourself underwater. You hold your breath as long as possible, but soon you need to reach the surface for that breath of fresh air.

At that moment, when you know you cannot hold your breath any longer, nothing else matters.

You do whatever it takes to get that breath of fresh air. It doesn’t matter what you were doing five minutes ago, it doesn’t matter what time of day it is, it doesn’t matter how great that party was last night. All you want is a single breath of fresh air. All that matters is what you have in the moment.

Sometimes memories aren’t so precious after all. Imagine yourself partying away your 20s. Soon you have no job, which in this day and age equates to no future.

Soon you’re old and sitting at the end of the bar wondering what could have been if you focused on what was important back then. Suddenly the great memories of your 20s don’t seem so comforting anymore, because once you come back to reality you realize that you have nothing. What matters most is what you have in the present.

Imagine a contrasting storyline. You put yourself through school, did what you needed to do to get that job you’ve always wanted. Suddenly the years have gone and the comforts of what you’ve accomplished sits.

There is no need to look back in time because what matters the most is what you have done with your life. What you have in the moment. The difference between the two moments is that the latter storyline gives you a permanent sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. The struggle is worth it once you look back and realize that what you have now is much better than what you had back then.