For some college students, extracurriculars can seem impossible to navigate. Depending on your schedule, you may not often have free time — but when you do, it’s important to use your spare time wisely to get the most out of your college experience.

One of the most rewarding ways you can spend your free time in college is through volunteering. Volunteering is one aspect of college that can make your experience even more meaningful. Luckily, LSU students can find ways to serve the community through Volunteer LSU.

Volunteer LSU (VLSU) is an organization led by LSU Campus Life that provides students the opportunity to get involved on campus through service opportunities. Students can dedicate their time to help impact not only LSU, but the community of Baton Rouge and beyond.

Volunteer LSU has many partners across the city, including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and the Family and Youth Services Center of East Baton Rouge. The biggest event that VLSU specializes in is Geaux Big, which is a large, campus-wide event where students can volunteer alongside their peers.

Other things that VLSU does are events like Change Break, which take place during school breaks. For this year’s fall break, members of the organization are going to Tennessee to get hands-on volunteering outside of their usual setting. This service opportunity gives students the chance to do something productive and impactful during their time off from class.

The staff advisor of the Volunteer LSU, ​​Ifágbémisọ́lá Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà, is passionate for service because she believes it is what helps mold people into better versions of themselves.

“I think volunteering builds well-rounded students — people who can go into different spaces and shift their communication style based on the people that are in the room,” Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà said. “It makes them more empathetic and compassionate and less judgmental.”

Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà believes that volunteering is one of the most influential parts of the college experience. Volunteering brings her joy, and she’s always happy to give back to the community.

“Volunteering makes me feel like I’m on divine assignment,” Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà said. “It is not just something I do because I want to do it. It feels like it’s my responsibility to give back to the world in that way, no matter the type of service. I believe it is my responsibility as a human being who is on this earth to help and to be a steward and to be a servant leader.”

Paris Ally, the student director of VLSU, is also passionate about her love for volunteering. The LSU junior has been volunteering since she was a child, and she feels fulfilled every time she’s able to give back through service.

“I’ve been volunteering my entire life,” Ally said. “It’s something that’s always been a big part of my family. It’s like second nature to me. I’m always wanting to help people and know that I can provide service and help them out.”

For Ally, volunteering helps her stay grounded since it’s a way for her to give without expecting anything back in return.

“My personal goal is to make people more aware of (VLSU). I want to have as many events as possible and make it known to people that we are out here serving our community for LSU,” Ally said.

Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà shares similar ambitions for the organization, with the hopes that people who participate in their events are just as impacted as those they are helping.

“My personal goals for the committee would be for them to be transformed by being on this committee and being a part of a department initiative to revitalize volunteering and service on this campus and to own what that means in every sense of the word,” Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà said.

Spending four whole years on campus without getting involved in some aspect is not the way to go, according to Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà. Volunteering on and off campus can help you build your professional and social skills by giving back to those around you.

“If you leave college with just a degree, I think you’re doing yourself a disservice because there’s so many opportunities, not only to serve and volunteer and give up yourself and your time, but to truly evolve and transform and service is just one of the paths to do that,” Bámigbálà-Arẹ̀sà said.

At LSU, service is more than just something to add to a resume. It builds character and creates a strong foundation between the university and the Baton Rouge community. Whether you’re volunteering at the LSU food pantry, cleaning up a local park or helping out at an on-campus event, VLSU is a great start for help with finding new ways to get involved.

Even if you’re not the most social person, there are still many things that you can learn and gain from participating in service-learning activities. If you’re interested in making your mark on campus, don’t be scared to give volunteering a try. It might end up being the most impactful part of your college journey.