As a first-year student you will spend much of your time on campus either going to class, studying, or hanging out with other students, but you can also get involved in the surrounding community in other ways. Consider volunteering for a community service project such as helping at an animal shelter, serving the homeless at a soup kitchen, or helping build or renovate homes for needy families. Your college might offer service opportunities as part of first-year courses (service learning), or your campus’s division of student affairs might have a volunteer or community service office. You can also check Volunteer Match (http://www.volunteermatch.org) for opportunities in your area. Simply enter your ZIP code and, if you wish, key words to help you find volunteer work in your field of interest.