You’ll get to go to interesting places and do important work. Opportunities to volunteer can involve traveling and experiences that you’ve never had.

You’ll learn to appreciate diversity. If you’re like many college students, you may have led a relatively sheltered life. Volunteer work tests you in new ways and in new situations. It puts you in touch with lots of different people from different backgrounds. It also helps you connect with your community and the rest of the world on a deeper level.

Some volunteer positions let you travel internationally. Volunteer abroad and you’ll probably get to polish your foreign language skills.

You’ll gain valuable experience that could help you in your career. Volunteering adds depth to your résumé. Even if you volunteer close to home, you’ll learn new skills and might discover talents that you didn’t know you had. You might even make some useful networking contacts.

Volunteering will help you become a happier, more fascinating, and less self-absorbed person. Studies show that helping others actually lowers your stress levels.

Need more motivation? Employers say that applicants who do volunteer work stand out from the pack. Being socially responsible tells the world that you’re ambitious and a good team player.