The dictionary definition for the verb form of volunteer is “a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking”. In reality, volunteering means so much more than just offering your time. There are an incredible amount of advantages to volunteering, which include (but are not limited to): learning and developing new skills, teaching others your skills, enhancing your resume, gaining work experience, building self-confidence and self-esteem, meeting new people, and helping to change someone’s life for the better. When you volunteer at the VA Voluntary Service, you will experience all of these benefits and many more. Volunteering as a VAVS (Veterans Affair Voluntary Service) volunteer gives you the opportunity to impact lives by donating and spending time with a soldier who has risked…show more content… First of all, you benefit from donating your time. You can have a head start in exploring a career in health care, cultivate new skills, make new friends, qualify to be nominated for James H. Parke Memorial college scholarships, and have something very impressive to put on any resume. The families of the veterans also benefit from your time as a volunteer. Coming from the daughter, niece, and granddaughter of veterans, I have first-hand experience in knowing that having the peace of mind that your loved one is being taken care of is a huge relief. It’s incredibly stressful to have someone you care for be injured while defending your country, and just knowing that there are people looking out for them is something all families of veterans are extremely thankful for. Lastly, and most importantly, the veteran benefits from your volunteering. These soldiers don’t ask for much, but everything little thing you do helps. Whether it be helping in the medical centers, or just talking with them, they know that the did not serve for nothing, and that people of all ages acknowledge and appreciate their