If you've been looking but haven't found a summer internship or job, why not volunteer?
On the SERVE.GOVE website, The Serve America Act - On Year Later offers many opportunties for young people to help with some of our nation's most pressing problems. Those who choose to volunteer are given unique opportunities to develop leadership, communication, interpersonal, organizational skills, etc.
In addition, volunteering creates a sense of personal fulfillment and accomplishment not usually achieved in a typical work environment as well as offering the many personal rewards that occur when one decides to make a positive contribution in the lives of others.
Although volunteers exist in all age groups, the number of young people in recent years who have been interested in contributing and finding ways to give back, has increased tremendously. The relief efforts of numerous groups of college students that have continued since the disaster of Hurricane Katrina and more recently in Haiti is a good example of the valuable contributions young people are making in helping others is remarkable.
If you have not yet found a summer internship or job, you might want to check with some local or national agencies about volunteering in your area.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteering Overseas also presents you with an array of opportunities and skills that you wouldn’t elsewhere pick up. If this is of interest to you check out this site i-to-i.com which offers an array of programs, teaching, animal conservation etc in a variety of countries including Costa Rica, and South Africa.
It appears that 1-to-1.com offers some excellent volunteer and gap year experiences abroad. Anyone familiar with 1-to-1.com, feel free to comment here.