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In some ways, higher education is a self-serving experience. 在某些方面而言，高等教育是一種自我服務(wù)的體驗。
People often seek a college education because they want to improve their lives. 人們經(jīng)常因為想要改善自己的生活而去尋求大學(xué)教育，
Or, they want to increase their chances at gaining well-paying, interesting and meaningful employment. 或者是想增加獲得高薪、有趣和有意義工作的機會。
Even if a person wants to find cures for major diseases or solve homelessness, they must spend years gaining knowledge and training for themselves before they can help others. 即使一個人想找到治療重大疾病或解決無家可歸者問題的方法，他們也必須花費數(shù)年時間去獲取知識，并接受培訓(xùn)，然后才能幫助他人。
A person's college years are usually very busy. It may not seem like they have the time or the freedom to serve anyone but themselves. 一個人的大學(xué)生活通常很忙碌，他們似乎除了幫助自己之外，沒有時間或自由為別人服務(wù)。
But Connie Snyder Mick says they actually do. 但康妮·斯奈德·米克說，他們真的這么去做了。
Mick is the academic director of the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame in the state of Indiana. 米克是印第安納州圣母大學(xué)社會關(guān)注中心的學(xué)術(shù)主任。
Centers like hers exist at many colleges and universities in the United States. 美國許多學(xué)院都有像她這樣的中心。
Mick says the centers help students seeking an experience that may not be directly related to a student's academic progress, but that is still important: volunteering. 米克說，這些中心幫助學(xué)生尋找一種可能與學(xué)生學(xué)業(yè)進步?jīng)]有直接關(guān)系的經(jīng)歷，但這種經(jīng)歷仍然很重要：就是做志愿服務(wù)。
Volunteering is not uncommon in higher education. Many campus groups organize volunteer events or fundraising efforts for different causes. 志愿服務(wù)在高等教育中并不少見，許多校園團體為不同的事業(yè)組織志愿活動或籌款活動。
Officials in charge of student housing often organize such events to help build a sense of community. 負責(zé)學(xué)生住房事宜的官員經(jīng)常組織這樣的活動，幫助學(xué)生們建立社區(qū)意識。
Involvement in these kinds of activities is good for students, Mick told VOA. For example, the busy nature of college life can create a lot of stress for students. 米克告訴美國之音，參與這些活動對學(xué)生是有益的。例如，繁忙的大學(xué)生活會給學(xué)生造成很大的壓力。
Doing something completely unrelated to a student's studies or other work can help calm them by putting their mind on other things. 做一些與學(xué)習(xí)或其他工作完全無關(guān)的事，有助于他們轉(zhuǎn)移注意力，從而平靜下來。
For a deeper more meaningful addition to their college experience, Mick urges students to visit centers like the one she heads. 為了更深入地體驗大學(xué)經(jīng)歷中更多有意思的事情，米克敦促學(xué)生參觀像她負責(zé)的這種中心。
She says these centers exist to create volunteer opportunities that are more complex and meaningful than just a day spent cleaning a local park, for example. 她表示，這些中心是為了給學(xué)生創(chuàng)造參與志愿活動的機會，這些機會比花一天時間清潔當(dāng)?shù)毓珗@更復(fù)雜，也更富有意義。
College students often spend little time getting to know the local community just outside of their campus, Mick notes. 米克指出，大學(xué)生通常很少花時間去了解校外的當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)。
Higher education is all about introducing students to new ideas, she says. 高等教育就是要向?qū)W生介紹新思想，
And these communities may be full of cultures and people that are very different from what the students already know. 這些社區(qū)里可能都是些不同于學(xué)生們了解和認識的文化和人群。
Campus volunteering offices often partner with local organizers that serve the people of the nearby community. 校園志愿者辦公室經(jīng)常與當(dāng)?shù)氐慕M織者合作，為附近社區(qū)里的人們提供服務(wù)。
These partnerships help make sure the volunteer efforts are meeting the real needs of that community. 這些伙伴關(guān)系有助于確保志愿者努力滿足社區(qū)的真正需要。
Even for students with little interest in finding a connection with the local community, there is still value in what volunteer centers have to offer, Mick says. 米克說，即使對那些不太想與當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)建立聯(lián)系的學(xué)生來說，志愿者中心提供的服務(wù)仍然很有價值。
She notes some opportunities can push students to use what they are learning in the classroom out in the real world. 她指出，有些機會可以促使學(xué)生把課堂上學(xué)過的知識應(yīng)用到現(xiàn)實世界中。
And having that kind of experience can make a student appealing to employers in the years to come. 擁有這樣的經(jīng)驗可以使學(xué)生在未來找工作時對雇主具有吸引力。
"Imagine teaching computer science at a center for … people with disabilities," Mick said. 米克說：“想象一下，在殘疾人中心教授計算機科學(xué)。
"To think about how to apply, more directly, what you're studying in the classroom in ways that sort of push you to think about it differently can really be a creative … space." 想想如何更直接地應(yīng)用你在課堂上所學(xué)的知識，促使你以不同的方式思考，這真的是一個富有創(chuàng)意的空間。”
Volunteering does not necessarily mean finding extra time in the evenings or weekends, she says. More and more schools are asking professors to design courses that include volunteer work. 她說，志愿服務(wù)并不一定意味著在晚上或周末找到額外的時間。越來越多的學(xué)校要求教授設(shè)計包括志愿服務(wù)在內(nèi)的課程。
"The research shows that when a student goes and has an experience, the learning happens in the reflection, and reflection happens in coursework," Mick said. 米克說：“研究表明，當(dāng)一個學(xué)生去體驗時，會在反思中學(xué)習(xí)，而在做作業(yè)時學(xué)生會進行反思。
"So …you're getting that academic credit, but you're also having an … experience that's thoughtful, that gives you times to ... do research and to think deeply about that … in a way that's connected to your academic interests." 所以，你獲得了學(xué)分，也獲得了沉思的經(jīng)驗，讓你用一種與學(xué)業(yè)興趣相關(guān)的方式，去做研究并深入思考。”
Campus volunteer centers can help students identify classes that offer these kinds of experiences. 校園志愿者中心可以幫助學(xué)生確定提供這些體驗的課程，
The centers also can let students know if their school offers any volunteering-based trips during breaks between study terms. 米克說，這樣的旅行可以是利用課余時間探索其他地方的有意義的方式。
Mick says such trips can be a meaningful way to spend free time and explore other places. 這些中心還可以讓學(xué)生了解到，他們的學(xué)校是否在學(xué)期間提供進行志愿服務(wù)的旅行。
I'm -Pete Musto. 我是皮特·穆斯托。
