In April I left my family and friends in Ohio and took a job in Texas; where I didn't know a single person. Once I was settled into my new job, I started looking for a place to volunteer. Volunteering had been a part of my life for as long as I could remember; so it was important for me to find a new organization to volunteer with. It would not only give me the opportunity to meet people, but also fill some of my free time now that I was in a new place. Volunteering isn't as bad as some think, it gives you the opportunity to do things you enjoy, meet new people, possibly change your life and give something back to the community. I found an organization that I was excited to work with, incorporated two things that I really enjoyed. The organization was located in a nearby community called Therapeutic Riding of Texas (TROT). TROT was a non-profit organization that uses horseback riding as therapy for children and adults with mental and physical handicaps. I was very intrigued by it because I loved working with the mentally and physically handicapped and with horses. It was a perfect solution. Now that I had found a perfect organization to volunteer with and do something I enjoyed, it was time to meet new people. When you're new to the community, making friends can be difficult; however by volunteering you meet at least a few people or more with whom you at least have something in common. I went to my first class on Tuesday to see what TROT was and how it worked. It was about a 40 minute drive from where I lived to the stables in Red Oak, Texas. I feel ready to intervene if necessary this evening; I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and work boots. As soon as I entered the horse barn, I remembered what was missing... middle of paper... zeal on top of that, feel the need to make a bigger impact by donating your time and energy. I volunteered with Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Alex Rodriguez who was a rookie on the Texas Rangers at the time, clergy, small business owners, UPS drivers, factory workers, teachers, parents, teenagers, farmers, everyone who did volunteer there, not their checkbooks. Volunteering in today's society can offer you the benefits of also being a networking opportunity. For anyone who has never volunteered, the benefits outweigh anything negative you can think of. I started volunteering at an early age and now, in my mid-thirties, I continue to volunteer on a weekly basis. I believe I continued because I saw firsthand the difference I made in someone's life. Stop making excuses and get involved, what do you have to lose?