While the vast majority of Grand Valley State University Lakers love being a part of our university’s community, eventually, students need to leave the safety of the Allendale and Pew campuses.

Ultimately, the goal of receiving a college education is to go out into the world and make a difference in the professional community. Making a difference is about getting your hands dirty and immersing yourself in a cause. You can’t do that from the seat of your couch.

As election day nears in the U.S., the importance of putting individuals’ words and beliefs into action rather than being an observer has been stressed to GVSU students. This is what GVSU student, Ibtisam Matta did. She followed something she felt strongly about all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and made a difference in the lives of those in need. Through her work with child refugees of Syria, she found a passion and an issue to get behind.

Imagine going into a job interview and being able to say that you went to Lebanon to work with refugees. That’s an invaluable experience that speaks not only to your dedication to a cause, but also your motivation as a person and possible employee.

However, that action should go further than making it to the voting booth this November. That’s the bare minimum that should be expected of an engaged citizen of a community.

Of course, traveling internationally may not be the most practical thing for all college students who want to do their part to make the world a better place.

The work doesn’t have to be at an international level, or even at a national level. Even if you participate at a smaller, local level, you can make a difference in the life of someone who needs it as well as learn a little bit more about the community you live in and the people who inhabit it. Working in and around your state, county or town can still get you involved in some way.

Show you care through committed action. For starters, many service projects are offered by GVSU through the Women’s Center, Laker Jobs and the Community Service Learning Center. These opportunities, even on a small scale, can get you started in making a difference with something you care about, whether it’s a donation drive or a study abroad trip to Haiti helping locals install water sources around the village.

Going out and working in and with the community will also connect you with other people who share similar interests with you. You can gain knowledge from them, and may even find some professional networking opportunities.

You can do this work through school, or you can go on your own volition. Getting credits shouldn’t be the only reason people are going to help out a community. It can be to better yourself and to better the world.

This semester, make it a challenge that voting is the smallest bit of community engagement you accomplish. The bare minimum isn’t good enough for Lakers, so get out and do something more, something grand, for a community you care about.