Making a Living and Making a Difference
While many children pretend to be superheroes, few of us actually grow up to become them. But there are ways that what you do for a living can make a big impact on the world: You may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but it’s possible that you could help to save lives or just make the world a better place.
Heroic Careers
When you think of people who are everyday heroes, who do you think of? The first people many people think of would be first-responders, the firefighters and police officers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep people safe every day. Right behind them would surely come paramedics, doctors, and other medical professionals, and indeed, these people do work hard to save lives. You might also think of people who work for charitable organizations, advocating for positive change or helping those whose lives have been devastated by poverty or a natural disaster.
However, if you’re looking to make the largest possible impact on the world, one of the best careers to go into might be scientific research. Every day, researchers make discoveries that could change the lives of millions. A doctor or a firefighter might save a few dozen lives over the course of their careers, but the work of people like Jonas Salk and Alexander Fleming saved millions.
Doing Good in Any Job
Of course, we aren’t all cut out to be the next Fleming or Salk, and that’s OK. In fact, no matter what you do for a living, you can have a big impact on the world through charitable giving. You might think that you can’t really afford to give enough to make a difference, but here’s something you probably didn’t know: Most Americans are actually wealthy compared to the rest of the world. You may think that a $10, $20, or $50 donation won’t add up to much, but if you’re a savvy donor, you could turn a little bit of money into a life saved, a well dug, or a student educated.
Want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for every buck you donate? Check to see if your employer offers a matching gift program. Many companies do, and this is a simple way to double the impact of every dollar that you give.