<p>I'm writing an essay for an application to a summer program and am debating whether to use "work" or "volunteer." I am a high school student that spends a significant amount of time at a lab doing research at a local university. It is not a paid job but I'm doing it for science fair so it's not exactly volunteer work either - I spend 6 hours there a week. Which term is better - "work" or "volunteer" - to describe this?</p>
<p>I think either would be fine.
If you feel like you were making a good contribution, volunteer isn’t a bad word.
At the same time, I also like work. Since this is not the typical teen job, even if they misinterpret this to believe that you get paid, that doesn’t reduce the impact.</p>
<p>Thanks for your feedback, maybe23. Would it be overkill to say “unpaid” or do you think that’s irrelevant? I just don’t want any misconceptions to occur, if you know what I mean. I feel like “volunteer” is too light of a word and “work” involves pay, so I’m trying to look for middle ground. haha.</p>
<p>Will anyone in the host lab benefit from the results of your efforts? Meaning, it’s a part of a larger research effort and if you weren’t doing it, they’d have to assign that task to someone on their lab staff? Or is this research only going to be for your science project?</p>
<p>If it is part of the LAB’S priorities and you are doing tasks THEY need done, and in the process gathering data that you will be permitted to present at a science fair, you could be described as “volunteering.”</p>
<p>If they are permitting you to use their space and equipment for YOUR project, but the research you are doing is not part of their program, you couldn’t call that volunteering. The most accurate way to describe that would be “working on my project.” Because you are “working on it” the way someone might be “working on” college applications or a novel, right? Those aren’t paid work. As long as you say something along the lines of “working on my own project,” it will be clear you are not a paid research assistant in the lab.</p>
<p>I am doing tasks that the lab needs done for a greater research project, but part of this data and research is also being used for my own research project. Basically, I have a niche of the research they are doing, which I am performing with a mentor that is part of the lab, but I am allowed to use a part of this as my own research project as well.</p>
<p>Then I think it’s not inaccurate to call it “volunteering” as a research assistant. But, since you are doing this work under supervision of a mentor, it might also be accurate to call it “interning” in the research lab. The term “internship” is generally understood to be a person who performs work for the benefit of the institution, often unpaid, in exchange for some training and experience that is to his or her own benefit. So I think that might be the best way to characterize this arrangement. Then if you use the word “working” in the text, it’s still understood you are doing the work of an unpaid intern.</p>
<p>One diff between vol and (unpaid) work is whether they expect you to appear on some sort of schedule and have come to depend on your efforts- and whether they expect to see you or just anybody with free time and motivation. Another is whether you perform the most basic tasks- cleaning test tubes, sweeping the floor, taking notes, running errands-- or are doing something quasi-professional. Lots of things fit the latter. </p>
<p>Your small status in the larger operation does not force you to call it volunteering. It’s true you are not paid (you vol your services,) but if the effort has resulted in a higher level of duties, consider “unpaid internship and research.” Why not run this by your mentor, since he or she might be required to provide a reference?</p>
<p>Your best bet is to ask your mentor or whoever is in charge of your research. In my opinion, i would make ‘volunteer’ an adjective of ‘work’ and just call it ‘volunteer work.’</p>