Community service, a curricular requirement for Sacred Hearts Academy students, has proven to have positive impacts on those who do it.
The purpose of community service is to provide voluntary labor to non-profit organizations who need help.
“What I notice is that I usually go into community service activities trying to help the organization, but I feel as if I receive more than I gave because of the experiences I have,” said junior Celina Pagan.
Community service can act as a connection between participants. Service-learning, which is community service that directly ties into curriculum, has been proven to be effective in building personal values.
“I try to do community service that the school offers. Throughout the school year teachers need helpers on the weekend with extra-curricular events. I like doing my community service this way because there are usually students that I know there, so I’m more comfortable rather than volunteering at a place where I know no one,” said eighth grader Ji-Won Ha.
Community service not only builds character but also helps students earn scholarships and boosts chances of being accepted into college. If students have a noticeable amount of community service, it makes them stand out.
“My mom’s an elementary school teacher, so I work with her students as community service. I like kids, so working with them gives me a fulfilling experience. I get to help them with their work, with what they don’t understand and teach them new concepts. It’s a great experience,” said junior Ashley Barley.
In a 2004 study, only 66 percent of students were involved in community service projects, and only 28 percent of students were involved in service-learning.
When it comes to applying to college, community service can tell a lot about an an applicant. Community service can give more insight as to who the student is as a person and what the student finds interesting.
“Community service is important because it has an impact on students’ applications. Colleges look at students holistically, and community service stands out because it’s something the student has done outside the classroom,” said college counselor Randall Fong.
The Takitani Foundation and Youth Rotary are two foundations which give scholarships for students with outstanding hours of community service.
“Community service doesn’t have to be boring. A good thing to do is to use community service as a way to test what you’re interested in. If you want to go into teaching, volunteer with students to see if you really like it. It can also be fun because you can volunteer with your friends,” said Zonta Club adviser Donna Ramos.
