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The Good is Outweighed by the Bad, and the Ugly in the World of Teen Community Service (Article 1 of 2)

I like to consider myself a “sincere volunteer” who believes that community service is not just a graduation requirement but a way to interact with and help out those in need in my local community. Through participating in community outreach since my freshman year, I have discovered that I am the one who gains most from the experience of reaching out to low-income households and creating community-mindedness with many volunteers who are from various walks of life. After a couple of initial experiences in community service, I started going to food-providing sites almost weekly (for three hours each time). Some of the volunteering projects that I worked with focused on the downtown area in Los Angeles (California) to pass out food boxes to low-income or homeless families and I went to the Food Bank warehouse several times to help pack boxes.

Although the pandemic has shut down most outdoor activities in California as well as Orange County, it couldn’t dampen my passion about volunteering. Once I started my second year of volunteering, I wanted to find a project through which I can truly be of help to those hit hardest by COVID-19. In the past couple of months, I visited several volunteer sites that are associated with the Community Action Partnership of Orange County, a nonprofit organization that recruits volunteers from Los Angeles and its suburbs and delivers monthly food supplies to low-income households (following California’s guidelines on COVID-19 safety).

[The writer taping a box to be used at Community Action Partnership of Orange County. Photo Credit: Hyoung Seo Shin]

Despite over one year of experience and feeling that I knew what to expect, working at a volunteer site was much harder than I predicted it would be. There were five teens among the 70 volunteers who were there each time I visited. My job was to assist whereever needed, carry heavy materials, organize boxes, and do many other things with virtually no break for two hours. Volunteers at the main center packed boxes with foods and supplies, while those at local sites either had to carry and deliver them or serve free lunch to low-income households.

As I observed other volunteers, I soon realized that most of them were highly motivated and eager to help out those in need. There are no minimal obligations but volunteers had to have certain skills. They have assist each other, be able to pace themselves, and interact with people they are helping actively and politely. I could not keep up with the rapid work pace for the first few times, but my desire to not be a burden and to be of help motivated me to adjust quickly.

Despite the genuine desire of the teen volunteers to help other community members, it was clear that the primary motivation of community outreach for high school students comes from the college application process. Mrs. Anna Kunkle, the community service director of Fairmont Preparatory Academy, agreed that community service participation during high school years increases the likelihood of acceptance. “Community service plays a significant role in college admissions, especially for those students who are aiming for highly selective colleges or BS/MD programs. I still prefer requirements since it will make students help our local communities. Something is better than nothing.” Kunkle knows that most students participate in community service just for the graduation requirement (80 hours throughout the year, or for positive influence in their college applications) but stressed that even such “un-selfless” motivation is OK, as long as students actually help low-income citizens.

[Community service form that must be filled out to get recognition for hours spent volunteering, Photo Credit: Hyoung Seo Shin]

I still believe that (voluntarily) involving in community service is an in valuable experience with helping those who are in need, that far exceeds fulfilling college-related requirements. Based on an understanding of high school life and how high school students think, the service hour requirement and the way colleges considering community service as a part of the admission package will eventually get students involved in volunteering, whether or not they want to be involved. On the other hand, it is unlikely that students will continue community service activities after graduating from college: in short, they won’t volunteer if it is not a work-related requirement. Even if the requirement may impose students to participate, it is difficult to continue volunteering without solid motivation.











Hyoung Seo Shin
10th grade
Fairmont Preparatory Academy

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