Community service is a broad subject, however, I would describe it as something you do for someone else without any intentions of receiving a reward/money. Community service should benefit someone other than yourself and should be done out of the goodness of your heart, not just because it may be a necessity. For example, some community service I’ve participated in the past was at the Preble Street soup kitchen; by volunteering at the soup kitchen, you are doing good for others and the community. However, community service can be accomplished in may ways, such as working with students, helping out senior citizens, or improving the environment. This can include tutoring schoolchildren, visiting residents at a retirement center, or planting trees at parks. Specific locations where community service may take place include parks, soup kitchens, or places of worship. Anyone, from youth to adult, is welcome to participate in community service. In “What is Wrong with this Picture” by Bernadette Chi, the author elucidates on the importance of youth involvement in the community. By investing time and energy into coordinating opportunities for youth through community service, they will be able to build youth leadership and become “experienced leaders for the future (228, Chi).” For students particularly, it is beneficial to be involved in community service as it provides an opportunity to work with a variety of diverse people. Furthermore, it allows for skills such as interpersonal and communication skills to grow; community service and volunteering allows youth and adults to see first-hand how they can have a positive impact on their local community.
– S.S
Sources
Chi, Bernadette. (1993). What is Wrong with This Picture? Visions of Service: The Future of the National Community and Service Act (pp. 228). National Women’s Law and Center America Youth Policy Forum.
Community Service: Destructive or Empowering? 