By Jack Allen
Executive Opinion Editor
Costa students should consider volunteering in organizations they truly care about by committing to helping only one or two causes so they can focus on the educational value of community service rather than self-promotion for college application.
As college admissions become increasingly competitive, many students try to distinguish themselves from their peers by getting involved in as many clubs, organizations and volunteering programs as possible. According to a La Vista poll, 75% of surveyed students at Costa participate in some form of volunteer work on a regular basis.
The survey also found that 41% of students would volunteer less and 10% would not volunteer at all if they could not submit community service hours on a college application or brag sheet. While some students volunteer selflessly for the betterment of others, the college admissions process is a primary reason why many teens partake in community service.
Some believe that required volunteer work is beneficial because it prompts students and teens to get involved in their community and provides services, due to a large body of people searching for a way to lend a hand.
But, if teens learn to give back with self-benefiting interest as their sole motivator, then the true ideals behind volunteer work is lost.
In the end, the influence of college applications makes volunteer work seem like a mandate, when it should be based on an individual’s choice to provide service to a something greater than himself or herself.
While volunteering in order to boost one’s résumé is common with teenagers today, there is no reason why teenagers should not volunteer for organizations that they, as individuals, deem worthy or interesting. In fact, demonstrating interest in volunteering or dedication to a specific organization is often reflected more positively on applications than a large amount of randomly collected service hours.
According to a survey of 32 college admissions officers done by Dosomething.com, a website that advocates student community involvement, most of them prefer students who focus on committing to a single volunteer organization rather than those that immerse themselves in numerous volunteer opportunities with little to no commitment to any of the organization’s causes.
By showing commitment and dedication to a particular cause, students could provide more meaningful service and stand out on applications better than by simply going through the motions with multiple organizations to which they have no personal connection.
According to research done by the University of Michigan, knowledge gained from community service motivates students to put more effort into academics and provides them with opportunities to use classroom knowledge and apply their talents to real-life situations. Not only is an individual’s commitment to a single cause more desirable on an application, but it also provides him or her valuable life experiences.
James Miller, the dean of admissions for Brown University, stated for Forbes Magazine that it is important for students to volunteer with “enthusiasm, passion, and commitment.” These traits are what students must aspire to achieve when volunteering, for it is disrespectful to provide aid to an organization with a passionate cause to volunteer solely for the sake of college applications or transcripts.
Today, high school students, specifically those that attend Costa, whose choice to volunteer derives from the simple desire to make a difference in the lives of others, will in turn reap the philanthropic and educational advantages of community service and stand out among others on future college applications.
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