Practice AP Test Essay

How important is community service? Is it something that should have a long-term effect on high school students? Volunteering is a vital part of society and students should be introduced to it in such a way that it makes their first impression enjoyable. It should encourage students to continue community service after high school. School can achieve this by having a structured but free program, emphasizing the importance of volunteer work, and making it educationally beneficial.

            “Two studies suggest that community service requirements can have a negative effect on students’ intentions to volunteer freely in the future but only when students feel that they aren’t ready to volunteer or that the requirement is too controlling.” (Stukas, Arthur and company, Par. 1) This statement has a very accurate and valid point. If a student has never volunteered before and is forced to participate in an activity that he or she doesn’t have an interest in, then the experience will not be enjoyable. Is a person’s first involvement was negative, then whenever he or she thinks of community service it will be associated with an unenthusiastic experience. Then, they will not more than likely not volunteer freely in the future.

            Emphasizing how important volunteer work is, not only personally but also socially, would put a positive spin on community service. “The strength of a community can be found in its moral center; the ability to articulate and act upon a defines moral center will fortify a community” (The Dalton School, Par3) Telling students how community service helps better a neighborhood may encourage the students to volunteer. Also, “When an individual goes out in the world and interacts with other people in the spirits of bettering, that individual makes a contribution and will feel a sense of accomplishment.” (The Dalton School, Par. 4) If a student gets a feel for how community service can better themselves, which too may motivate them to volunteer.

            A survey was taken by mark Lopez that should that 52% of students are in favor of volunteering for diploma if it is educationally successful. This just goes to show that students are interested in volunteer work, but they want to participate in such a way that is beneficial to them in more then one way; educationally, emotionally, and socially.

            School would be more successful with a mandatory service learning program. That way, students would have a project that they are interested in, and they learn and feel the importance of volunteering. For example, if someone was in a band and wanted to incorporate music into service learning, then they could host a fundraiser for a certain cause. In the process, they would learn the significance of volunteering and how good it feels to help someone in need.