STAFF EDITORIAL: Turn hopes into action with community service opportunity

Dean+of+Students+Max+Delgado+announced+to+club+leaders+on+Sept.+8+that+they+are+challenged+to+create+four-hour+service+opportunities+for+the+community+this+year.+Its+time+to+take+that+challenge.

Editorial Cartoon: Melissa Nie

Dean of Students Max Delgado announced to club leaders on Sept. 8 that they are challenged to create four-hour service opportunities for the community this year. It’s time to take that challenge.

Aside from the service retreat focus for sophomores and the required hours in senior project, service opportunities haven’t been a priority as an annual, all-community value. The Service Fair last year had a great show of initial interest and enthusiasm and seemed successful, but when Free Arts MN followed up with a training course at school, few of the people who expressed interest showed up to take the next step. The new 9-12 service guidelines provide structured opportunity and articulate service as a vehicle for change, encouraging students to get involved in the community through school.

Club leaders should consider any and all ways to involve their group and invite students to volunteer.

Clubs (beyond consistent service planners Community Action and Service and Students for Social Justice) are encouraged to be resources for community service opportunities. Dean of Students Max Delgado held a meeting with club leaders on Sept. 8 to present this new opportunity. Administration will cover transportation and some expenses for clubs who want to schedule and organize service activities during Tutorial through the last period of the day. This allows clubs to stretch beyond their Thursday walls and students can connect their interests and passions to volunteering. Students don’t have to be in a club to participate and help make a difference. There is a lot of room for creativity, and club leaders should consider any and all ways to involve their group and invite students to volunteer.

It’s important that students seize this new service opportunity. It can’t get any easier than having service planned, organized, and available during the school day. It is easy to find community service interesting, but it’s far more important to follow through, making the interest in an organization into something even more beneficial. Sign up for a service activity with friends, then follow through.

Thank you to the community members who served on the think tank and made this recommendation, and to the school administration for building in this time and allocating funds.

Now, students must take it into their own hands and start making a positive impact.