Here at Lake Stevens High School, students are required to complete a total of 45 hours of community service by the end of their senior year to walk across the stage. Many students express their passion against this prerequisite in hopes of bringing attention to the idea and putting an end to it.
Students feel LSHS shouldn’t require this substantial number of community service hours.
“It’s just too much. Sometimes I don’t have the time, I’m too busy with schoolwork or sports, and I have my own home life,” senior Avery Lagerstrom said.
Many schools see a benefit in requiring students to complete a certain number of hours working in the community to graduate. It proves to schools and colleges that students will be invested and engaged in their campus and community. It requires students to maintain responsibility and complete tasks by a specific deadline to the best of their ability.
“Community service builds character and leadership by helping students face real challenges, adapt to different situations, step up as leaders, and develop a sense of accountability,” office professional Regina Buckmiller said.
Out of the current 751 seniors at Lake Stevens High School, 47 responded to a survey about their opinions of essential community service. 56% of those who responded feel it shouldn’t be required to graduate but rather be optional.
71.7% of those who responded said yes to community service being a graduation requirement. And 43% of those who wished that work and sports accounted for this demand.
A large number of students are involved in sports, work or extracurricular activities. Various students feel as though these activities get in the way of their requirements for graduation and struggle to get it all done in time. According to many college websites, they don’t look at the number of community service hours high school students have completed.
The Class of 2025 is required to complete and turn in all 45 hours by March 28, 2025.
Community service grants students the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in working with people. Some students see great benefits.
“Patience, being open-minded, and seeing things from a different perspective,” senior Aidyn McIntosh said.
Requiring responsibility and devotion to the community in students at a young age provides them with a great gateway to the world after high school. Preparing them for jobs, advocating for themselves and bettering the community and people around them.
However, LSHS wants students to participate in extracurriculars and sports. Yet due to this high demand of community service students tend to put this off. Leaving for stress and anxiety to quickly get it done by the end of the year.
Stress at a young age can leave long-lasting effects on our cognition and performance. Whether that be in the work field or academics. Requiring community service is a cause of stress and lack of academic success in students here at LSHS.
Obliged community service can cause unnecessary stress and the potential for a decline in student performance.
