Community service is a requirement for all high school students in the San Jose Unified School District. Students who plan on going to the Big Bone Ball and prom must also meet a requirement for a certain number of hours, depending on their grade level. For this reason, teens often view it as a burden and fail to see the wide array of opportunities available. Making the right choice when deciding where to complete your service hours can provide you with the chance to give back to the community while having fun, cultivate already existing interests, or discover a brand new passion! Regardless, community service is more than an obstacle standing in the way of graduation. Going above and beyond to complete a greater number of hours is a fantastic way to distinguish oneself from other students when applying to college. Additionally, there are always a number of charitable organizations looking for high schoolers to lend their time.

Prior to graduation, all students must complete 40 hours of community service. In addition, these hours must meet a set of requirements in order to be valid. Students who need community service hours can visit sites like this to see a list of organizations in need of volunteers or go to VolunteerMatch.org to find even more options.

“Different programs and activities that exist can be related to the majors and interests of students seeking service opportunities,” said Mr. Vince Mora of the College and Career Center. “Schools really want to see students involved in activities outside of school.”