【Caringforanimalstutoringkidshelpingseniors:Volunteerhoursaremorethanagraduationmusttheyarelifelessons.VilmaSooknanancleanscatcagesMaxCarrollteacheschildrenhowtocookandMichaelRosenthalrollswheelchairs】
Caringforanimalstutoringkidshelpingseniors:Volunteerhoursaremorethanagraduationmusttheyarelifelessons.
VilmaSooknanancleanscatcagesMaxCarrollteacheschildrenhowtocookandMichaelRosenthalrollswheelchairsatahospital.
Whatdoesthishavetodowithhighschooleducation?
Everything.
Thethree–andalmostallotherSouthFloridahighschoolstudents–havetogooutsideoftheclassroomtoearntheirdiplomasdoingwhatschoolscall“communityservice”.
Browardpublicschoolsrequire40hourstograduate.PalmBeachCountypublicschoolsrequire20andmostprivateschoolsrequireatleastthatmuch.
Thepurpose:Togivestudentsthechancetoexploreacareerandcreateahabitofvolunteering.
“Wehopethatwhentheyfinishhighschoolthey’llcontinueservice”saysMikeRolandstudentactivitiesofficerfortheBrowardSchoolDistrict.
AbouthalfofU.S.publicschoolsrequirecommunityserviceaccordingtoanationalstudy.BrowardSchoolBoardmemberBobParkssaysencouragingcommunityservicehaslaunchedallkindsofnewprojectsincludingtutoringandfoodcollections.
SooknananastudentatSouthBrowardHighSchoolispartoftheHumaneSocietyofBrowardCounty’svolunteerprogramwhichissopopularthateventhewaitinglistisclosed.Studentsworkonefour-hourshiftaweekforfourmonthsandleavewith64volunteerhours.
Sooknananchangeslitterboxesandputsdownfreshnewspaperforabout100cats.
Combinedwithhervolunteerhoursatbeachcleanupsandhelpingteachersatschoolshe’swellonherwaytoward250hourswhichshehopeswillcatchtheeyeofNovaSoutheasternUniversitywhereshewantstostudymarinebiology.
CarrollajuniorstudentatSouthPlantationHighhasconnectedwithFLIPANYanonprofitorganizationthatofferscheapphysicalactivityandfoodtolow-incomefamilies.Hehelpsteachchildrenaboutcookingandhealthyeating.
“Ithasbeenalife-changingexperience”saysCarrollwhoisnowleaningtowardacareerasasportstrainer."Iwanttofindacareerencouragingpeopletoleadahealthierlifestyle.”
(Note:AnswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinNOMORETHAN15WORDS.)