When Volunteer Work Becomes Involuntary

There is an indestructible barrier that may keep seniors from donning their graduation caps this spring: 20 hours of volunteer work.

That barrier looms in the minds of many Jamesville-DeWitt High School students, who must accumulate these hours before June of 2010. In order to graduate, seniors must complete at least 20 hours of volunteer work through their government classes, and for members of the National Honors Society an additional 30 hours are needed.

Senior Katie Heil has been efficiently racking up her volunteer hours through multiple activities in order to be eligible to graduate on time. These tasks include performing odd jobs at Holy Cross Church, as well as teaching religious education classes. She says that even though the number of hours may seem a little overkill at first, seniors can easily reach the 20 hours that are required to graduate.

Donna Oppedisano, a government teacher at J-DHS, explains that the purpose of these required hours is to "help emerging citizens understand what it looks like to be a member of the community." These responsibilities include voting, helping out with the community, and the responsibility of being a citizen.

Not only do these required hours teach seniors about the importance of being a responsible United States citizen, but they also benefit local communities throughout Central New York. "There is so much that needs to be done to make a community successful," Mrs. Oppedisano says. "Everything students do is less work that employees have to do."

Tori Nies, a senior at J-DHS, also sees that these hours of work are very beneficial to the community, though students often dread them. "It gets (seniors) involved in their community, and it inspires them to do more," Nies says. "It looks good on your college application," senior Tara Prosak adds.

Mrs. Oppedisano finds that students will dread these necessary hours at first, but they will give them a better understanding of their community in the end. "When students first do community service, they're like "˜oh my god, this is awful!'" Mrs. Oppedisano explains. In some cases, however, these programs will help to build lasting relationships between students and the community, which becomes more than just 20 hours of volunteer work. "After a student goes into this with an open mind, they have an excellent experience," she adds.

As some students are finishing up their last minutes of required volunteer work, others will barely even have started. This is because, while seniors need 20 hours for government alone, National Honor Society members are required to complete an additional 30 hours of work, making their grand total 50 hours.

Maria Passage, Spanish teacher at J-DHS, and National Honor Society adviser, explains that the selection process into NHS is based on four criteria: service, leadership, scholarship, and character. "As a result, we continue to enforce these criteria during their membership," says Ms. Passage.

Nies, who is a member of the National Honor Society, is efficiently racking up her hours of volunteer work through different activities. Nies volunteers through United Way, a group that takes on the problems involving local communities. She also used the summer to gather her necessary hours for graduation, by volunteering at a local youth lacrosse camp.

Ms. Passage explains how NHS members have been doing a variety of activities in order to compile their necessary hours. "Our biggest projects going are the tutoring center here at the high school, volunteering at Tecumseh Elementary during their dance program, and we just finished raising money for the American Cancer Society," Ms. Passage says, referring to the recent Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Together, NHS raised over $900 for this event. Other activities include tutoring in the J-DHS library every Tuesday and Thursday, and the annual J-DHS craft fair show.

Sarah Gianni, a senior at J-DHS, says that even though all their hard work is benefiting the community, the number of hours required is a little excessive. "I think it's a little much because people are busy," Gianni says. "50 hours is a lot."

Senior Tara Prosak, on the other hand, sees that what is being asked of them is all a part of being in National Honors Society. "If you're in the club you have to be prepared to do that stuff," she explains. Senior Eric Semmel agrees that these hours are not out of reach for a J-DHS student to complete. "I think that most people do more than (50 hours)," Semmel adds. He has recently spent his time gathering his required hours while volunteering at University Hospital.

There is always room for improvement, however, and Mrs. Oppedisano believes that these hours should start earlier than student's senior year. "I wish it was a part of more what J-D does and not necessarily what government does," Ms. Oppedisano adds. The purpose of these hours is to benefit our communities and get students involved with making it a better place to live. So, why should these long hours be concentrated solely in ones government class of their senior year? "I wish there was a commitment across grade levels," she adds.

Nevertheless, the 50 hours of work will continue to assist our local communities by building them stronger, and help to build the relationships between J-DHS and the rest of Central New York. "It shows (the community) that we care," Semmel adds.

So as their senior year continues to roll on by, it is time to buckle down and start ranking up the required volunteer hours. Because just as senior Valerie Hughes would put it, "an excuse you don't have it done is inexcusable!"