by Sakura Taono (Writing 5, January 2022)
Interestingly, US students need to join some volunteer activities to graduate their school. Some people say that it is good opportunity for them to enhance themselves. Other people say that if students were forced to take part in volunteer activities, it would not be original intent of volunteering. Although students can see various people’s lives and situations to join volunteer activities, studies are the most crucial job for students. Thus they should not be forced to take part in volunteer activities.
It may be true that volunteer activities lead to mental growth such as consideration and sense of responsibility. But these growths can be found sufficiently through school life. According to Koenig (2011), “The merit of volunteer work stems from the fact it is voluntary – if schools mandate that students perform community service, then projects lose value to the student participants.” Though they are reluctant to participate in volunteer activities, if they were forced to join these activities, they would take an apathetic attitude. It is not worth for not only their mental health but also their physical health.
Many think that students can experience new things which they can not learn at school to take part in volunteer activities. However even now they do not have so much time and become busier by being forced to take part in volunteer activities. Wilmore (2019) writes that they already have a tight schedule because they have a lot of homework, and there are some students who belong to club activities. Studies and the club activities are more important for them than volunteer activities. Schools need to consider coordinating students’ environment which they can concentrate on studies and club activities.
Students should not join volunteer activities if they do not want to do, so they have to study hard, and when they have time, they should enjoy their school life. It means that they do not need to be bound to volunteer activities, and they can take part in volunteer activities whenever they are interested in these activities. Studies and club activities are children’s job, but even after they graduate schools, they can participate in volunteer activities. These activities should be “voluntary” activities.