<p>Well? How, where, why...do you do it? And is it really that important????</p>
<p>Community service/volunteering is a great way to get work experience (ie. You can't get hired because you don't have any work experience, but you can't get any work experience unless your get hired or volunteer). It also lets you try out some different areas that you might be interested in pursuing as a career later. Some people say that it's necessary for university applications. I'm not entirely sure if that's true.</p>
<p>I haven't started volunteering yet partially because of a lack of time and partially because I'm not old enough to volunteer at the places that I want to. I plan on trying to get a volunteer position either at a hospital or a retirement community so I can get a sense of the medical world/care facility.</p>
<p>Well...I was just asking because I might start CS tomorrow....at a retirement center...as part of our Honors Science Credit.</p>
<p>Its important. Go find a nursing home and work there all the time.</p>
<p>Alright, if I didn't HAVE to do volunteer work, then I know I wouldn't be going to no nursing home. You need to get involved with the school then. Your school should have PLENTY of volunterring opportunities. Just sign up for them when they arise.</p>
<p>My biggest extracurricular is community service. When I was in seventh grade, I even started a youth volunteer group that has spread, and worked with politicians to do really great work on a state level. I think that community service is incredibly important, not just for school credit or colleges, but because it is fun, a good experience, and really helps people. Everybody has gifts, and I think that the point of living is sharing these gifts with other people. So don't just do community service because you have to, do it because it can really help somebody. Even if you can only help one person, that is one person that will never forget you, and one person that you will never forget.</p>
<p>I volunteered to work at the planetarium at the Virginia Living Museum in a couple of months. Should be pretty cool</p>
<p>IMO, its just another EC. I had 0 hours and got into an Ivy - I personally was just never that interested in doing any. If you take the hours you'd spend doing CS and invest them in research or some other out-of-school EC (to show independence by finding your own) you should be fine.</p>
<p>In terms of personal joy and reward, I don't think I missed out on much by not doing much community service - I didn't really enjoy the occasional community service (ie: teaching kids at elementery school, etc...) that I did do.</p>
<p>where do you live Crazy Glue? Newport News?</p>
<p>Its really good to do things for others. It teaches you so much. Its kind of sad that doing something nice isn't interesting. </p>
<p>We live in a pretty selfish society. There are so many people who need a hand. So many places that could use some help.</p>
<p>Please volunteer some where.</p>
<p>It is NOT just another EC. Thats a cop out. Its easy to do stuff at school. Its easy to have someone else figure out what you do. Doing volunter work takes some extra time, some intiative, some heart and some caring about your fellow humans.</p>
<p>Think about that.</p>
<p>williamsburg....home of the williamsburger! X-D</p>
<p>"IMO, its just another EC. I had 0 hours and got into an Ivy - I personally was just never that interested in doing any. If you take the hours you'd spend doing CS and invest them in research or some other out-of-school EC (to show independence by finding your own) you should be fine.</p>
<p>In terms of personal joy and reward, I don't think I missed out on much by not doing much community service - I didn't really enjoy the occasional community service (ie: teaching kids at elementery school, etc...) that I did do."</p>
<p>Why would you do research when you could actually be helping people? That's a very weird statement and it makes it seem like you like research more than helping children learn. I think that's wrong. Just my opinion.</p>
<p>It's just a difference in personality (extroverted versus introverted [sorry if I spelled those incorrectly]). Some people love interacting with other people, while other people might prefer to spend time independently. Some people love kids and are good with kids, others aren't. There isn't a "right" or a "wrong" type. </p>
<p>Also, people who do research do help others. Think of the medical researchers who have found new ways to treat or prevent diseases. If it weren't for them, we'd probably still have a life expectency of 30 or so.</p>
<p>I volunteer because we have to have at least 60 hours of volunteer service to graduate. But now, I volunteer because its fun (depending on if you enjoy your job) and if you volunteer over 250 hours or so where I live, I think you get a scholarship.</p>
<p>I try and volunteer at hospitals, but I was never able to get an interesting job until 16 maybe when I turn 17. So I volunteered a middle school plays, was in a play, and at the county youth advisory committe as a member.</p>