I’m new to CC. I found this excellent site when I was trying to get information for applying to boarding schools. I did not grow up in USA so am not familiar with any aspect of the US school system. I feel like I’m constantly flying blind.
My son is in 8th grade and averages A to A minus every quarter. He is on 2 travel
Soccer teams,is the school soccer captain and was voted MVP 2 years in a row. He plays piano (level 6) and does dance (reluctantly!). I need some ideas for community service. We live in a suburb of New York which is very remote and I’m having a tough time finding a cause that he can get involved in. I have tried to get him to fundraise for local causes at his school (bake sale and used shoe drive) which has worked but he is a member of NJHS and all his ideas/efforts have to be approved by them and therefore go under their umbrella. don’t have a problem with this per se as I’m all for team work but his resume looks very unbalanced in terms of how he spends his free time.
No one gives me guidance or ideas…everyone says what he is doing is enough/fine but I wanted him to get committed to a cause and stick with it for the next 4 years of high school. He is into nature/animals/wildlife and to that end he signed up to volunteer at an animal shelter but it doesn’t seem to be anything substantial. Please could you advise or tell conversely, tell me if I’m overdoing his EC’s?
Can he do something like play piano at a skilled nursing facility? Can he volunteer doing something in your community? Helping seniors rake leaves or mow lawns?
Is there a day care center? Could he volunteer there once a week?
How about his soccer skills? Could he coach younger kids, or take the referees course and do that?
I’m having trouble with the “suburb of NY that is remote”. Could you explain?
We live in the woods…in the middle of no where…and both of my kids found places to volunteer their time.
Oh…and it’s OK if his volunteer time is done through his boarding school.
Miracle league, soup kitchen type, habitat for humanity
May need a parent with him, but these might allow him to work around his busy schedule. Then there are always things like finding groups doing Operation Christmas child and stockings for soldiers. My kids have also enjoyed ‘sorting day’ with toys for tots.
Just adding. If your kiddo is a boarding school student for High School…the schools know that community service is a part of the application questions for college. We live in a boarding school rich area. The schools reach out and do a LOT in their communities.
Perhaps you can inquire about what the boarding school does as well.
Does he go to boarding school??
Also, YOU want him to find a cause and get committed to it…but really…you can help him find ideas…and try them…but HE has to feel that commitment…not you.
You make it sound like he is doing nothing in his spare time…which I don’t believe…not with two travel soccer teams, and school work, and piano…and dance (I hope younlet him make that choice himself at some point).
Here is an idea…one of my kids is a dog walker at an animal shelter. Kid goes once a week, and walks dogs…the shelter needs these walkers. Try that.
Your child should spend this summer having a nice time and being a kid. Anything he does this summer can’t be put in his application. Colleges want to see what a student has been doing during the high school years. The summer before is BEFORE high school. Let him have fun.