<p>Hey, I'm just wondering how everyone got involved in community service...I'm interested in doing some also, not only for the purpose of something to put on the transcript but also because I was always into it, just not sure how to, if I was old enough etc...</p>
<p>My community doesn't have many opportunities...Any places recruiting volunteers? Also I'm fluent in Chinese and interested in literary arts, if that helps.</p>
<p>I'll also be in china for a few weeks so charity work there is a possibility.</p>
<p>I would see if there are any faith-based initiatives in your community. Our church organizes a few service projects for youth over the course of the year.</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe there are no food pantries/animal shelters in your neck of the woods…but then again, it may be a great opportunity to start something.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. (: I don’t go to church but I’ll see if there are any programs I can participate in there.
and I think the animal shelter has enough child/teen volunteers but the food pantry might be worth considering.</p>
<p>Hospitals are always great places to start, usually love volunteers- especially in the summer!- and aren’t prejudiced against young ages (are you a freshman?). If your town doesn’t have a large hospital, how about a local nursing home? The library? Or consider carpooling with a friend to volunteer at venues in other towns, if transportation is an issue. </p>
<p>Hmmm…how about contacting your local Chinese school? Mine is sort of stagnant in the summer, but it should be worth a try xD Since you’re fluent, maybe you could volunteer to be a teaching assistant or help organize/host ceremonies. It’s all about reaching out and contacting people- you’d be surprised at how many places love free help =D</p>
<p>I got involved in community service early on as a Girl Scout. I’m part of the county Red Cross too, which was fairly easy to arrange- I just searched for a Red Cross near my town through the main website and e-mailed the chairwoman, who directed me to a bunch of people and sent me an application.</p>
<p>Also, knowing english aaand chinese in China is awesome! seriously, take advantage of that. there was a local english summer school in my apartment complex last summer that I saw a flyer for and called to ask if they were hiring…they were, so i did an interview, casually mentioned I was 13 and watched as they jumped out of their skins (bwuahaha), negotiated a working schedule and got a month-long job teaching kids english! So look around for opportunities like these when you’re in China =D</p>
<p>Plus one on the hospital thing…when I was about your age (I’m the parent of a rising 8th grader now) I worked/volunteered as a “candy striper” (because you wear a striped shirt that makes you easy to recognize as a staff member) one summer and had fun/met a lot of interesting people. I helped deliver food and kept people’s water/ice supply flowing.</p>
<p>I’m biased I think to hunger efforts, since even in relatively affluent areas of the US there are people hurting for simple daily foodstuffs.</p>
<p>FWIW, of the BS we’ve visited (NE top-tier), I was surprised that community service wasn’t more “built in” to curriculum/school life. Good for you for getting an early start on helping others.</p>
<p>Organize a food/clothing drive at your school for a local shelter/food bank…
Visit a senior center regularly to do crafts/play games/provide company…
Hold a fundraiser for some non-profit group in your community that means a lot to you. With this poor economy, non-profits are dying for funds…
Use your literary arts skills to help out recent immigrants or younger kids with disabilities…</p>
<p>There are all sorts of things you can do. It doesn’t have to be formal or arranged through someone else. You can initiate something on your own which might be even more impressive.</p>
<p>If you like to travel and do community service,you should definitely look into Global Leadership Adventures. This program offers leadership/ volunteer abroad programs that range in length from 10 days to one month. They offer trips to South America,Central America, Asia, and Africa. Last summer, I went with this program to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador and it was hands down the best experience of my life. The people that went on the same trip as me ranged in age from 14-18.
Check out their website… You won’t regret it!!
[Global</a> Leadership Adventures | Teen Community Service Trips, Study Abroad, Youth Leadership | High School Summer Programs](<a href=“http://www.experiencegla.com%5DGlobal”>http://www.experiencegla.com)</p>
<p>Intrinsically – try searching [Volunteer</a> | Do Something](<a href=“http://www.dosomething.org%5DVolunteer”>http://www.dosomething.org). You’ll be able to filter opportunities by age, region, areas of interest so it may be easy for you to spot the ideal opportunity. In addition, there are annual awards for those who perform outstanding service.</p>
<p>Hello I’m Adam, I’m working as an ambassador for Global Leadership Adventures. I’m a sophmore in high school, and I went to China on a leadership/community service trip last summer. The program was two weeks long, one spent in the city of Beijing, and the next in the country side. While in the country side we taught the local children and a few adults english. Along with that we cleared fields after the harvest preparing the land for another seed. Though this is not a litterature camp we did keep track of our trip through periodic writing whcich was all recorded in a journal they provided. I highly recommend this organization to any high school students with a love for travel and service, and that is why I volunteer to spread the word of GLA. If you have any more questions for me I would be happy to answer them. I hope you join us at GLA!
Good luck,
Adam</p>
<p>I had a question,
I do community service at through my school occasionally.
But, I also am involved in Women for Women international, I was wondering if this program is considered community service?</p>
<p>My d began dance lessons at 3 years old. Her school is a small community based program that both my sister and myself attended. When she became older she started taking classes at other schools but began assisting teachers with their beginning classes. She enjoyed it so much she spent 3 to 4 hours per week for two years. She gained over 200 hours in 2 years. </p>
<p>The greatest asset was the experience she gained and the influence that the younger students had on her. She gave a lot, leadership, example, etc, but what she walked away with was life changing and enriching beyond her wildest dreams. </p>
<p>Give time in an area that YOU love. The rewards are life changing.</p>
<p><em>slaps forehead</em> My d does that for her dance teacher. It never occurred to me to list it as community service. Hopefully, she mentioned it in the rec.</p>
<p>I think “community service” can mean many different things. Helping people in need and volunteering are what most people would expect and do. My D has done a lot work in this sense.</p>
<p>But I also think, particular in the context of BS application, “community service” could simply mean the willingness/inclination of the candidate, and his/her capability to make the school & its immediate surroundings a better place, by being a high achieving scholar, a highly competitive athlete or by filling any other needs of the schools.</p>
<p>My point is – in addition to looking around to find the next thing that needs help, one should also look inside and give their best.</p>
<p>My school offers 5 things: a Key Club that organizes events, a leadership group that mandates 500+ hours of community service in a year, a recycling and “green” living initiative called Project Oasis, privately tutoring kids either for a fee or for free, and a mass tutoring project called Student Squared. I’ve work with each one except leadership from anywhere between 50-75 hours. Other things that I have done and do are volunteering at hospitals and libraries. There is a lot of ways to get involved and help out your community. And if you don’t think that any of those things either plays your strengths or is really something that is helping the community, two of the organization i mentioned, Project Oasis and Student Squared were both made by students. Just find your own niche.</p>