Humanity’s Greatest Virtue
A meal worth less than a side dish; a house smaller than a classroom. The scent of gasoline fumes waft through non-existent windows, piercing the foundation of people huddled nearby. This may seem as a far-off nightmare to many of you, but this reality is definitely not hard to foresee- not only in the United States but even more so in the urban metropolises of Europe. Thousands of citizens, from young to old, lend their time by helping out these deprived families.
A majority of modern society believes in contributions to the less fortunate, but not many can actually say that they’ve honestly done so. When surveying a random selection of students at Sierra Vista, 30% have performed community service within the last five months. With several electives and clubs, such as Honor Society and SiViCS Club, that require 10 hours of service, the adolescents of today are learning to love the tree-planting and river-cleaning activities that are sponsored all throughout Santa Clarita.
Not only is this form of helping considered admirable and charitable by adults and children alike, but it can also help ambitious students get admitted into a college or university. Some schools even declare that a certain amount of hours are required to be able to graduate with a degree. Sororities and fraternities occasionally make it a goal for every member to participate in community service. The concept of volunteering is hardly optional anymore, but that doesn’t mean one should shun it instead of showing support.
There are unlimited amounts of ways to give service to your community. A simple suggestion would be to stop by your local day care or retirement home. The staff is always looking for free help from the youth. Another portal for ideas could be found on the Santa Clarita website, http://www.santa-clarita.com/, with a calendar that includes dates far into the future for your personal convenience. Don’t own a computer or know any nearby nurseries? Join the SiViCS Club, run by Mrs. Skoczylas on the Sierra Vista campus. She takes the students out to gain more than enough hours needed by cleaning up at the River Rally.
“Community service is good as long as I get my hours,” says an anonymous Sierra Vista student. Others agree that they’ll do it when “it’s needed.” This mindset is common all across campus but there are some, like 8th grader Anne Tobe who’s been “working at a retirement home since 2008.” These diamonds in the rough take pride in their labor and the entire notion by going back often to their favorite places for anywhere from one to many hours per weekend. So maybe you should assemble some of your friends for a cold brisk morning to tidy up the park this Saturday. “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – Albert Einstein.