Community service builds better people

Teens spend the majority of their time and resources on themselves. From sunup to sundown, high school students are all about themselves and making sure they are popular and have the nicest things.

Yet, there are so many people in Elgin and the surrounding areas who are needy and are limited in life due to financial status, age or physical state.

Community service helps these people and meets their needs. There are many programs that assist them.

I think that more high school students and teens need to go out and serve more often. Community service is a great way to be selfless and help others less fortunate.

Schools need to have a community service requirement in order to graduate. Serving is beneficial to both parties involved. The teen who goes out and helps will develop greater self-awareness and learn to have compassion for those in need. The people who are being helped will benefit also because they are getting what they need.

By requiring this in schools, students will learn that by taking a little time out of their busy schedule, they can really make a difference. Whether it is visiting the elderly in nursing homes, cleaning houses and yards for the disabled, or working at a soup kitchen, community service benefits everyone. So by requiring students to serve a certain number of hours, they will see that there is a better way they can be using their time and resources and that they can really make a difference in the lives of the needy.

Sabrina Nohling

Elgin