The requirement of completing 20 hours of community service every year is common knowledge within the MBHS community. Some students seem to have mixed feelings about this requirement. For example, senior Brandon Abrenica stated that he “enjoys doing community service” because he “loves to be able to give back to the community.” There are so many community service options that anyone, of any grade, can complete.

Recently, the school hosted New York Cares, where students helped in creating our new school murals. Advisories can also create a community service project for all of their members guaranteeing that the requirement will be fulfilled for those students.

On the contrary, senior Xin Tang claimed that “the requirement is way too much,” especially for seniors who have a bigger workload, complaining that “it is difficult to actually reach 20 hours.”

Other students like senior Hannah Da Silva didn’t even know of the community service requirement.

For new students transitioning to high school with no prior experience, it is important to know that they can do things outside of school that will count towards their community service. Seniors who have been completing the requirement for consecutive years have helped communities in and out of the country during the summer, receiving proof of the hours spent helping and then transferring them into school credit. An anonymous senior went to Costa Rica over the summer and gained 25 hours worth of community service.  She said it was “an amazing experience because helping people was invigorating,” and it was great for her to be able to use it for school.

Also, teachers are extremely accommodating when helping students complete their hours. Teachers sometimes need help after school with grading papers or reorganizing their rooms. If you don’t have enough community service hours and the deadline is nearing, teachers can give you things to grade or have you help plan things, in order to finish your requirement.

Senior Jordan DeVito said “teachers are really helpful when it comes to community service,” often helping her complete her 20 hours.

The school should stress the importance of community service, especially to the seniors, because it will affect their college applications. As for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, the earlier they start the easier it will be for them. Who knows – by senior year they could even finish the requirements needed for all four years of high school.