Mandatory volunteerism. How can something based on free will become mandatory
Seems a bit paradoxical.
However, this oxymoron is seen at so many high schools as a graduation requirement. But does this “give back to the community” sentiment do more harm than good?
I remember when I first came to Hunterdon Central. As a wide-eyed freshman, I had heard rumors that we needed 100 volunteer hours to graduate. 100 hours? That seemed like so much at the time. I worried how I would ever be able to achieve this. Upon talking to the upperclassmen, that worry shed when I found out this was nothing but a myth. While Hunterdon Central strongly promotes volunteering and student service, there is no requirement for a certain number of hours to graduate. However, it does make sense why students are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteering helps foster connections, promote community involvement, and encourage civic participation when participants serve their community.
For example, a Corporation for National and Community Service study found that young people who volunteer are more likely to become leaders and show higher levels of academic engagement, as it allows students to improve their teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. In a world where these traits are vital, strengthening them becomes essential for both professional and personal development. Furthermore, volunteering frequently fosters empathy and compassion, developing people who are socially conscious and sensitive to the needs of others. Many academic institutions value volunteerism in admissions, seeing it as a reflection of an applicant’s character and dedication to community service.
On the other hand, volunteering is fundamentally an act of selflessness and free will. Making it mandatory runs the danger of lessening the experience’s genuineness by taking away that entire concept. It ruins the idea that volunteering is an optional event where people choose to give back to their community. This can even be proved with psychology with the concept of intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is the idea that one does an activity for their own satisfaction. So, forcing someone to do an activity that may already intrinsically motivate them redirects the goal to an outside source instead of one that came from within.
When forced, students could view volunteering as just another graduation requirement specification, lacking in sincere interest or enthusiasm. Mandatory volunteerism also has the potential to undermine the very ideals it aims to impart to children by encouraging skepticism or anger.
The solution? Finding a balance. It is crucial to create a balance between community involvement and maintaining the authenticity of volunteer experiences as we work through the challenges of required volunteerism. Schools can highlight the value of civic involvement and allow students the chance to investigate a variety of service initiatives rather than directly imposing a certain amount of volunteer requirements. Through the establishment of a culture that motivates students to make significant contributions, schools can promote an authentic sense of volunteer work that goes above and beyond just receiving a diploma.
In summary, even if volunteering has many advantages, actually requiring volunteer work creates a difficult moral situation, taking away its true meaning. We can try to achieve a balance that combines community engagement with maintaining the authenticity of volunteer experiences by volunteering for projects we are passionate about. Making sure that students are participating in work that gives them meaning and purpose, rather than being simply something they have to do, is the key to this.
Looking for local volunteer opportunities?
Try contacting local non-profits, small businesses, or volunteer organizations. Simply by reaching out, you may be able to find a great opportunity in a field that you are passionate about. Even just by perusing the hundreds of student organizations at school, you will be sure to find a group that suits your interests, and many clubs have a volunteer aspect as well. Volunteering may be something that you find a lot of joy in doing. I know I definitely have.
