I’ve never truly thought of community service as a “service,” per se, but instead something to take up the void of time that I had after school. I know that sounds incredibly cliché, but it’s the truth, and probably more because I always chose something enjoyable. The second I graduated elementary school I was back in that small cafeteria helping the children in their weekly drama club meetings. When I got into the eighth grade my civics teacher called this, “community service,” but I enjoyed it just as much as my own drama club. Perhaps this was because I enjoyed the subject or the sense of control I had over the children, maybe it was the children, but either way, I never considered it a chore. Since that first day volunteering at the school, I’ve enjoyed doing my part to enhance my community. Honestly, I consider myself, and my family, quite fortunate and to not help someone else that may need it would be selfish. Throughout high school counselors stressed the importance of community service and extra curricular activities on college applications, something that was never an issue. Now that I’m in college, I wouldn’t expect my service to simply terminate, especially as a Scholar. Baruch hands its Scholars a college education on a silver platter, without any cost. As I watch my friends struggle to acquire loans and struggle with the guilt of having their parents pay for their expensive educations, I become increasingly grateful for my opportunity. With so many opportunities at such a low cost at my fingertips, how could I not want to do something to help others? I think that this is the sort of thinking that the Honors Program tries to promote through the culture of service it suggests. Truly, how could I just accept what Baruch has given me and turn my back on those that don’t have the same advantages? The answer is simple, I can’t.
