High schools often advise students to participate in community services. Although the students can choose whether to take part in it or not, some people think that these services must be included as a compulsory module of their curriculum. This essay will discuss why it should not be made mandatory as it would affect their studies and leisure time.
Unpaid community services should not be made compulsory as it might have an effect on a student’s study time. Since some teenagers are poor with time management, inflicting upon them a compulsory community service would affect their overall time spent on studies. For instance, they might lose focus on their exams while running for arranging a charity event. Having an option to choose whether to join any such services would be more beneficial, as those children who can manage their time can choose to do it voluntarily.
These mandatory unpaid jobs would also have an impact on their free time. Young people need time to relax after a hectic day of doing classroom works, and if they are asked to do a community service compulsorily, then they would not give their full attention since it is stealing their leisure time from them. Furthermore, if they don’t get enough time for themselves, then it could take a toll on their mental health. For example, a study conducted by Stanford University suggests that students who get far less free time are 48% more at risk of having mental health problems later in their life. It further reinstates that why students require the leisure time that they deserve.
To conclude, it can be seen that making the unpaid community services a compulsory part of high school education would negatively impact the students’ overall studies and their leisure time. Hence, I strongly believe that these services should not be made mandatory and students should have an option to choose.