It has been suggested that high school students should engage in free community service as a mandatory part of the school curriculum. In my opinion, I partly agree with this suggestion because, while it helps students foster transferable skills and a sense of social contribution, it can also pressure them in some ways.
On the one hand, integrating volunteering activities into high school programs would bring several benefits. One notable advantage is that, by participating in extra activities outside of educational institution settings, young learners are provided with the opportunity to experience real-life jobs and meet people from different walks of life. This enables them to acquire a great deal of practical knowledge and soft skills that could be an asset on their CVs in the future. For example, teaching young children sports or academic subjects can forge and cement the young volunteers’ own knowledge and improve their pedagogic skills simultaneously. Another upside of high school students’ involvement in non-wage work serving community purposes is that it will help bring a sense of fulfillment to them. For instance, when a student joins a charity that helps improve the quality of life of people in less favorable living conditions, they might feel integrated into society and that they are contributing to the goodness of the world. As a result, this will likely boost their overall well-being and encourage them to continue their righteous actions in later times.
Nevertheless, forcing teenagers to spend too much time on numerous after-school activities could be counterproductive, as it can create too much pressure. If students are obliged to devote large portions of their time and energy to work that is typically voluntary, they might not have sufficient time for academic work, hobbies, or family time, therefore becoming stressed and distressed. Consequently, this could give these students a negative outlook on free community work and make them want to avoid doing it later.
In conclusion, I support high school administrators in putting this program into action due to all the benefits it could offer the students. However, it is also essential to note that extracurriculars should not be made to become a burden on them.