It has been observed that multiple high schools have started to implement unpaid community services into student’s curriculum. Some believe that these activities are unnecessary and are a waste of time. I partially disagree with this statement as I believe that there are myriad benefits to volunteering and participating in community services.
The first argument to justify my stand is that it makes use of our free time whilst providing us with extra-curricular activities we could put in our personal statement. In the present, a plethora of universities are not just looking for an academically exceeding student, they are looking for an all-rounded one as well. Dedicating some of your time to helping out charities or working with physically or mentally challenged children shows universities that you are a noble individual.
Another point in favor is that you could make use of some skills you already have, or even discover new passions or talents you never knew you had. For example, you might excel academically and are assigned to a tutoring group. You can support younger students in various subjects whilst fostering your own knowledge as well. Additionally, a following example is that you may not get assigned to an activity of your choice and be a sports coach. This could be your time to get active and find out your love for a physical activity.
However, there are some drawbacks to making these services compulsory and unpaid. Some students may struggle time-wise when applying for university. They may have more requirements or have to retake multiple exams, so they should be dedicating their time to their academics compared to these activities. Consequently, some courses may not require voluntary services as an extra-curricular in their application, so it may waste their time.
To conclude the discussion, despite the disadvantage that it may waste your time, I think the advantages of having these voluntary services on your personal statement and developing your own skills outweigh it.