Throughout all of FWPA’s unique traits and traditions, one remains a popular point of discussion. From the very start, it stands as a requirement for graduation. For some, it’s just an annoyance, but for others, it’s a form of peace and relaxation.
Every year, students are required to participate in community service. As a requirement, community service encourages scholars to get out of their comfort zone and provide for their area. To Declan Bunting, community service means, “Serving in the community for the common good without expecting anything in return.”
Students provide for their communities in a variety of ways, ranging from cleaning to singing. To reach his service hours, Alex Gasanov said, “I put on an annual light show where kids can enjoy worship music while still having fun. I thought the 20 or so hours were too much, but actually doing them was a breeze.”
Diana Biletska helps out her community by picking up trash in her area, mentioning, “I help my neighborhood out by cleaning out trash in parks.” To her, service feels like, “A way to connect with the people around me. At first, I saw it as a requirement, but I now see it as therapeutic, disassociating it with my schoolwork.”
Although extracurricular activities are the main method to achieve hours, FWPA provides its fair share of ways to earn hours on school grounds. Members of ASB can volunteer to prepare and provide food to others at booths during school events such as dances, movies, or conferences. After school, safety patrol members help students get to their rides safely, whereas members of the Community Service Club and Gardening Club help around the school, raking leaves and tending to plants.
At the end-of-year assembly, awards bring light to those who left an impact on the school. Awards range from leadership to high honors, but one of the most coveted awards is the community service award, only given out to one person for each grade. Ms. Camp and Ms. Lee read every community service essay and determine the winners based on their amount of hours and the work they did. “I guess in a lot of ways, [community service is] something I just chose. It’s not something I think about, but it’s more a part of my life,” Ms. Camp explained.
As one of the many traditions at FWPA, community service remains an important part of FWPA pride, bringing scholars closer to their community.
