i Generation
Lending a Hand
By Alyssa Christianson

Community service - two words that either bring pride and enthusiasm or dread to the hearts of teenagers today.

Why do we have to do community service? It's a simple question but the answer can be surprisingly difficult.

We all know that we're "supposed" to do community service, but is that really the right way to look at it? As a chore? When did helping other turn into a grievance?

Community service is whatever you make it. It can either be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience or something looked upon with disdain out of selfishness.

Some people thrive off of serving others and helping as many people as they can. It's in their nature to be outgoing and helpful.

But, if you're in a situation like me, where you are expected to complete a certain amount of hours of community service for either religious, educational, or disciplinary purposes then I think in order to really get the full experience, you have to change the way you're looking at it.

Consider it this way ... community service, no matter how boring or insignificant you may feel it is, no matter how big or small your actions are, is one of the things that makes our society human.

Think about it. Through community service you are reaching out to another person from the goodness of your heart and your desire to help someone who is in need. Even if you don't come in direct relation with the receiving end of the service, say as in donating clothes, you can just imagine how helpful your actions were.

So why do we have to do it? Why should we feel inclined to help people whom we don't even know?

Simple. Not because it's the right thing to do.

Not because your parents tell you to, but because you should feel that desire in your heart. Helping others creates warmth and brotherhood in communities.

When an act of service is completed the pride that one feels is what makes the entire action worth it. Even if you had to go out of your way to help someone else, it still feels worthy of your time.

So know that you have my general idea about why participation in community service is good, let's talk about what you can do to help.

Community service doesn't have to be a huge event. It can even be helping around the house, maybe doing some extra chores or doing things without being asked.

It could even be just listening to a friend's problems. Yes, as simple as it sounds, listening to someone else's problems or helping them work through a difficult time in their life is form of community service.

Doing a walk for cancer or another cause is also a good why to contribute. Raising money for medical purposes or for poverty-stricken families is a perfect way to help the community and can also be fun. Get some friends involved and make a day of it!

There are so many ways to help around your community - soup kitchens, food drives, reading to young children or seniors, tutoring, picking up stray garbage around town...the list goes on and on. There are literally hundreds of ways to contribute.

Think of something you enjoy doing and usually there is some way to change it into a form of community service.

So whether you're doing community service because you have to or because you feel like giving back to your town, state, country, or even the world there is a way to contribute without it being dull.

Community service is the gift that keeps on giving and if that isn't enticing enough just remember...what goes around comes around!

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Alyssa Christianson is a member of the Oakmont Regional High School Class of 2008. She resides in Ashburnham.