Community Service and academics
(Community Service=Better Academics)
Parents and students complain that teens are tied down
by schoolwork. They believe this workload should be the main focus in high
school—anything else presents a distraction. A 2002-2004 study by the
Educational Longitudinal disproves this viewpoint. Students with the highest
SAT/ACT scores are also the highest percentage of community service
participants. High scores do not originate solely from natural ability.
Instead, these scores are achieved by hard work and dedication. Colleges
consider SAT/ACT scores to be one of the largest factors for admittance. As a
student who is currently preparing to take these detrimental tests, I
understand the amount of pressure that accompanies the process. But, I also
recognize how the community service projects I am involved in, such as a dance
marathon and recycling club, improve my grades. These projects provide an
outlet to this stress by allowing me to forget about my life and help someone
else’s. (The Educational Longitudinal Study 2002-2004)