As social distancing continues to limit one’s ability to go outside, high school students are anxious about their extracurriculars and volunteer service hours. These weeks of quarantine have definitely put us all into a state of anxiety and worry for the days ahead. However, there are still ways to be a part of the community and get volunteer service hours.
A great way to participate in volunteer service is to attend online seminars or classes available to you. Many community colleges and schools are offering ways to still be active online. For example, if you are interested in taking a class over the summer, you can take online classes from LACCD colleges such as Los Angeles Valley College. Through this, you can gain college experiences and become familiar with attending classes online. From astronomy to literature, Los Angeles Valley College has many diverse classes that are open to high school students. Another website called Coursera has many online classes that can help students through this time of social distancing. Another way to volunteer is to join the American Red Cross.
The American Red Cross also has many opportunities for high school students to receive volunteer hours and meet new people through a computer. There are many online calls and volunteer opportunities to gain experiences and learn more about disaster preparedness. Recently, the Red Cross Youth Corps had an online seminar for high school students on how to be professional and ways to find your path or career. This was a very good opportunity for me and my peers to learn about professionalism as well as how to prepare for college. In addition, there are online classes provided by the Red Cross that can help students learn about preparing for disasters, first aid, and mental health. The Red Cross offers numerous volunteer opportunities, such as online classes and seminars, so that one can receive volunteer hours even during social distancing. Participating in these activities and taking classes can be a great way to be productive during the quarantine.
During this time of quarantine, taking a few classes and going to online seminars can help you efficiently spend your time. Personally, I attended a college panel seminar that helped me understand how to be professional and learn more about different careers. The next time you find yourself doing nothing at home try signing up for a seminar!
Rachel Lee, Grade 10
The Science Academy
