Every year TCS students must complete a minimum of 80 hours of community service. These hours are demanded by law to graduate high school. The goal by doing community service hours is to give back to the less fortunate; it can be a day program, visiting a hospital, teaching the less fortunate and many more alternatives. Many don’t understand the importance behind completing this hours or what are they about. But they are much more than a requirement to graduate, they bring enriching experiences that last a lifetime.

Giving back to your community, especially the less-fortunate, shapes us as individuals and gives us a personal growth experience. Tatiana Botero, NHS student at The Columbus School, is required to do much more hours than a normal student at school. “Firstly is a Colombian law, but I think it’s important because we are fortunate enough to live a good life and I believe it’s important to go out in the real world and know the reality of others,” said Botero. This is about giving happiness to others and many could say that in the road they find that it gives them happiness as well.

Making community service a requirement to graduate teaches students that giving back is not an option it’s rather an obligation. The Columbus School’s goal is to form ethical humans that care for the wellbeing of their community and their people.

Andres Rendon, high school counselor in charge of the completion of community service, gives us insight. “There are many options on how to complete community service hours. Each individual has their own abilities that they can put to use by helping others like sports, reading, writing, painting, teaching,” said Rendon. There are many ways in which we can help our community; it’s about finding a way that fits our personalities.

The purpose of community service is to generate a positive effect on the life of another. Even though it’s a requirement to graduate for all Colombian students, you may find yourself developing skills that you can not be taught anywhere else. Many times we spend our time so caught up on selfish acts that we forget that their are people that actually need of our help. After completing community service I believe that many become more selfless human beings.There are many ways in which you can complete 80 hours of community service. If you are someone that is completely lost on what abilities you may encounter or how you can help, start with the school. The school offers so many option to complete hours and maybe after starting you may find your way.