The school year has begun and one specific email lands in the inbox of all LFHS students almost weekly: Are you looking for a part-time job?
Often times it’s overlooked with many students too engrossed in sports or school to have any interest in even reading through it. Despite this being the case, the email remains valuable for some, so it shouldn’t be entirely discarded.
Instead, what if LFHS expanded the job email this year to include more about a topic of extreme relevance, something almost all students could and should be doing more of: volunteering?
Additionally, there are several ways our school could be improving awareness about where volunteers are needed. Some ideas for this include:
Utilize the new Scout Seminar class to introduce the freshman to the importance of starting their volunteering journey early in high school
Scout Seminar is a newly established class designed to help freshman acclimate to the school environment. Mrs. Carolyn Bielski, a Scout Seminar teacher, is already cultivating a volunteering mindset among her students.
“Having lived in Lake Forest/Lake Bluff for my whole life, I see that everyone volunteers. It’s just part of our culture and I think that is so important to instill in students as well,” Bielski said. “Everybody does it in a different way and I want my students to find their way.”
Bielski’s approach to connecting her students with the community is exceptional and is vital as they are beginning their year in a new and unfamiliar school.
She regularly provides updates to her class whenever she finds new volunteering opportunities that she thinks might interest them. This is an awesome way that students can begin volunteering as early as possible.
Encourage clubs that are centered around volunteering and make it easy for people to get involved
This year, with new presidents and fresh ideas for improvement, the Interact Club is making a comeback. This club is one with a meaningful goal: to inspire all grades at LFHS to dedicate time into making a lasting impact and difference in our local community.
“I hope this club gets people at our school more excited to volunteer,” Interact Club Copresident Stella Henretta said. “We want to have members that have a passion for helping others, which can make a huge impact on the lives of many.”
Interact Club has such a positive goal and makes it easy for people to get involved in numerous ways. Promoting it more widely throughout the school is an effective way to increase the passion for volunteering in our community.
Add volunteering information into the weekly job email
Since an email regarding part-time jobs is already sent out each week, why not incorporate some additional volunteering details for students interested in learning more?
“I do include volunteering on my emails but not as often as jobs, ” Vocational Specialist Mr. Scott Gilbert said. “Volunteering is extremely important because it makes you feel good by helping other people and when you are helping other people, you are truly making a difference in this world.”
By transforming these emails into a resource for volunteering information, it can hopefully bring about more ways for everyone to find a way to help others and make them and other people in the process feel good.
