Mandatory volunteering made many members of Maryland high school class of 1997 rumble with indignation. They didn’t like a new requirement that made them take part in the school’s community service program. Future seniors, however, probably won’t be as resistant now that the program has been broken in. Some, like John Maloney, already have completed their required hours of approved community service. Brown, the High School sophomore earned his hours in eighth grade by volunteering two nights a ...

Mandatory volunteering made many members of Maryland high school class of 1997 rumble with indignation. They didn’t like a new requirement that made them take part in the school’s community service program.

Future seniors, however, probably won’t be as resistant now that the program has been broken in. Some, like John Maloney, already have completed their required hours of approved community service. Brown, the High School sophomore earned his hours in eighth grade by volunteering two nights a week at the Larkin-Chase Nursing and Restorative Center in Bowie. He played shuffleboard, cards, and other games with the senior citizens. He also helped plan parties for them and visited their rooms to keep them company. That experience inspired him to continue volunteering in the community.

John, 15, has not finished volunteering. Once a week he videotapes animals at the Prince George County animal shelter in Forestville. His footage is shown on the Bowie public access television channel in hopes of finding homes for the animals. “Volunteering is better than just sitting around,” says John, “and I like animals; I don’t want to see them put to sleep.”

He’s not the only volunteer in his family. His sister, Melissa, an eighth grader, has also completed her hours volunteering at Larkin-Chase. “It is a good idea to have kids go out into the community, but it’s frustrating to have to write essays about the work,” she said. “It makes you feel like you’re doing it for the requirement and not for yourself.” The high school’s service-learning office, run by Beth Ansley, provides information on organizations seeking volunteers so that students will have an easier time fulfilling their hours. “It’s ridiculous that people are opposing the requirements,” said Amy Rouse, who this summer has worked at the Ronald McDonald House and has helped to rebuild a church in Clinton. “So many people won’t do the service unless it’s mandatory,” Rouse said, “but once they start doing it, they’ll really like it and hopefully it will become a part of their lives - like it has become a part of mine.”