Freshman Nikki Shaden and Leann Shaden doing community Service during thanksgiving week (photo by Karina Monticone).

Students who graduate from high school in the YISD before 2014 are required to only have 60 community service hours.

Students who graduate in 2014 and beyond are required to have 80 community service hours, according to the updated graduation plan list provided by the school.

It isn’t mandatory for students to have a certain amount of hours at the end of each school year.

Students are informed about the number of community service hours they will need at registration their freshman year. They have the remaining four years of their high school years to get all the hours needed.

It is believed that a student who does community service hours will later benefit in life.

Many of the school’s clubs, such as Interact and Student Council, offer many opportunities for students to get all the hours needed.

Some parents and students find the mandatory hours to graduate unnecessary and useless while others find the hours helpful and, in the end do a lot for the community.

Students’ believe that community service hours have helped them look at life from a new perspective.

Although they were originally just a way to get out of class, in the end the hours have played an important role on their life.

“Like many other students in the school, when I first found out the number of community service hours that I’d need to graduate, I dreaded them, I found needing hours completely pointless,” said junior Andrew Mitchell.

“I eventually started to get my hours, and once I did and saw how my help could impact others, I completely forgot my main purpose of why I was actually doing community service, there are people out there who need help and it was a nice feeling to be there. I know that many people would say that community service hours have no affect on a person, but it really does depend on the individual and if they take the time to realize the great things that they’re doing for their community.”

According to philanthropy.com, not only do volunteers promote community service because of the impact it has on society and the help it brings, but the nation’s president believes since this nation will soon be run by teens and young adults, community service can have a big part of advancing the country and fixing the financial problems it has been facing.

Students believe community service does not have an impact.

“I’ve never seen the importance of getting community service hours,” said sophomore Dallas Kyle. “I realize that when doing community service hours you’re helping the community and people in need, but most people don’t consider that. I’ve completed most of my hours, and I felt good after helping, but I personally wouldn’t go out on my own to get community service hours because it wouldn’t be mandatory any longer.”

According to kidshealth.org, it’s been proven that helping and getting involved leaves a person with a feeling of satisfaction that not only leaves them happy during the day but also helps them keep positive throughout life.

It not only strengthens a family, but also a community, once on person helps, everyone else catches on.

Professionals believe the service adds great character to many teens that, in return, helps them thrive in academics.

The community service students have done has impacted families and organizations recently. Recently, students at Hanks asked fellow students to bring in canned goods, turkeys and, in return of donating a dollar, students would receive a pass every Friday of November to get out ten minutes early for lunch.

All the canned goods, turkeys and money donated was used for less-fortunate families who didn’t have a chance of having a great Thanksgiving meal.

The long-term impact of community service hours on a person has yet to be determined.  However, the individuals who put in their time and effort have already begun to influence the community.

Whether one believes community service hours have a long or short-term effect on an individual, the hours are still mandatory in order to graduate from high school.  Might as well make the most of it.