x2VOL Blog: Tracking Service Hours at your School

The holidays are approaching! This is the perfect time of year to spread holiday cheer by volunteering and helping others! For students who have volunteer hours to complete, the holidays offer many opportunities for you to sign up! Below is a list of holiday service ideas for students to consider:

Following the pandemic, students are facing increased mental health issues and anxiety. During lockdowns, social media became a lifeline to keep everyone connected, but now it is contributing to increased pressure and anxiety for students. Between social media, online shopping, AI, etc. - society has never been online more than right now. Additionally, even parts of education have even moved online as districts had to adapt to the changing education landscape during the pandemic.

Community service has proven to be a developmental necessity for students. Personal growth, emotional development, leadership, and more, are all positive results from students participating in community service. Improved student outcomes are a priority for educators, and community service plays a role in student success after high school. 

With spring break just around the corner, now is a great time for students to start planning how they are going to serve their community during the break! Students have the opportunity to make a huge difference in their communities and the world around them by using their unique skills and talents. This blog can be a resource for students who are struggling to find ways to serve. Can’t serve in-person? No worries, we’ve included ideas for virtual service as well!

I’m Hannah Haley, a senior at Allen High School. Throughout the past couple of
years, I have had the privilege of participating in, and this year, leading, the fourth annual Eagle Give Day. Called a “service learning day,” students sign up for a project through x2VOL that interests them and then get to serve instead of attending class. Falling on the half day before break, it is the most perfect day of the year and easy for everyone to volunteer their time, even if they have never volunteered before.

The holiday season is a time for giving, spreading joy, and fostering a sense of community. For students, this is a perfect opportunity to engage in acts of kindness and service, not only to make a positive impact but also to grow personally and learn valuable life lessons. Here are some holiday service ideas for students to consider:

Preparation for college, university, and future careers starts early. High school students start thinking about what careers they might want to pursue in the future as early as their freshman year. 

Civic engagement is of the utmost importance for students. Service and community engagement during formative high school years improve social-emotional growth, student outcomes, leadership skills, and more. But how are these programs being managed when educators are leaving schools in record numbers?

According to the Department of Education, successful work-based learning education has three important elements: “the alignment of classroom and workplace learning; application of academic, technical, and employability skills in a work setting; and support from the classroom or workplace mentors”.