If you’re a junior, you were given the opportunity to get a head start on your graduation project this year. Starting and finishing your graduation project before you even begin your senior year is ideal, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Maybe you got a few things done for the project, but one of the biggest parts, the community service/job shadowing hours, you fell behind on.

          Simply deciding how to get your hours can be a strenuous project. You want to volunteer, but you don’t know where to start. Or maybe you want to job shadow, but you aren’t even sure what you want to do. Consider this; community service hours isn’t just about gathering hours. We want this to be a learning experience, to help us as we prepare for the end of high school. When you look at it that way, sometimes the pressure isn’t so bad. This project isn’t about proving you have it all figured out. It’s about showing that you are learning what you want to do as you close the high school chapter of your life.

            If you like taking care of children or are interested in the medical field, volunteering at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia may be the perfect experience for you. CHOP hosts a summer volunteer program for high school students every year. The program takes place from mid-July to late August for six weeks. The program mostly includes assisting staff with donations and helping with patients in casual settings like play rooms or waiting rooms. This program is relatively selective, as many apply. There are also some requirements to be a part of the program as you will be working in a hospital and with patients. If you are at least 16 and available for the six weeks, this could be a very worthwhile experience.

            If you care about the environment or enjoy using the parks in your neighborhood, maybe being a park volunteer would be a good opportunity for you. Many of the parks that we enjoy with family and friends require a lot of maintenance. Keeping our parks clean and keeping them beautiful through landscaping and gardening is all a team effort. If you want to help in this effort as community service check out the list of parks in your city. Choose a park that is close by and contact the park directors to offer your time as a volunteer. This is a much more flexible way of volunteering as you won’t be in an official program. If you want to help with parks, but are interested in the office side of things, an unpaid internship with your cities Parks & Recreation department could be beneficial, as well.

            As much as volunteering can be enjoyable and beneficial, job shadowing can be just the same and educational. Sometimes, finding job shadowing ideas are a little bit more difficult. When it comes to volunteering, many organizations and local centers are happy for the help. With job shadowing, sometimes it requires a little more as you are looking for someone who will allow you to basically be their shadow for a day or a week while you analyze their job. A little more thought should go into choosing a job shadow experience. Choose a field you are actually interested in pursuing.

            The Animal Humane Society offers job shadowing programs so you can see an inside view of working for a national organization dedicated to helping animals. Many organizations offer similar opportunities. Volunteering is very important, but if you are interested in how to make volunteering a career, try an organization that will allow you to shadow staff. Even if you aren’t interested in something like that you can always shadow someone in the career you are already decided on. Whether you want to work in media, education, law, the medical field, etc. opportunities are available. Ask family and friends if they know of someone in your field of interest who would allow you to shadow them for a day or two. All it takes is a quick search and a willingness to learn.

            Fortunately, you have all summer to get these 20 hours completed and now a list of ideas on how to get it done. So don’t hesitate, the end of the school year is rapidly approaching and summer program application deadlines are closing in. If there’s something that you really want to do or a change you really wish to see, take this as an opportunity to go after that. Obviously, the end goal is to complete the 20 hours, write a good essay, and graduate, but this could be so much more. If you can, let these 20 hours inspire you. Maybe one day you’ll look back on this summer and realize it was when you discovered what would be your career for the next 20 years.