Project S.E.R.V.E.

Every year the graduating class must complete a senior project in order to receive their diploma. Senior projects, or Project S.E.R.V.E., requires students to volunteer in some way that helps the community. Students have to document their work with a website that explains what they are doing. Project S.E.R.V.E. gives students a way to help their community in a meaningful way. Senior Thomas Cramer decided to volunteer by promoting healthy relationships.

   “My senior project is called Chalk Heart, it is an event for community members to draw healthy relationships in hopes to fight against abusive and hurtful relationships. It will fight against abuse in our community and also promote growth as well. I set up the event and helped pass out flyers as well as presented my idea to the Youth Council of Petaluma to help spread the word about the event,” said Cramer.

   While many students choose to help the town as a whole, some individuals choose to use their community service to benefit the school. Senior Andrea Rossi decided to renovate the unused area behind the library.

   “I am going to make it have multiple places for people to hang out and study as well as a rainwater system. I would walk by the band room for the past four years and it made me upset to see the area go unused, and I thought I could give it a purpose. We are going to get a few tables for people to eat and study at, and we will hopefully get a few benches,” said Rossi.

   The work behind the library has created a space for students to use, that paired with the beautiful mural, painted by Yin Mei Chan and Jason Van Tighem, makes for a perfect place for friends to gather. While Rossi used her ability to observe for her Project S.E.R.V.E., senior Hayley Brewster took one of her skills and turned it into her senior project.

   “I went to elementary schools and taught deaf culture and basic signs. In one game we played musical chairs, but the deaf can’t hear music unless it’s blasting so we used lights as music,” said Brewster.

   Whether it’s helping children learn sign language, renovating a weed infested corner of the school, or promoting healthy relationships, senior projects are always focusing on bettering the community, but the specific details and procedures are often modified. Although Cramer enjoys his project, he does admit he would like to see some changes.

   “I would make the requirements less strict because my original idea was shot down and I was truly interested in it. The requirements on how well it will affect the community and whether you are doing a unique project should be looser. It [project S.E.R.V.E.] should just be about helping our community,” said Cramer.

   Project S.E.R.V.E. hopes to better the school, the community, and the lives of the volunteers by giving students a chance to do something important before their high school career ends. Although some of the specific requirements could be tweaked, Project S.E.R.V.E. is an essentially beneficial process, which many students enjoy. Senior projects have survived throughout many years, and we can expect to see them for many years to come.