my role in the community as a student essay

How to Write the Community Essay – Guide with Examples (2023-24)

September 6, 2023

Students applying to college this year will inevitably confront the community essay. In fact, most students will end up responding to several community essay prompts for different schools. For this reason, you should know more than simply how to approach the community essay as a genre. Rather, you will want to learn how to decipher the nuances of each particular prompt, in order to adapt your response appropriately. In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that, through several community essay examples. These examples will also demonstrate how to avoid cliché and make the community essay authentically and convincingly your own.

Emphasis on Community

Do keep in mind that inherent in the word “community” is the idea of multiple people. The personal statement already provides you with a chance to tell the college admissions committee about yourself as an individual. The community essay, however, suggests that you depict yourself among others. You can use this opportunity to your advantage by showing off interpersonal skills, for example. Or, perhaps you wish to relate a moment that forged important relationships. This in turn will indicate what kind of connections you’ll make in the classroom with college peers and professors.

Apart from comprising numerous people, a community can appear in many shapes and sizes. It could be as small as a volleyball team, or as large as a diaspora. It could fill a town soup kitchen, or spread across five boroughs. In fact, due to the internet, certain communities today don’t even require a physical place to congregate. Communities can form around a shared identity, shared place, shared hobby, shared ideology, or shared call to action. They can even arise due to a shared yet unforeseen circumstance.

What is the Community Essay All About?             

In a nutshell, the community essay should exhibit three things:

• An aspect of yourself, 2. in the context of a community you belonged to, and 3. how this experience may shape your contribution to the community you’ll join in college.

It may look like a fairly simple equation: 1 + 2 = 3. However, each college will word their community essay prompt differently, so it’s important to look out for additional variables. One college may use the community essay as a way to glimpse your core values. Another may use the essay to understand how you would add to diversity on campus. Some may let you decide in which direction to take it—and there are many ways to go!

To get a better idea of how the prompts differ, let’s take a look at some real community essay prompts from the current admission cycle.

Sample 2023-2024 Community Essay Prompts

1) brown university.

“Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (200-250 words)”

A close reading of this prompt shows that Brown puts particular emphasis on place. They do this by using the words “home,” “College Hill,” and “where they came from.” Thus, Brown invites writers to think about community through the prism of place. They also emphasize the idea of personal growth or change, through the words “inspired or challenged you.” Therefore, Brown wishes to see how the place you grew up in has affected you. And, they want to know how you in turn will affect their college community.

“NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world-class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience.

We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community. Please respond in 250 words or less.”

Here, NYU places an emphasis on students’ “identity,” “backgrounds,” and “diversity,” rather than any physical place. (For some students, place may be tied up in those ideas.) Furthermore, while NYU doesn’t ask specifically how identity has changed the essay writer, they do ask about your “experience.” Take this to mean that you can still recount a specific moment, or several moments, that work to portray your particular background. You should also try to link your story with NYU’s values of inclusivity and opportunity.

3) University of Washington

“Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. (300 words max) Tip: Keep in mind that the UW strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values and viewpoints.”

UW ’s community essay prompt may look the most approachable, for they help define the idea of community. You’ll notice that most of their examples (“families,” “cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood”…) place an emphasis on people. This may clue you in on their desire to see the relationships you’ve made. At the same time, UW uses the words “individual” and “richly diverse.” They, like NYU, wish to see how you fit in and stand out, in order to boost campus diversity.

Writing Your First Community Essay

Begin by picking which community essay you’ll write first. (For practical reasons, you’ll probably want to go with whichever one is due earliest.) Spend time doing a close reading of the prompt, as we’ve done above. Underline key words. Try to interpret exactly what the prompt is asking through these keywords.

Next, brainstorm. I recommend doing this on a blank piece of paper with a pencil. Across the top, make a row of headings. These might be the communities you’re a part of, or the components that make up your identity. Then, jot down descriptive words underneath in each column—whatever comes to you. These words may invoke people and experiences you had with them, feelings, moments of growth, lessons learned, values developed, etc. Now, narrow in on the idea that offers the richest material and that corresponds fully with the prompt.

Lastly, write! You’ll definitely want to describe real moments, in vivid detail. This will keep your essay original, and help you avoid cliché. However, you’ll need to summarize the experience and answer the prompt succinctly, so don’t stray too far into storytelling mode.

How To Adapt Your Community Essay

Once your first essay is complete, you’ll need to adapt it to the other colleges involving community essays on your list. Again, you’ll want to turn to the prompt for a close reading, and recognize what makes this prompt different from the last. For example, let’s say you’ve written your essay for UW about belonging to your swim team, and how the sports dynamics shaped you. Adapting that essay to Brown’s prompt could involve more of a focus on place. You may ask yourself, how was my swim team in Alaska different than the swim teams we competed against in other states?

Once you’ve adapted the content, you’ll also want to adapt the wording to mimic the prompt. For example, let’s say your UW essay states, “Thinking back to my years in the pool…” As you adapt this essay to Brown’s prompt, you may notice that Brown uses the word “reflection.” Therefore, you might change this sentence to “Reflecting back on my years in the pool…” While this change is minute, it cleverly signals to the reader that you’ve paid attention to the prompt, and are giving that school your full attention.

What to Avoid When Writing the Community Essay  

• Avoid cliché. Some students worry that their idea is cliché, or worse, that their background or identity is cliché. However, what makes an essay cliché is not the content, but the way the content is conveyed. This is where your voice and your descriptions become essential.
• Avoid giving too many examples. Stick to one community, and one or two anecdotes arising from that community that allow you to answer the prompt fully.
• Don’t exaggerate or twist facts. Sometimes students feel they must make themselves sound more “diverse” than they feel they are. Luckily, diversity is not a feeling. Likewise, diversity does not simply refer to one’s heritage. If the prompt is asking about your identity or background, you can show the originality of your experiences through your actions and your thinking.

Community Essay Examples and Analysis

Brown university community essay example.

I used to hate the NYC subway. I’ve taken it since I was six, going up and down Manhattan, to and from school. By high school, it was a daily nightmare. Spending so much time underground, underneath fluorescent lighting, squashed inside a rickety, rocking train car among strangers, some of whom wanted to talk about conspiracy theories, others who had bedbugs or B.O., or who manspread across two seats, or bickered—it wore me out. The challenge of going anywhere seemed absurd. I dreaded the claustrophobia and disgruntlement.

Yet the subway also inspired my understanding of community. I will never forget the morning I saw a man, several seats away, slide out of his seat and hit the floor. The thump shocked everyone to attention. What we noticed: he appeared drunk, possibly homeless. I was digesting this when a second man got up and, through a sort of awkward embrace, heaved the first man back into his seat. The rest of us had stuck to subway social codes: don’t step out of line. Yet this second man’s silent actions spoke loudly. They said, “I care.”

That day I realized I belong to a group of strangers. What holds us together is our transience, our vulnerabilities, and a willingness to assist. This community is not perfect but one in motion, a perpetual work-in-progress. Now I make it my aim to hold others up. I plan to contribute to the Brown community by helping fellow students and strangers in moments of precariousness.    

Brown University Community Essay Example Analysis

Here the student finds an original way to write about where they come from. The subway is not their home, yet it remains integral to ideas of belonging. The student shows how a community can be built between strangers, in their responsibility toward each other. The student succeeds at incorporating key words from the prompt (“challenge,” “inspired” “Brown community,” “contribute”) into their community essay.

UW Community Essay Example

I grew up in Hawaii, a world bound by water and rich in diversity. In school we learned that this sacred land was invaded, first by Captain Cook, then by missionaries, whalers, traders, plantation owners, and the U.S. government. My parents became part of this problematic takeover when they moved here in the 90s. The first community we knew was our church congregation. At the beginning of mass, we shook hands with our neighbors. We held hands again when we sang the Lord’s Prayer. I didn’t realize our church wasn’t “normal” until our diocese was informed that we had to stop dancing hula and singing Hawaiian hymns. The order came from the Pope himself.

Eventually, I lost faith in God and organized institutions. I thought the banning of hula—an ancient and pure form of expression—seemed medieval, ignorant, and unfair, given that the Hawaiian religion had already been stamped out. I felt a lack of community and a distrust for any place in which I might find one. As a postcolonial inhabitant, I could never belong to the Hawaiian culture, no matter how much I valued it. Then, I was shocked to learn that Queen Ka’ahumanu herself had eliminated the Kapu system, a strict code of conduct in which women were inferior to men. Next went the Hawaiian religion. Queen Ka’ahumanu burned all the temples before turning to Christianity, hoping this religion would offer better opportunities for her people.

Community Essay (Continued)

I’m not sure what to make of this history. Should I view Queen Ka’ahumanu as a feminist hero, or another failure in her islands’ tragedy? Nothing is black and white about her story, but she did what she thought was beneficial to her people, regardless of tradition. From her story, I’ve learned to accept complexity. I can disagree with institutionalized religion while still believing in my neighbors. I am a product of this place and their presence. At UW, I plan to add to campus diversity through my experience, knowing that diversity comes with contradictions and complications, all of which should be approached with an open and informed mind.

UW Community Essay Example Analysis

This student also manages to weave in words from the prompt (“family,” “community,” “world,” “product of it,” “add to the diversity,” etc.). Moreover, the student picks one of the examples of community mentioned in the prompt, (namely, a religious group,) and deepens their answer by addressing the complexity inherent in the community they’ve been involved in. While the student displays an inner turmoil about their identity and participation, they find a way to show how they’d contribute to an open-minded campus through their values and intellectual rigor.

What’s Next

For more on supplemental essays and essay writing guides, check out the following articles:

• How to Write the Why This Major Essay + Example
• How to Write the Overcoming Challenges Essay + Example
• How to Start a College Essay – 12 Techniques and Tips
• College Essay

Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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The Role of a Student in Society Essay

In my everyday life, I play many different roles, but currently, the most prominent one is the role of a student. This role is primarily for me because the majority of people whom I communicate with observe me as such. A college in itself is a place where people are expressing distinct roles and act according to this setting, or shared reality (OpenStax 86). Every person at this stage has a determining role they are expected to play.

As a student, I am expected to complete many tasks in a short amount of time and behave in a specific manner. This includes being polite and respectful to others by their status in the educational facility, as well as being prepared for the tasks, being attentive, and on time. While in college with many people around, especially if there are any professors present, I feel obligated to stay at my best behavior. However, the situation differs when there are only students around, as there is a different kind of pressure in the company of equals. Cooley states that “we imagine how we look to others, draw conclusions based upon their reactions to us” (qtd. in OpenStax 87). Since I am expected to behave differently in front of these two hierarchical groups, I act the way I want that group of people to think of me.

I perceive my status as a college student as something that I have achieved. I believe many other students follow the same trail of thoughts, and I regard them as equals in this setting. A student can have many various responsibilities, duties, and behaviors to follow in a college and outside of it, and can experience role strain. I experience role strain during my study when multiple overlaying duties accumulate and overlap with my other roles. Role strain is especially prominent during exams, however, it is still manageable.

OpenStax. Introduction to Sociology . 2nd ed., Rice University, 2017.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 30). The Role of a Student in Society. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-role-of-a-student-in-society/

"The Role of a Student in Society." IvyPanda , 30 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/the-role-of-a-student-in-society/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'The Role of a Student in Society'. 30 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "The Role of a Student in Society." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-role-of-a-student-in-society/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Role of a Student in Society." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-role-of-a-student-in-society/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Role of a Student in Society." October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-role-of-a-student-in-society/.

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Blog > Essay Advice , Supplementals > How to Write a Community Supplemental Essay (with Examples)

How to Write a Community Supplemental Essay (with Examples)

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Kylie Kistner, MA Former Willamette University Admissions

Key Takeaway

If you're applying to college, there's a good chance you'll be writing a Community Essay for one (or lots) of your supplementals. In this post, we show you how to write one that stands out.

This post is one in a series of posts about the supplemental essays . You can read our core “how-to” supplemental post here .

When schools admit you, they aren’t just admitting you to be a student. They’re also admitting you to be a community member.

Community supplemental essays help universities understand how you would fit into their school community. At their core, Community prompts allow you to explicitly show an admissions officer why you would be the perfect addition to the school’s community.

Let’s get into what a Community supplemental essay is, what strategies you can use to stand out, and which steps you can take to write the best one possible.

What is a Community supplemental essay?

Community supplemental essay prompts come in a number of forms. Some ask you to talk about a community you already belong to, while others ask you to expand on how you would contribute to the school you’re applying to.

Let’s look at a couple of examples.

1: Rice University

Rice is lauded for creating a collaborative atmosphere that enhances the quality of life for all members of our campus community. The Residential College System and undergraduate life is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural tradition each student brings. What life perspectives would you contribute to the Rice community? 500 word limit.

2: Swarthmore College

Swarthmore students’ worldviews are often forged by their prior experiences and exposure to ideas and values. Our students are often mentored, supported, and developed by their immediate context—in their neighborhoods, communities of faith, families, and classrooms. Reflect on what elements of your home, school, or community have shaped you or positively impacted you. How have you grown or changed because of the influence of your community?

Community Essay Strategy

Your Community essay strategy will likely depend on the kind of Community essay you’re asked to write. As with all supplemental essays, the goal of any community essay should be to write about the strengths that make you a good fit for the school in question.

How to write about a community to which you belong

Most Community essay prompts give you a lot of flexibility in how you define “community.” That means that the community you write about probably isn’t limited to the more formal communities you’re part of like family or school. Your communities can also include friend groups, athletic teams, clubs and organizations, online communities, and more.

There are two things you should consider before you even begin writing your essay.

What school values is the prompt looking for?

Whether they’re listed implicitly or explicitly, Community essay prompts often include values that you can align your essay response with.

To explain, let’s look at this short supplemental prompt from the University of Notre Dame:

If you were given unlimited resources to help solve one problem in your community, what would it be and how would you accomplish it?

Now, this prompt doesn’t outright say anything about values. But the question itself, even being so short, implies a few values:

a) That you should be active in your community

b) That you should be aware of your community’s problems

c) That you know how to problem-solve

d) That you’re able to collaborate with your community

After dissecting the prompt for these values, you can write a Community essay that showcases how you align with them.

What else are admissions officers learning about you through the community you choose?

In addition to showing what a good community member you are, your Community supplemental essays can also let you talk about other parts of your experience. Doing so can help you find the perfect narrative balance among all your essays.

Let’s use a quick example.

If I’m a student applying to computer science programs, then I might choose to write about the community I’ve found in my robotics team. More specifically, I might write about my role as cheerleader and principle problem-solver of my robotics team. Writing about my robotics team allows me to do two things:

Show that I’m a really supportive person in my community, and

Show that I’m on a robotics team that means a lot to me.

Now, it’s important not to co-opt your Community essay and turn it into a secret Extracurricular essay , but it’s important to be thinking about all the information an admissions officer will learn about you based on the community you choose to focus on.

How to write about what you’ll contribute to your new community

The other segment of Community essays are those that ask you to reflect on how your specific experiences will contribute to your new community.

It’s important that you read each prompt carefully so you know what to focus your essay on.

These kinds of Community prompts let you explicitly drive home why you belong at the school you’re applying to.

Here are two suggestions to get you started.

Draw out the values.

This kind of Community prompt also typically contains some kind of reference to values. The Rice prompt is a perfect example of this:

Rice is lauded for creating a collaborative atmosphere that enhances the quality of life for all members of our campus community . The Residential College System and undergraduate life is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural tradition each student brings. What life perspectives would you contribute to the Rice community? 500 word limit.

There are several values here:

a) Collaboration

b) Enhancing quality of life

c) For all members of the community

d) Residential system (AKA not just in the classroom)

e) Sharing unique life experiences and cultural traditions with other students

Note that the actual question of the prompt is “What life perspectives would you contribute to the Rice community?” If you skimmed the beginning of the prompt to get to the question, you’d miss all these juicy details about what a Rice student looks like.

But with them in mind, you can choose to write about a life perspective that you hold that aligns with these five values.

Find detailed connections to the school.

Since these kinds of Community prompts ask you what you would contribute to the school community, this is your chance to find the most logical and specific connections you can. Browse the school website and social media to find groups, clubs, activities, communities, or support systems that are related to your personal background and experiences. When appropriate based on the prompt, these kinds of connections can help you show how good a fit you are for the school and community.

How to do Community Essay school research

Looking at school values means doing research on the school’s motto, mission statement, and strategic plans. This information is all carefully curated by a university to reflect the core values, initiatives, and goals of an institution. They can guide your Community essay by giving you more values options to include.

We’ll use the Rice mission statement as an example. It says,

As a leading research university with a distinctive commitment to undergraduate education, Rice University aspires to pathbreaking research , unsurpassed teaching , and contribution to the betterment of our world . It seeks to fulfill this mission by cultivating a diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders across the spectrum of human endeavor.

I’ve bolded just a few of the most important values we can draw out.

As we’ll see in the next section, I can use these values to brainstorm my Community essay.

How to write a Community Supplemental Essay

Step 1: Read the prompt closely & identify any relevant values.

When writing any supplemental essay, your first step should always be to closely read the prompt. You can even annotate it. It’s important to do this so you know exactly what is being asked of you.

With Community essays specifically, you can also highlight any values you think the prompt is asking you to elaborate on.

Keeping track of the prompt will make sure that you’re not missing anything an admissions officer will be on the lookout for.

Step 2: Brainstorm communities you’re involved in.

If you’re writing a Community essay that asks you to discuss a community you belong to, then your next step will be brainstorming all of your options.

As you brainstorm, keep a running list. Your list can include all kinds of communities you’re involved in.

Communities:

• Model United Nations
• Youth group
• Instagram book club
• My Discord group

Step 3: Think about the role(s) you play in your selected community.

Narrow down your community list to a couple of options. For each remaining option, identify the roles you played, actions you took, and significance you’ve drawn from being part of that group.

Community: Orchestra

These three columns help you get at the most important details you need to include in your community essay.

Step 4: Identify any relevant connections to the school.

Depending on the question the prompt asks of you, your last step may be to do some school research.

Let’s return to the Rice example.

After researching the Rice mission statement, we know that Rice values community members who want to contribute to the “betterment of our world.”

Ah ha! Now we have something solid to work from.

With this value in mind, I can choose to write about a perspective that shows my investment in creating a better world. Maybe that perspective is a specific kind of fundraising tenacity. Maybe it’s always looking for those small improvements that have a big impact. Maybe it’s some combination of both. Whatever it is, I can write a supplemental essay that reflects the values of the university.

Community Essay Mistakes

While writing Community essays may seem fairly straightforward, there are actually a number of ways they can go awry. Specifically, there are three common mistakes students make that you should be on the lookout for.

They don’t address the specific requests of the prompt.

As with all supplemental essays, your Community essay needs to address what the prompt is asking you to do. In Community essays especially, you’ll need to assess whether you’re being asked to talk about a community you’re already part of or the community you hope to join.

Neglecting to read the prompt also means neglecting any help the prompt gives you in terms of values. Remember that you can get clues as to what the school is looking for by analyzing the prompt’s underlying values.

They’re too vague.

Community essays can also go awry when they’re too vague. Your Community essay should reflect on specific, concrete details about your experience. This is especially the case when a Community prompt asks you to talk about a specific moment, challenge, or sequence of events.

Don’t shy away from details. Instead, use them to tell a compelling story.

They don’t make any connections to the school.

Finally, Community essays that don’t make any connections to the school in question miss out on a valuable opportunity to show school fit. Recall from our supplemental essay guide that you should always write supplemental essays with an eye toward showing how well you fit into a particular community.

Community essays are the perfect chance to do that, so try to find relevant and logical school connections to include.

Community Supplemental Essay Example

Example essay: robotics community.

University of Michigan: Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words/maximum 300 words)

From Blendtec’s “Will it Blend?” videos to ZirconTV’s “How to Use a Stud Finder,” I’m a YouTube how-to fiend. This propensity for fix-it knowledge has not only served me well, but it’s also been a lifesaver for my favorite community: my robotics team(( The writer explicitly states the community they’ll be focusing on.)) . While some students spend their after-school hours playing sports or video games, I spend mine tinkering in my garage with three friends, one of whom is made of metal.

Last year, I Googled more fixes than I can count. Faulty wires, misaligned soldering, and failed code were no match for me. My friends watched in awe as I used Boolean Operators to find exactly the information I sought.(( The writer clearly articulates their place in the community.)) But as I agonized over chassis reviews, other unsearchable problems arose.

First((This entire paragraph fulfills the “describe that community” direction in the prompt.)) , there was the matter of registering for our first robotics competition. None of us familiar with bureaucracy, David stepped up and made some calls. His maturity and social skills helped us immediately land a spot. The next issue was branding. Our robot needed a name and a logo, and Connor took it upon himself to learn graphic design. We all voted on Archie’s name and logo design to find the perfect match. And finally, someone needed to enter the ring. Archie took it from there, winning us first place.

The best part about being in this robotics community is the collaboration and exchange of knowledge.((The writer emphasizes a clear strength: collaboration within their community. It’s clear that the writer values all contributions to the team.))  Although I can figure out how to fix anything, it’s impossible to google social skills, creativity, or courage. For that information, only friends will do. I can only imagine the fixes I’ll bring to the University of Michigan and the skills I’ll learn in return at part of the Manufacturing Robotics community((The writer ends with a forward-looking connection to the school in question.)) .

Want to see even more supplemental essay examples? Check out our college essay examples post . 

Liked that? Try this next.

How to Write Supplemental Essays that Will Impress Admissions Officers

How to Write a College Essay (Exercises + Examples)

Extracurricular Magnitude and Impact

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The Community Essay

“Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had to help us understand you better—perhaps related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, or your family or cultural background—we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke.” 

As with every essay you ship off to admissions – think about something you want admissions to know that hasn’t been represented. What can you expand upon to show your versatility, passion and ability to connect with the world around you?

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Category: Admissions , College Admissions , Essay Tips , Essay Writing , Supplemental Essays

Tags: admissions essay , admissions help , application , application supplement , applications , brainstorming , college admissions , college admissions essay , college application , college application help , college applications , college essay , common application , supplemental essays

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Essay on My Responsibility as a Student

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Responsibility as a Student in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Responsibility as a Student

Understanding my role.

As a student, I play a crucial role in shaping my future and society. My primary responsibility is to gain knowledge, and I must be dedicated to learning.

Discipline and Respect

Being disciplined and respectful towards teachers and peers is another vital duty. It helps in creating a positive learning environment.

Participation and Teamwork

Participation in class and group activities enhances learning. Teamwork teaches vital skills like cooperation and leadership.

Self-Development

Lastly, I must strive for self-development. This includes nurturing my talents and working on my weaknesses. It’s my responsibility to become a well-rounded individual.

250 Words Essay on My Responsibility as a Student

Understanding the role.

As a student, I am a vital cog in the educational ecosystem. My primary responsibility is to learn and acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are essential for active participation in society. This involves attending classes, completing assignments, and participating in school activities.

Academic Commitment

The commitment to academic excellence is a non-negotiable responsibility. It requires consistent effort, focus, and a drive to learn. This commitment extends to completing assignments on time, studying for exams, and actively participating in class discussions.

Respect and Integrity

Respect for teachers, classmates, and the learning environment is another crucial aspect of my responsibility. This includes maintaining the decorum of the institution and ensuring a conducive learning atmosphere. Integrity, too, forms a significant part of my duties, promoting honesty in all academic endeavors and discouraging practices like plagiarism.

Personal development is an often overlooked but essential responsibility. It involves identifying and nurturing individual talents and interests. It also includes taking care of one’s physical and mental health, understanding that a healthy mind and body contribute to better learning.

Community Engagement

Finally, my responsibility extends beyond the classroom to the wider community. Participating in community service, respecting diversity, and promoting sustainability are all part of my role as an active and responsible student.

In conclusion, my responsibility as a student is multi-faceted, encompassing academic commitment, respect, integrity, self-development, and community engagement. These responsibilities, when fulfilled, not only enhance my learning experience but also contribute to a better and more inclusive society.

500 Words Essay on My Responsibility as a Student

Being a student is a unique, transformative period in one’s life, characterized by learning, exploration, and growth. As a student, our primary responsibility is to acquire knowledge and skills that will shape our future. However, our role extends beyond the classroom, encompassing responsibilities towards ourselves, our peers, our institution, and society at large.

Self-Responsibility

The foremost responsibility of a student is towards oneself. This involves maintaining a healthy balance between academics and personal life. It’s crucial to cultivate good habits such as time management, self-discipline, and critical thinking skills. These habits not only aid in academic success but also prepare us for future professional challenges.

Academic Accountability

Academic responsibility is another significant aspect. This includes attending classes regularly, completing assignments on time, and preparing diligently for exams. Engaging actively in the learning process, asking questions, and seeking help when necessary are also part of this responsibility. Upholding academic integrity by avoiding plagiarism and other forms of dishonesty is equally important.

Responsibility Towards Peers

As students, we have a responsibility towards our peers. This involves respecting diverse viewpoints, contributing to a positive learning environment, and helping each other in times of need. Participating in group projects, discussions, and extracurricular activities can foster teamwork and leadership skills.

Institutional Responsibility

We also have a responsibility towards our educational institution. This includes respecting its rules and regulations, maintaining its reputation, and contributing to its development. Participating in college events, volunteering for various initiatives, and providing constructive feedback can help in enhancing the institutional image.

Societal Responsibility

Lastly, as students, we have a societal responsibility. The knowledge and skills we acquire should not be confined to our personal growth but should contribute to societal progress. This can be achieved by participating in community service, raising awareness about social issues, and using our education to solve real-world problems.

In conclusion, being a student is not merely about acquiring knowledge but also about growing as a responsible individual. Our responsibilities extend in multiple directions – towards ourselves, our peers, our institution, and society. By fulfilling these responsibilities, we can ensure a holistic development, preparing ourselves not just for professional success but also for becoming conscientious citizens.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Importance of Sports for Students
• Essay on College Students
• Essay on Financial Problems for College Students

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a great community service essay.

College Admissions , Extracurriculars

Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

• Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
• You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

• Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
• Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

• Length requirement
• Application deadline
• The main purpose or focus of the essay
• If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

• What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
• What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
• Why did you decide to begin community service?
• What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
• How has your community service changed you?
• How has your community service helped others?
• How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

• If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
• If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
• If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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How to Write the “Community” and “Issue” Yale Essays

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Hale Jaeger in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info. 

What’s Covered

The “community” essay: choosing a community, structuring the “community” essay, the “issue” essay: choosing your issue, issues to avoid, structuring the “issue” essay.

In this article, we discuss strategies for writing Yale University ’s “Community” and “Issue” supplemental essays. Applicants using the Common App or Coalition Application to apply to Yale are required to choose one of these two prompts and respond to it in 400 words or fewer. The first prompt is the “Issue” essay prompt, which reads:

Yale carries out its mission “through the free exchange of ideas in an ethical, interdependent, and diverse community.” Reflect on a time when you exchanged ideas about an important issue with someone holding an opposing view. How did the experience lead you either to change your opinion or to sharpen your reasons for holding onto it? (400 words)

The second prompt is the “Community” essay prompt:

Reflect on a time when you have worked to enhance a community to which you feel connected. Why have these efforts been meaningful to you? You may define community however you like. (400 words)

In this article, we discuss choosing topics for each of these essays and strategies to structure them.

The Yale “Community” essay prompt clearly states that you can define community however you wish, which means you can choose to write about any kind of community that you feel you are a member of. When considering potential communities, start by brainstorming any groups you are part of that have defined boundaries, such as your town, school, team, or religious organization.

There are also informal communities that you could choose from, such as your friend group, family, coworkers, or neighborhood. Even though these groups have less of a formal definition, they are still communities. What matters most is that the community that you choose is important to you, that you have contributed to it, and that you have learned something from it.

When structuring this essay, think about it in three sections. The first introduces the community, the second demonstrates your contributions to the community, and the third explains what the community has given and taught you. As you write, keep in mind that this essay is a two-way street; you want to show what you have given to your community and what it has given you.

Introduce the Community

The first step in writing this essay is to introduce the community. Explain who is part of the community and what the community is like. Highlight the community’s structure by demonstrating how you are part of it and how you interact with your peers, superiors, or inferiors within the group. It is also important to depict the community’s dynamic in this part of the essay. For example, is it fun, relaxed, and loving, or is it rigorous, challenging, and thought provoking? 

Show What You’ve Contributed

The next section of this essay should discuss your engagement with this community and what you’ve contributed to it. Consider what you’ve done, what initiatives you’ve brought to the community, and what your role is within it. You can also highlight anything that you had to give up to be part of the community.

Show What You’ve Learned

The last part of this essay should discuss what you have gained and learned from this community. For this portion, consider things that the community has given and taught you, as well as ways that it has helped you grow. Think about how this community has shaped who you are and who you are becoming.

The other prompt option is the “Issue” essay. The first step for this one is to define what your issue is. It doesn’t matter what you choose, as long as it’s something that has enough nuance for you to talk about it in a complex and intelligent way.

Make sure it’s an issue of some relevance to you; otherwise, it will come across as dispassionate. As you write this essay, you should show that you are somebody who cares about an issue that they think is significant. 

Grand Issues

When selecting an issue, you can either choose a grand one or a local one. Grand issues are big, unsolved problems that are common in society, such as cancer, homelessness, or food insecurity. If you do choose a grand issue, remind yourself of its personal importance. While grand issues are full of nuance, they may lack personal meaning. Examples of personal connections to grand issues could be if you have encountered homelessness, lived with food insecurity, or have lost someone to cancer.

Local Issues

Another topic option is to write about an issue that is local. For example, maybe your high school has a teaching staff that doesn’t represent the diversity of the student body. While this is not a global issue, it’s something that strongly affects you and your community. 

Perhaps you live in a town that is directly suffering from the opioid crisis, or you have divorced parents and have started an activist group for children of divorced parents. Both of these examples of local issues also have personal importance. 

When choosing a topic to write about, avoid issues that you don’t have any connection to and that aren’t personally important. These are often problems that are too grand and can’t be made personal, such as world peace. 

Another category of issues to avoid is anything that doesn’t align with Yale’s values. Yale, like most universities in the United States, generally has a liberal lean. As such, it is likely not in your best interest to write a strong defense of socially conservative values. While there are values that you are free to hold and express—and Yale welcomes people of all backgrounds and ideologies—this essay is not necessarily the best place to express them.

You are most likely applying to Yale because it’s a place that you want to be and have something in common with. This essay is a great opportunity to emphasize the values that you share with the university rather than the things that divide you. Since a reader only has five to seven minutes to go over your entire application, you don’t want them to come away with the sense that you are somebody who won’t thrive at Yale.

Define the Issue and Highlight Past Experiences

When writing the “Issue” essay, start by identifying the issue and sharing how you came across it. Then, provide insight into why it is meaningful to you and your relationship with it.

Next, show the reader how you have already engaged with the problem by detailing your past with the issue. 

Discuss Future Plans to Approach the Issue

After this, you can look forward and discuss your future with this issue. A great strategy is to write about how your Yale education will address the problem and how your field of study relates to it. You can also highlight any Yale-specific programs or opportunities that will give you insight or context for tackling the issue. 

Alternatively, if there is something about this issue that Yale’s academic flexibility will enable you to explore, you can share that in this part of the essay. For example, maybe you are interested in health policy and plan to take classes in the sciences. You also want to take classes in the history of health, science, and medicine, as well as political science and economics courses, which you plan to utilize to write new healthcare policies.

Another option is to focus on an aspect of Yale’s community, such as peers, professors, or mentors who will help develop your ability to navigate the issue. Ultimately, you want to demonstrate in this essay that what (and how) you learn at Yale will prepare you to take action and move forward with confronting your issue in the future.

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What Is Your Role In Your Community? [See How To Make A Change]

Your role in your community includes commitment and passion for others .

Commitment to being a responsible member and passion for helping others, especially the younger ones, mold their sense of responsibility.

In this article, I will discuss the community, your role, and the benefits of playing a role in your community.

Let’s get started.

How do you define a community?

Some people define a community as not a place but a connection among a group. In this group, people have a common sense of organization, trust, safety, and care for each other.

Nevertheless, a community is a physical location where a group has something in common . This could be heritage, culture, geographical location, or even a shared government.

Every community operates differently, whether to maintain a culture or to meet its members’ needs.

What is your role in the community?

Being an adult in a community means that you are a role model to many younger ones. Below is a list of roles you ought to play;

1. Being a good neighbor

Being a good neighbor to those around you plays a huge part in the community’s success. Your responsibilities include ensuring you make less noise, tidying your garden, and properly disposing of your garbage.

You can also connect with others from your workplace, place of worship, or neighborhood association to build friendships. In return, these people would also be helpful and friendly to you.

2. Getting involved in local or volunteer activities

Volunteering for various communal activities is another huge role you should play. This way, you make the community a better place while building trust and support among each other.

You can assist the organization with various volunteer work such as administrative tasks, safety, and security. Also, you can help with small clean-ups at the market or shops in the community.

3. Shop locally

Supporting local businesses is another way to ensure your money goes back into the community. This way, you keep business in your area booming while also creating some room for more employment for others.

Visit farmers in your community to get fresh products and buy clothes from local shops instead of big chain shops. Also, try eating at local restaurants or franchises around you.

4. Helping the schools

You can also help with the coursework if you have kids in school. Many schools offer events for students, and these events require funds.

You can help the school organize books, toys, or even food sales to raise funds. These funds may be used for several reasons, such as getting new equipment or field trips.

Furthermore, you can also bring your ideas or volunteer to help with event organization.

5. Looking after the environment

This is an important role to play. Contact any law enforcement agency if you notice anything odd or out of place.

Additionally, you can look out for the community by promoting awareness of the need for recycling. Recycling is done to reduce the energy and cost of getting raw materials from the earth.

What are the benefits of playing your roles in the community?

When you play your part in the development of the community, there are several benefits for you. They include;

1. Self-growth

You grow both mentally and physically in a healthy society. Furthermore, you associate with new friends, which is important for self-growth.

2. Networking and connection

Participating in various community activities helps you build better relationships with others. You meet people with the same interest in making the world a better and safer place.

These people could be great allies and help you further in your work later in life.

3. It can inspire and lead to a new passion

Fostering a deeper level of sensitivity for your community could play a huge role in inspiring new passion.

In some cases, voluntary work has taught many people leadership, paving the way for them to try politics.

4. Increases your self-confidence

Helping the community develop provides you with a sense of self-accomplishment.

Also, it gives you pride, identity, and self-confidence. And the better you feel, the more positive you feel about yourself and your future goals.

What is your role as a student in the community?

Your role as a student in the community is to seek knowledge and wisdom and then use them to develop yourself and the community .

What is the role of the community to the member?

The role of the community toward its members is to ensure their safety and create opportunities for all.

What is the role of youth in the community?

Your role in the community is to m aintain the status quo of society and communicate ideas to the current leaders to make life better for others .

In conclusion, your role in the community is multifaceted and essential to its growth and development. By actively participating in initiatives and activities, you can contribute to the betterment of your community through volunteering your time, resources, and skills.

Through these actions, you build a strong sense of civic responsibility and belonging, inspiring others to get involved and make a positive impact.

Whether mentoring a child, supporting local businesses, or organizing a charity drive, each small act of kindness and contribution can create a ripple effect that benefits the community.

As you continue to invest in your community, you foster a more empathetic, supportive, and vibrant environment that enriches the lives of all its members.

I hope you enjoyed this article; if you did, you should also see an understanding of professional learning communities .

Thanks for reading.

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Role of Students in Society

• What is the importance of the student community?
• What role does the student community play in  society?

Man is a social animal for all intents and purposes spending a great deal of his life monumental within the dictates of society.

At each significant stage in life, man essays an altogether different role as a component of the social structure. Be it childhood, youth, adulthood or sunset years, each stage has a valuable and momentous contribution to make.

The Role of Students in The Society

Years spent as a student constitute the most impressionable of times wherein an individual garners essential knowledge, much-needed skill and life experiences while forming valuable relationships.

Undoubtedly thus, students are the most important components of society. This position elevates their social responsibility to an altogether higher degree wherein their duty as responsible students in their community shapes social structure, functioning and allied determinants.

It is indeed undeniable that one cannot live in complete isolation from society and so applies to a student as well.

One is in a constant state of give and take from society. Thereby the intermediary links constructed between a student and the social structure thus influence the importance of students in society making them significant contributors.

1. Contribution to Literacy

The realm of literacy in the social structure has always been a grave cause of concern wherein a large stratum of society remains devoid of the right to literacy .

This deprivation is resultant of various factors such as that of poverty, unemployment, lack of awareness, gender and caste discrimination etc.

Thus, the role of students in modern society that takes into account literacy as the determinant of a secure future is to ensure that they in different ways contribute to teaching the illiterate, motivating one and all to take the leap towards education and strengthening the foundations of the nation.

Literacy campaigns, libraries, book exchanges, community literacy programmes and so on are not a distant dream if the student community vows to furnish their social responsibility.

2. Fight Against Antisocial Activities

Crucial concerns of modern society stem from a rise in antisocial activities and their hazardous consequences.

Theft, corruption, murder, black marketing, exploitation of women, weaker sections, rape and harassment compromise safe living standards as well as tarnish the social image.

In such a scenario, the ambition of students must be to work towards the total eradication of these social disabilities.

With the rise of social media, the right to speak up in democracy and the consolidation of student power, adequate solutions can be implemented to put an end to these burning social issues and thereby promote an equal, harmonious and lawful society.

The aim of social welfare is yet another goal which is realized through blood donation camps, relief funds, tending to the sick, needy and destitute, offering vulnerable animals a home and developing a sense of helpfulness, kindness and moral responsibility towards the society. Students in modern society must therefore be a catalyst for change and actualization of social welfare.

3. Say No to Drugs and Alcohol

Drug and alcohol addiction has long since blinded youth, deviated individuals from a healthy, progressive life and most of all led to a number of personal and social problems.

Addictions paralyze an individual, metaphorically if not physically and so hinder personal growth, kill ambition and engulf one in a sense of nothingness and denial.

Used as an escape mechanism, drugs and alcohol disrupt family life, and happiness, lead to poverty and stunt the contribution of individuals to the nation.

The drive of students thus must be to educate, sensitize and promote addiction-free living through various mediums such as that campaigns, street plays, social media, talks, volunteering at NGOs and de-addiction centres and so on.

4. Pioneers of Technological Advancements

Scientific advancement, innovation and novelty are the factors that make a nation stand out from the rest in the modern world. With young minds bubbling with a scientific temperament, drive to discover, and strive for innovation and progress, the contribution of students to society is thus exercised.

Young scientists in space organizations, students who have made innovations beyond their age, child prodigies, young interns with a zeal to learn and grow, and students who have opened up classes to educate their underprivileged contemporaries; there is active and noteworthy participation from the student community.

Rakeshkrishna K, a 16-year-old from Puttur taluk in Karnataka built a seedographer that eases out the tedium of seed-sowing for farmers and cuts down their investment in unskilled manpower.

5. Pride of The Nation

Young achievers making their mark in the arena of sports and athletics thereby add to their role as student contributors as promoters of physical fitness, national pride and integral value systems.

Sports builds confidence, the ability to make decisions , not crack under pressure, to be a great leader and most of all, to build meaningful relationships.

Young individuals with an enthusiasm for sports are thus ambassadors of fitness and overall wellbeing. Quite many have made the nation proud on various state, national and international platforms.

Mehuli Ghosh, a 17-year-old shooter has made the nation proud with her debut in the Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast and also won eight gold medals on various platforms thereafter.

6. Sustainable Development

With the rise of climate change, pollution and other ecological imbalances, calamities and disasters have become a common factor in present times.

As catalysts of change, students in our society incline towards an active contribution to disaster prevention and management.

In a capitalistic society, development is usually exploitative in a way that it is absolutely capital oriented and does not in any way take into account other side effects.

Thus, as responsible students who have imbibed something from their extensive and industrious syllabus, one must be able to move towards a sustainable development that not only takes into account modern needs but also saves enough for future generations.

Licypriya Kangujam , a 10-year-old child environmental activist from India has addressed world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2019, in Spain, requesting for immediate action in the area of climate change.

7. Strong Value System

As the pioneers of change, students must work to annihilate caste, the evils of untouchability and promote gender equality. The caste and gender conflict has been at the heart of the Indian psyche since times immemorial.

Thereby, atrocities based on caste and gender hierarchy have impacted and destroyed the lives of men and women depriving them of opportunities, privileges, freedoms and the right to a decent standard of living.

As responsible citizens, students as a part of the community must navigate alternate ways of living, rising above gender, caste, religion and everything that holds us back.

8. Ecological Responsibility

Pollution has changed the world in ways that to a large extent cannot be reversed. Inconsistent rainfall patterns and soil erosion owing to deforestation, melting ice caps and rising sea levels due to ozone rupture, alarming natural phenomena and unpredictable weather patterns resultant from pollution; the balance of nature is under threat.

Numerous plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction while the survival of man is largely a threat.

Thus, students are habituated to these issues, equipped to tackle them in their little ways, indulge in afforestation, water and soil conservation, cut down on pollution and so on.

Their curriculum consists therefore of extensive environmental studies so that they may be better able to exercise their role as students.

9. Service to The Nation

It is the duty of each and every citizen of the nation to serve the country at any time required. The members of the defence forces of the Army, Navy and Airforce strive hard for the protection of each and every citizen of the nation, sacrificing their own lives.

There is no nobler profession than that of the defence forces and doctors. The youth first as student role models and later as doctors, engineers, scientists and government servants with their political sensibilities, can contribute to the nation.

10. The Voice of Society

The power of youth is such that their voice will be heard in society and thereby they can speak up for the marginalized, work for social good, place demands and have them sanctioned.

The duty of students must be to act as role models for others in the society and the generations to come and thereby make society a better place to live in.

In a constant engagement of give and take, students need to meet up to certain expectations of society. In their life span, students do take a lot from parents, teachers and society at large.

Thus, it becomes their moral responsibility to exercise their role as students in society and turn into productive members, building a secure future for themselves and society.

It is important for every individual to go by the principle “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  

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My Role in the Community

Our life is full of complexities; there are many aspects and situations in our life in which we might be forced into either because of our own choosing or by some inevitable twist of fate. We play roles according to these aspects or situations. A student takes on the role of a listener, an inquirer, a respectful follower, an argumentative scholar or a disputatious rebel; a teacher may act as a channel of knowledge, an honorable exemplar of right conduct, an inspiration, or a challenge. But the same teacher or student may or may not take another role when put at a different environment and when faced with a particular circumstance. In general, there are roles in which we are expected to assume and those which we willingly take on. Just like what has been aforementioned, there are roles in which we are expected to act upon and those which we play through our choice. In the same context, we assume roles in our community; either we take on what is expected of us or that which we think is right or yet, that which is convenient for us. But there had been successful pioneers in forging a character that is a blend of what is socially expected, and therefore accepted, and the role which we choose to assume. And I believe that it is the best role to play in the community. Thankfully, we are not as bound and tied to social norms as people were in the earlier times. We are freer today than people before were. But certain standards of the olden times were preserved; the standards on morality; showing good manners and right conduct. And as a part of the community, I agree and would advocate such standards. I want and will assume to be a model of high moral standing for those

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