In the pre-November rush to rack up service hours for National Honors Society and resumes, students are desperate for volunteer opportunities. Thankfully, East is home to one of the largest student-run volunteering programs in the U.S., offering over 40 projects each year. Students are highly involved — but why? For the good of our hearts, or for shiny service awards to boast to colleges? It doesn’t matter. Regardless of the initial motive, volunteering results in the same benefits either way. Colleges and organizations should emphasize its importance even more in applications and resumes, and honor societies like East's NHS chapter should increase volunteer hour requirements past a mere 15. Sure, it’d be great if every food kitchen server was a dutiful, compassionate citizen and not just a high schooler scrambling to meet their service hour requirement. But no matter who’s packaging products at can drives and sorting bins at clothing centers, the result is the same for the homeless:...