Community Service
	HSTA students should perform some community service during each year in their local community. Examples of community service vary depending on the locale, and may include volunteering for hospitals, nursing homes, various shelters, the March of Dimes Walk, Heart Walk-a-Thon, and Red Cross. Community service can also become a part of the students' extended investigations, leading to problem solving (see Projects, II.B.3). Some clubs have conducted awareness activities, such as health fairs in their home schools; or become involved in Read-A-Loud at Ronald McDonald Houses, in hospital wards, in community environmental projects such as Adopt-A-Highway, or assisted the senior citizens within their neighborhood. Students may also tutor other students in the areas of math or science. Teachers and FSC can help to coordinate the community service as they see fit. Students are required to complete a total of 75 hours of community service to successfully complete HSTA upon high school graduation. Career Shadowing: It is possible for students to gain career-shadowing experiences as community service. This involves a student observing a professional in the field in which he/she is interested in pursuing. Students could shadow health care professionals, as well as other science careers, such as engineering, chemistry, or science education. Career shadowing is usually arranged by the FSC, but can be set up by students' parents, a professional friend, or colleague. School to Work: The purpose of volunteering and career shadowing is to receive first hand experience in various careers while obtaining a real life sense of responsibilities inherent in health care professions. This reinforces the school-to-work philosophy of taking responsibility for being on time, being dependable, and following rules and regulations.