This past Saturday, hundreds of enthusiastic freshmen woke up early and headed over to nearby elementary schools to beautify the buildings in preparation for the start of classes. For most, it was the first time they had ever engaged in community service within St. Louis. I hope that it is not the last.

Service First is a great program that benefits the community and exposes incoming Wash. U. students to the broader St. Louis community. All too often, however, the program is a dead end; too many students finish their one perfunctory day of community service and never think about it again.

I know that there are countless community service organizations on campus that do great work and know hundreds of Wash. U. students who are passionate about these programs. I think that’s great, and for them, this column should be nothing more than a congratulatory pat on the back.

But that is not enough. Community service should not be just one of many options we consider when choosing our activities freshman year and each semester thereafter. Rather, we should think of it as an inviolable obligation.

We are privileged to attend one the best universities in the country, where money and opportunities are constantly thrown at us. We also happen to live in one of our nation’s most troubled, economically depressed cities. I know how easy it is to become trapped in the Wash. U. bubble, but we have no moral excuse to ignore the community around us. I believe that as talented students with extraordinary lives ahead of us, we have a responsibility to give back to those who may be struggling.

The definition of community service can be broad. It can include everything from traditional activities like tutoring at the aforementioned elementary schools to planning and raising money for events like Dance Marathon and Relay For Life. In most cases, I think working for a lobbying organization or volunteering for a political campaign is also a form of community service.

You can engage in community service weekly or only sporadically. You can try many different alternatives before you find an outlet you enjoy. What matters is not the specific form of service you choose, but whether you engage at all.

I try very hard to preach in my columns only ideals by which I truly abide. I must therefore admit that although I have engaged in numerous community service programs during my time at Wash. U. thus far, I am not currently participating in any sustained community service activity.

Instead, I have chosen to devote my time at Wash. U. to a variety of different campus activities that have a strained connection, if any connection at all, to helping St. Louis residents in need. I sometimes wonder how I can justify the work I do on campus when there is so much important work to be done nearby. Although I ultimately believe that my campus pursuits are worthwhile, Saturday’s events reminded me that I can and should be doing more to repair the world outside.

In that spirit, I have decided to pledge in writing to do more community service this semester. Maybe I’ll help with the upcoming blood drive (despite my deeply rooted fear of needles), find a Relay For Life team or do more political volunteering. I have not decided on the means, but I do know that I will not be taking on any new weekly commitments or attempting to change the world. Instead, I’ll just be doing a little bit more to improve the community around us. I hope that you will consider doing the same.