By Mike Beers,St. Dominic Regional High School

While other high school seniors continue with homework, papers, projects, and finals, starting on Monday, April 24, the St. Dominic Regional High School’s Class of 2006 began its involvement project. As a requirement for the Religion IV course, students must volunteer in the community for four weeks. Senior involvement is the cultivation of the community service necessitated in the previous three years of high school.

The seniors scatter themselves into various places of the community, many of which are schools. Personally, I traced my roots back to middle school and chose St. Mary’s School in Augusta as the place for my senior involvement. Four other students accompanied me there, all of whom were classmates of mine during those junior high years.

I was placed in the school library where I did inventory of the books and more importantly interacted with the children. Every day I read stories to the kids before checking out books to them. As students grow older many lose interest in school, or at least the enthusiasm. But these children are still at the age where they are captivated with everything, which spills over into attentive listening.

I can say with fair certainty that the best years of my life, thus far were at St. Mary’s School. Although I only attended the school for two and a half years I instantly felt a connection and formed important friendships. My first day back I immediately conversed with former teachers as if I had never left, which is why it was immensely important to me to return for involvement. As a school St. Mary’s had the largest influence on my academic career. Without my experiences at St. Mary’s I would not be as well prepared for the future as I am today. This is why I felt it necessary to give back to the school, even if only for a month.