All Sion girls are required to complete 100 service hours before graduation. No other school in Kansas City has a requirement that hefty. At first, that number can be overwhelming, but when it’s divided among four years, it can give one the chance to discover her passion.

The hours must come from three categories: Immediate, Practical and Marginalized. Some girls may think it’s a waste of time. Others find value in their service.

“Service has helped me figure out what areas I like to volunteer in,” sophomore Chigozie Okuagu said. “I was a captain at Camp WIN this summer, and I realized that I actually enjoyed working with younger children.”

According to youth.gov, service-learning improves responsibility, character values and academic outcomes. Learning how to interact with people who are different than yourself is an important skill. Knowing how to behave in situations when people’s beliefs don’t align with yours is a skill that can’t be taught in a YouTube video.

In today’s world, tolerance is everything.

And students should see service as an opportunity to use their natural gifts in a place where people need them. Through service, girls become aware of their social responsibility and aware of society’s problems.

Sion does an exceptional job in making sure that there are enough service opportunities for students of all grades. Every week there is a service trip, and Sion provides transportation, too. One week girls can sign up to go bake cookies at Hospice House. Another week, they can go read to elementary school kids at the Upper Room. And girls can sign up for the weekly e-mail sent out by theology teacher Jessica Hull for more opportunities.

Regardless of when girls complete their hours, the experience that comes with the requirement is one that can’t be read about in any textbook.