Helping and serving the community through any form of civic duty is an accomplishment any student should have extreme pride in. As the school year winds down, many students, especially here at Yorba Linda High School, are finishing finals and AP testing and finally have some extra time to become involved in activities that are fulfilling and intrinsically rewarding. Recently, in my APES class, I was introduced to the California Seal of Civic Engagement and both the significance and prestige of this seal, as well as opportunities to earn it.
Essentially, the California Seal of Civic Engagement is an esteemed badge given to students who have “demonstrated excellence in civics education and participation and an understanding of the United States Constitution,” according to the California Department of Education. There are so many opportunities– both big and small– in our community and school district that fulfill this requirement and can be an amazing experience both personally and academically. Michael Saucedo (11) shares that he is excited to learn about opportunities to give and serve in the community. He says, “I want to do what I can to help others and become more and more involved in service.”
Opportunities in YL:
- Write a Children’s Book and Read it: One option for earning the seal is writing and illustrating a children’s book regarding an environmental or social issue and presenting it to a group of kindergarteners at a nearby elementary school.
- Community Awareness Campaign: Research and learn about a local issue in your community! Then, organize a campaign using forms of posters, social media, photography, or a website that brings awareness and addresses a social or societal issue of your choice.
- Submit Data to Jace Tunnell’s Nurdle Patrol Journal: To complete this, pick a location on a nearby beach. You will walk along the shore of the beach, looking for nurdles (small pellet-sized pieces of plastic waste) to collect in a bag. Then, report your findings in an entry via nurdlepatrol.org! To take this a step further and be eligible for the Seal of Civic Engagement, email or contact officials in your community about your findings. Explain why your findings on the beach are relevant to environmental issues, and why entering the given data is so significant.
- Advocacy Project: Partner with a nonprofit that supports a cause you feel strongly about. Many nonprofits support causes such as mental health, equality for marginalized groups, environmental issues, and many more. Finding something you’re passionate about and reaching out to an organization, becoming involved in what they’re advocating for. Allyson George (11) shares that she is interested in making positive change and learning more about nonprofits that support environmental issues. Ally claims, “I hope to learn more about organizations that bring awareness to global climate change and push sustainability.”
There are many more ways to become eligible to earn this seal, but here are just a few! Once you partake in a civic activity of your choice, contact the SSCE coordinator or counselor at your school and get the application form. This form is due in February or March each school year. After earning the seal, you will be given a gold seal on your high school diploma and given the privilege to wear a medal at your graduation. As you’re working to attain this seal, don’t forget the importance of civic involvement and positive contribution to your community. We all have the incredible opportunity to serve others and do something that will make the society we live in better and spark inspiration in the world around us.
