BY ANGELA SKANE   |   ST. PETERSBURG HIGH

I’m not much of a procrastinator. I usually like to have things done ahead of time so I can avoid the stress. •  Unfortunately, there is one very important thing I failed to do ahead of time: Bright Futures service hours. Here I am, last semester of my senior year, and I have yet to complete my 100 hours of community service. Since I am attending a Florida college, I’m really depending on the $101 per credit hour I qualify for.   •  So the rush is on. I have 53 days before the deadline, and 75 hours of service left; roughly 10 hours a week and I will be home free. Between work and school, I have two days a week when I can volunteer. I am also blessed with seven days a week of dear motherly nagging.  •  In case there are others like me out there who have waited until the last minute, here is some advice for making mom and pop happy, and making the experience bearable for you:

Pick a place you enjoy.
If you like what you are doing, time will fly right by! I volunteer at PetPal Animal Shelter in St. Petersburg. I love dogs, so it’s the perfect place for me; I play with dogs all day! There are places for all kinds of interests that will qualify for the scholarship requirements. Don’t wait to find a place though; if your deadline is like mine, April 30,  you’ve got 53 days left.

Stay strong, seniors
If you’re in the same boat as me, stay optimistic. We can do this! If we don’t, well, we could be looking at another four years living with mom and dad.

Stay motivated!
Set aside certain times and days for volunteering. This will make it far easier than cramming the last few weeks. Just remember those hours and the financial benefit they bring could make the difference between your top choice and the community college around the corner.

Listen up, underclassmen
Jump-start your volunteering, NOW. I used to have four years to get this done, and now I have 53 days. It will save you from so much unnecessary nagging and stress.