The beginning of each term marks the start of classes and extracurricular commitments. Upon returning to my favorite project, ARC, a community service program that partners Andover students with developmentally disabled individuals from the local area, I noticed a decrease in the number of volunteers. At first, I assumed that people were sick or just couldn’t make it. I soon found out, however, that I was wrong. A large number of Andover students had left the program.

Other than the students with scheduling problems, the majority of the students who left were Seniors. After talking to a few of my friends, it seemed to me as if many people at Andover do community service projects only until their college applications are submitted.

But for ARC, things were not exactly said and done. For the past two weeks, I’ve noticed ARC buddies with no PA partners. During one of our weekly sessions, I sat next to a buddy whose PA Senior buddy was absent. When I asked him where his partner was, he politely explained to me that he was going to be reassigned because his PA buddy couldn’t come anymore. I felt a pang of sadness at hearing this because there weren’t enough people signed up for ARC this term. And this particular buddy wasn’t the only one who found himself without a partner; there were countless others as well.

Seeing so many sad ARC buddies reestablished a frustration I first felt Junior year. As a ninth grader, I was told to find an underpopulated club in which I could easily achieve a board position. Apparently, this would look very impressive come Senior year on my college applications. It was then that I started to wonder if Andover was a place of opportunity or, rather, a place that rewarded skillful manipulators.

Although I have always questioned valuing resumé building more than authentic commitment, my experiences with ARC threw this question into sharp focus. Not only did these Seniors deprive themselves of gaining a meaningful experience by quitting, but they were also hurting their ARC buddies.

Although some people will never be able to overcome their desire to construct a perfect college application, they should think about how their actions affect others. The buddies at ARC depend on their partners, and the bond formed between buddies is one built on trust. ARC should be a place where these amazing people are given the full attention and respect they deserve and not just be used as another phony component to a college application.

Caitlin Clancy is a three-year Upper from Andover, MA.