Exams not end of the road at Ransom

The Coconut Grove prep school is reinstituting its two-week community service project, the volunteer work once more becoming as important a graduation requirement as classwork.

Samantha, 17, said she'll be doing volunteer work for the first time in high school. She believes she will benefit.

``It's almost like we live in a bubble,'' she said. ``Most of us are well-to-do, and that's just not how a lot of the rest of the community is.''

Ransom's seniors will finish their final exams Friday. Beginning May 20, they'll volunteer for a week with one of six nonprofit organizations:

Wildlife Care Center, 19391 SW 336th St.; Florida AIDS Ride, 1045 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach; the Coconut Grove branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Miami, 2805 SW 32nd Ave.; Ransom Everglades Summer Camp and Summerbridge, both on campus; or at Dade County Park and Recreation facilities around the county.

``I think the year should end in a positive way, rather than just fade away,'' said Marian Turk, a senior class adviser and English teacher who helped coordinate the project.

At the Boys and Girls Club, students will help prepare the center for the 500 kids who are expected for the organization's summer program, said Stephanie Gray, the club's youth coordinator.

``We usually don't have the manpower we need,'' Gray said. ``It's really a great help.''

During the project's second week, the 118 members of Ransom's senior class will work together building homes for Habitat for Humanity -- although they've also carved out time for the senior banquet.

``Soon, we'll all be going our separate ways,'' said Justin Forer. ``It'll be a nice end to a great year.''

Students, faculty members and administrators have worked since September to devise a plan to combat the all-too-common ``senioritis.''

``Seniors would watch Oprah and graduate,'' said Tatiana Marina, 17, a senior. ``The idea, now, is to get to do something together as a class.''

If successful, the project will likely become a permanent requirement for future graduating classes, said John Cotton, the school's headmaster.

Lauren Collins is several steps ahead of her classmates in volunteering. She has worked as a candy striper at Baptist Hospital, tutored students and, until recently, worked five to six hours a week for the Deaf Services Bureau hotline.

``I just love working with people and giving back to the community,'' said Lauren, 18.