It's been a long journey

When I step back and look at all the privileges I have, it doesn't take long to feel so thankful for those activists who came before my time to give me such freedoms. It's incredible to see just how much things have changed for women, children, minorities... human beings! I feel like a lot of times I/we take all these changes for granted, but it's always good to reflect and again, just be thankful for them!!

The first thing I'm thankful for is the opportunity to be in this country! How awesome is it that I was able to legally come to the U.S. with my family [from Brazil] so that we could live a better life? This is a change that is still undergoing (immigration/legalization laws) but that changes and opportunities that are available right now have made it possible for me to live here and go to school with you all :)

Religious freedom. I can't imagine living in a country where I couldn't worship my God, pray, read the Word, without being persecuted. Not only am I able to do that, but others around me, no matter what religion, are able to freely practice their beliefs without fearing for their lives.

Worker's rights. I couldn't imagine working 60 hours a week and getting paid close to nothing with no benefits. I couldn't imagine my workplace not being liable in any sort of form, or offer any sort of compensation for any injuries that occurred in the work place. I can't imagine living with the burden of discrimination by my employer because of my ethnicity, age or gender.... The work place and its laws have come a long way...

I'm happy the FDA exists! Establishing laws to control food and cosmetics look a lot of research and lobbying! I'm honestly glad someone somewhat controls what companies put into things i'm consuming... I can't imagine society today without regulations of our food and drugs! I think even more people would be dying of cancer and even more people would be addicted to crazy drugs...

Environmental laws are super important. I actually think our generation is/is going to play an important role in continuing to enforce and perhaps better these laws. If they weren't in place, our world would be depleted from natural resources even more than we already are!! God only knows if we would even be able to sustain ourselves if no regulation of chemicals, etc were in place. I'm thankful for that! And also hopeful these laws will continue to help save the planet we live in...

I think us as a people, a society have been in a long journey to improve our way of living and making it fair/equal for all of us. Improving the lives of everyone for the best. Slowly but surely we'll get close to where we want to be.... :) and it's up to us to be that change we want to see in the world!

Let Freedom Ring

One priviledge I have gained from a social justice movement was from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Their time and effort has made a serious difference on whether people will risk the chance of drinking and driving and spending years in prison or not taking the risk at all. Laws have been made to ensure my and other surrounding drivers will be driving safely. They may not be entirely secure by the laws so heighten the penalties of the consequences shrinks the number of drunk drivers dramatically.

Domestic violence laws were also supported by numerous women, and some men, who joined together who were afraid of going home to their spouses. The laws guarantee that if for some reason, God forbid, if I was in a relationship where my boyfriend or husband was abusive, I would be safe. The laws also establish the difference between an actual domestic violence situation and an angsty teenage girl's interpretation of 'abuse'.

Child labor laws have helped me as a young teenager to find a part-time job and allow myself time for school. These laws ensure wages will not alter with age and the hours may alter according to school hours and after-school activities. The laws against child labor have made it possible for me to obtain a part-time job when I was fifteen and was able to attend school everyday at the normal high school hours.

When the feminists in the 1960's established equalities in the work force, it gave women and men the same opportunites to have the same position with equal pay. This law helps me for mainly the future when I am certain of my career. I will not have to work 5 times harder than a male who is trying to take the same position I accquire. It will also guarantee that I will be able to support myself without a husband. I can sustain a life without having to combine incomes.

The last of these priviledges I, as well as every other female Americans, is the right to vote. Women were considered 2nd class citizens, until they stood up for equality between men and women. Women are now lifted up out of 2nd class and are considered just as equal as any other man.

Vulnerability

From chapter six I think that what Loeb meant from "other people's stories can expand our view of the world," is that we must be able to place ourselves into someone else's shoes. The book even states that if we are not homeless than we will not care about it. We know more about the rich than we do about the poor. At first I disagreed with that we can learn from other people's stories and that it can help. However, a part in the book stated that it is a hopeful experience to feel another's suffering. Even more so when the suffering is similar to your own.

Through suffering our vulnerability is placed on display for anyone or anything to take advantage of. Through vulnerability we are able to place ourselves in another's shoes and gain a heightened awareness of the world. Personal experiences do attach a face to the chaos but at the same time we should not have to attach a human meaning as the book says in order to be able to empathize and want to help. Yet, hearing the stories of others does pull an inner drive to want to make a change. The book also said that suffering alone is pointless because it is as if you are having self-pity. Once there is an attachment of multiple people it is easier to take a stand and do what is right in order to be recognized.

The story that I really connected with was the last story of chapter six about David. His struggles through prison and childhood grabbed my attention and I wanted to know exactly what happened with him. He completely changed his life around once he felt vulnerable. We are a vulnerable species however, we would rather not let that we are vulnerable be exposed to others, for fear that we will be taken advantage of. Small ripples and small changes will build into a current as the book states. David rippled by showing people that change was possible and necessary. Although being positive will not make the changes we desire it will help to keep our mindset on the right track. The quote that I felt best fit the statement of vulnerability was the Alcoholics Anonymous quote that states, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." I think everyone in society should live by this. The book states that we must be 100 percent okay with ourselves before we are able to help others.

An act of kindness that I felt changed the way I viewed the community was an act of kindness that I did. I am a cashier at Albertsons, and the other day at work I smiled without noticing, at this little old lady and told her I could help her in my line. As I smiled again and asked her how she was doing she told me that I had made her day by asking her that question and by simply smiling. She was so happy that I bothered to notice how she felt and to smile at her. She had said my smile had brightened her day. After I finished ringing up she told my manager that I was doing well and that she really liked me. Just by smiling at someone can change the way their day is going. I felt that this act of kindness was very small yet had a huge impact where this lady's day may have been mediocre I helped to make it a better day for her.

A story that would sum up my life would be that of never giving up when someone doubted me. With soccer, my coach had absolutely no faith in me but I strived to do more and more each and every day willing to do whatever it took to be the best. However, she was unwilling to change her mind.At that point I realized one must be compassionate and have felt what another feels to know the pain they are inflicting which is why I believe hearing other's stories may be so helpful. At the same time this story may not be directly connected but in my eyes I view at as we must start with the little things first. There are people who do community service because they have to and then there are those who have placed themselves in another person's position and tried to see what they would do in that spot. We must not let another control our path, in this case that would be our society. A change can only come when we stand together as one because everyone needs to come together for storytelling so that all the small acts of kindness can add up.

The Warmth

"Other people's stories can expand our view of the world." Consider our parents, they try to teach us through their experiences, their stories, what they learned from their parents. Just within our own families, whether they are good or bad, stories are passed down from generations. Our parents may not sit us down and say, "Way back when...", but they incorporate it in their own lives and inherently so do we. Stories are continually all around us. For example, the media. Movies, books, television shows, music all tell a story. Some are silly, some probably shouldn't have been told, but they are there. What we take from them expands our views. The movie Avatar wasn't just a love story. It showed what our world could turn into if we don't take care of what we have left. We could become mindless killing machines, more so than what people already think. Imagine the other planet being another country. It could honestly happen.

I'm not saying that we should only expand our views through the media or from our parents, but simply pointing out that we need to open our eyes to the bigger picture. There are stories all around us, waiting to effect our lives, waiting to shape our views. All we need to do is listen with an open mind and an open heart.

When I think about what story I could tell that sums up my life, I draw a blank. I start to think about everything I haven't done then I decide I have led a pretty boring life. The only reason I started doing community service was to build my resume. I was definitly one of the people who thought that I couldn't make a difference. However, since taking this class, I feel as though the blinders around my eyes have been lifted. Maybe my story starts here? The thought of my story starting when I am 20 years old is a little sad, but it is a start and only makes me excited for everything I might accomplish in the future.

"Remember why you came and while you're alive, experience the warmth before you grow old" - Incubus The Warmth

Injustices of the World

Listening to other people’s stories gives us a different perspective on life. Not every one shares the same cultural background, interests, and needs. Life is a unique experience and no one else experiences it the same way as yourself. Some people make bad decisions and through their life stories you may realize that you don’t want to follow that same path or if you listen to a beautiful life story, full of courage, perseverance, and success, most likely you will feel inspired to do something great as well. People and their stories influence our lives every day. It is important to take in what they have to say and learn from it.

When I think about my life, I feel really blessed to have had the opportunities and the parenting I had. I was born and raised in Brazil. Even if you are rich there, poverty is part of your every day life seeing it daily on the street and on TV. When you grow up seeing kids your age begging for a coin or two because they absolutely don’t have any opportunities, you definitely grow up with a different view of the world. When I turned 15, we moved to United States because my mother wanted to give my baby brother and I a better lifestyle and opportunities. In the beginning it was hard because of the language barrier and because we didn’t have much money, but I didn’t have to see homeless kids on the streets anymore and my mom didn’t have to pay a small fortune to give me a decent education. At school I made new friends, many from different parts of the world. I taught them about Brazil, they taught me about their countries and we learned about America together. We talked about similarities and differences our countries shared and what was specifically different about America. Moving to the US was a tremendous experience. We went from an upper middle class in Brazil to a poor class in America. I saw my mom, who was an architect, waiting tables to support her family in the land of opportunities. I did a lot of growing up in a short amount of time during the hard times of adaptation and I am so glad I was able to see both sides of the coin.

Because of my personal experiences and everything I learned, I feel the need to fix injustice in the world. Even though I might never see it fixed, I’m glad to know I did my part to fix what I can. I didn’t forget the kids my age asking for a coin at the streets sign on my way to school.

Life Stories

History is not my best subject, but I do remember a couple of reasons why I am allowed to be "human" In the Declaration of Independence it says "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Thomas Jefferson did not just write these words because he couldn't think of anything else to say. He wrote them because he firmly believed that each one of us has the right to be human and to live freely. Unfortunately for some, that freedom did not come until very ate in history. All of the black civil rights activists have created the path for me to become anything I want to be and more. I can enter through the front door, sit on the front seat of the bus, enter any restaurant of my choosing, and so much more. Also all the women that participated in the Women's suffrage movement, thank you, thank you, thank you. I definitely could not stand being an uneducated housewife forever. I can vote, go to college, become a doctor, anything is possible.


When you hear that someone with stage 4 breast cancer beats the disease an has been cancer free for two years, you think of the strength they had to endure. When A person with the same disease hears this news they think if she can do it, I can do it too. Hearing other people's stories ignites a form of inspiration in you. You feel that you can make a difference or change the outcome of something. It makes you aware that you are not alone in this world and that there are other people that have the same circumstances or even worse ones that you do.
I honestly don't have a story to share. I don't think I've gone through anything that is worth telling. I've had those day dreams where I wonder what I would write if I had to write a book about my life, and honestly I find it quite boring. Possibly as I get older there will be stories that I can tell.

Stories to Inspire Hope

I think that when Loeb states, “other people’s stories can expand our view of the world,” he means a few different things. First, I think it is important to think about how the many negative stories we hear on the news, from friends, etc., all contribute to that overall looming feeling of cynicism that Loeb was talking about earlier in the book. Like he said, these negative stories tend to void citizens of hope, and to discourage them from trying to make a change. I think he means that not only is it important to inform people of the negative things that are happening around us, but that it is important to spread stories of good things that happen in order to spread hope and to encourage people to try to make a difference.

I think there’s this overall feeling in America right now that there is just really no point in trying because you will never be able to change the world. I think this is kind of missing the point. Any good thing you do, no matter how small, has the potential to really turn someone’s day around. When these sorts of efforts are consistent, this positive influence can only go further. I think the more people pay each other respect, and listen to what one another has to say, the more we will feel bonded to one another. The more we are bonded, the greater our responsibility to each other is. The greater our responsibility to each other is, the more people will band together to work for a common good.

When I was thinking of how to answer this question, I wasn’t sure what story to tell. It seems anything I could think of was too big or too small. But I think the size of the story is beside the point I was hoping to make. I think just a small story of human kindness can inspire hope within someone. So I will tell the story of a small act of kindness that happened a long time ago. It’s a story that I still remember as having a significant impact on my outlook of life.

Living across the country for high school, it wasn’t easy having to travel back and forth to visit my family every two months or so. I hate flying. I hate airports. I hate airplanes. There is NOTHING fun about airports to me, and they just generally put me in a very irritable mood. So you can imagine my discontent when I got off my connecting flight in Atlanta only to find out that I had only about 4 dollars left to buy myself dinner. Because airport food is so expensive it was SO frustrating trying to find anything for cheap that would hold me over for my next long flight. I finally found a place that had chicken nuggets for exactly 4 dollars, although I couldn’t afford them considering the fact that I didn’t have enough to pay for tax. When I asked the shy, frail Indian man behind the counter what I could get for less than $4, I am fairly sure he could sense the frustration in my voice (though I wasn’t rude). Right when I asked him he called out his co-worker from the back. These two people put together the money they were working to make in order to help me be able to pay for my dinner. They paid for a stranger’s dinner that came to their own restaurant to eat. Because I wasn’t expecting anyone to be willing to do that, much less the person working behind the counter, I was more taken aback than I expected. I felt in some way almost guilty for accepting their help, but I wasn’t sure what else to do. I made sure that the people working behind the counter were absolutely aware of my gratitude, and left the restaurant in a MUCH better mood. Something so seemingly trivial really challenged my views about people during a time when I was so irritable. Though the story may seem random and unimpressionable, this happened about 3 years ago and I still remember even what I was wearing, how much money I had, what the boy behind the counter looked like, and nearly everything about the situation.

My point is, that even though this story is so small, it has the potential to give someone hope, to inspire them to act kindly to their peers, or to show them that people really have an impact on the way that we view the world. I think that these small acts of kindness need not be forgotten, and should be drawn upon for inspiration in times of what may seem like hopelessness.

Prying open my third eye.

The other day this elderly man was escorted into the Student Life office at SCC by a faculty member asking how he could obtain some tickets to the Valentine's Day Concert for him and his wife. We found out that the bookstore was selling them, and I offered to take him there. During the walk he was eager to tell me about his past, and after listening I became interested in hearing more from him. All of his stories revolved around school or women, but they all ended with a moral or lesson. That is why I feel it is so important take every opportunity to fully absorb what people say, open the mind, and shut off the judgment reflex it seems were all born with when listening to others. Of course, I fail to do this all of the time, and I have caught myself doing it, but by becoming aware of it I feel I am improving.

It seems within seconds after someone says something I have an opinion. The problem with that is that I can't ever better myself or change unless I allow my opinions to change. Opinions about homelessness, immigration, global warming, and civil rights are all put upon us by the people and things that we are influenced by.

So anyway, I think it is definitely important to get the "inside view" of the problems we care about. Be a good reporter, go find the source, and understand the problem. Once you believe you have all of the facts, don't let that stop you from getting different sides to the story. Like Sister Helen Prejean, the author of Dead Man Walking experienced when she met the parents of a victim that had been killed by an inmate she was counseling. It didn't stop her from wanting to reform capital punishment laws. It only "broaden(ed) her vision." (Loeb, 1999)

Loeb, P. R. (1999). Soul of a Citizen. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.

My World.."Split Open"

Throughout the book the author has told stories of people that have changed the world. Some of these people had something unjust happen for them to act in disagreement and stand for what they believe. This collaboration of stories influences the reader to imagine fitting into these people's narrow shoes. For most, it is easier to act on an issue if it relates that individual. The importance of hearing other's stories is to inspire and motivate one to keep on the pathway of their destiny. By reading other's stories, breaks down the barriers that the media, most of my peers, and some of my family has built around me. Even if they're not a victim of social justice they're stories can impact one by similar issues to their situation. They may help one learn from others mistakes, or make a decision based on a previous outcome.

My own life was similar to the books quote that, " Some issues touch us directly, impelling us to immediate action." The story that shaped my life was an unfortunate tragedy, but that was the story to inspire me to live for others and do what I can while I am here to help. Just like Chris (in chapter 6), "once I've done something, I can't go back to what I was before." After I began letting something consume me with compassion and dedication, I began to feel like there is a purpose for me being here. Community involvment has opened up many doors that I would have never had proposed to me. It's more than just a great resume, I've built relationships, trust, and stability in my life.

My political biography would take years of writing. It would specifically detail every aspect of my life that has been impacted by another person. Whether this person had moved the country before I was born, or was making history while I wrote my biography. I would include these people's stories to credit them, but also share their story hopefully ignite that fire in someone else. Sharing my stories would be extremely hard for me, but if it made a positive difference in someone's life, it's worth doing.

Rights of the People

Being a caucasian male between the ages of 18 and 65, I originally thought that not too many rights and movements in American history really effect me. However it doesn't take a genius to disprove that theory. A lot has changed between now and the times of our forefathers. We have taken huge strides in the advancement of basic human dignity and decency in just a few hundred years. We've done things in those few short years civilizations that lasted twice as long as us failed to do. We didn't start off perfect by any means, what with slavery, child labor, and female oppression, nor are we perfect now, but we have made vast improvements and we continue to change and reach for something better. We a society of constant political movements and changes, which I personally find ironic because we also tend to be one of the most stable.
The fact that I didn't have to spend my childhood in some factory, risking life and limb to produce some cheap goods to make a fat cat business man rich beyond belief is something I am grateful for. I wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes under some of the conditions kids at the beginning of the 20th century had to deal with, my attention span wasn't good enough. I am also glad I have the right to not be religious, but my best friend can be catholic, and there be no problems with that. The religious diversity America enjoys was neigh unheard of anywhere in the world 300 years ago. I've always believed in the right to free speech, though I fear for its safety in a new, politically correct, technologically driven world. And in these economic troubling times, when my dad hasn't had a steady job in 2 years, I have to be grateful for things like unemployment money and food stamps. Otherwise my family wouldn't be able to eat. And finally, though not a right Americans have yet but one I can only hope comes soon... health-care. Not everyone agrees on the subject (a side effect of free speech) but I think everyone can agree something needs to happen and soon. These are just a few of the rights we enjoy, but they are each powerful advancements to the human race as a whole.

More than just a story.

What the author means by "expanding our view of the world" is a suggestion to attempt to open the doors of the world by becoming aware of the crude reality in which we live in. When watching the media or reading a newspaper, we come across many tragedies were we see a vague view made by reporters who at times do not succeed at covering all the facts. However, when we listen to stories told by those who have experienced suffering, we tend to be more susceptible. This response is quite effective because it makes us want to change their faiths. The capacity of a human-being to be caring is infinite. We only need an effective spark to get us started.

I come from a very humble family. My grandparents, lived at a small village named Canchiscocha that is located in a remote area in Peru. This was when terrorism had taken over certain parts of Peru, many years ago. My grandparents, who were farmers, had a fair amount of animals that allowed them to live a modest life. One day, about 12 to 15 men broke into their home wearing all black and carrying arms. They demanded to be fed and for my grandpa to kill their best cattle. My frightened grandpa did what was asked of him. They were captive for 2 days. The reason they had come was because some people had told them that my grandparents opposed terrorists and that they wanted to disperse them all. Although they opposed those groups, due to their old age, they could not do very much. Those men had come with all the intentions of killing them, if they had opposed or said anything. This incident moved feelings deep inside of me and afterwards I could never go back to what I was before. Something that I wished at the moment was to hold my grandparents and tell them it was okay, that I will never allow anyone to hurt them again.

Ever since then, one of my biggest goals in life is to be able to change some one's life. Not only live my life, but help influence another one for good. Without that I don't think my life will count. That is the main reason I joined this service, hoping that throughout this experience I will encounter my goal in life and to be able to achieve something that is important to me. Not many know or even care of all the atrocities that people have to suffer, and knowing what my grandparents had to suffer through is enough for me to want to see a change or help create one.

Rights we haven't always enjoyed....

As a woman, I cannot take for granted the freedom of living in an equal rights society. I have learned through history however, the struggle of many women that were treated as a second class citizen. For instance, it wasn't long ago that women didn't have the right to control when and whether be pregnant.

Margaret Sanger, a nurse at the turn of the 20th century, was an American birth control advocate who witnessed unwelcome and unplanned pregnancies, especially in low income women. Sanger's mother was a woman who suffered poor health due to multiple pregnancies and died from cervical cancer and tuberculosis. Because of her intense beliefs on the topic of birth control, Sanger founded the National Birth Control League in 1914, leading to changes in the law prohibiting doctors from giving birth control advice (and later, birth control devices) to patients.

Thanks to those changes I now have the right to control how many children I decide to bear, a right which has had a tremendous impact in my life because I am not tied down to a large family which I could not support.

Other rights that have made a great difference in our society include:

The Minimum Wage became law when it was written into the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938. 0.25 cents and hour was the amount of pay required by the first national minimum wage law. Individual states are now required by law to have a minimum wage. Most of the state minimum wages are comparable to the federal minimum wage.

In drafting the Equal Pay Act of 1963, legislators intended to get rid of the wage difference between the sexes. Giving women an equal pay for equal work was something that although passed in 1963, we still struggle with in many jobs around the country.

The Privacy Act came about because of American concerns over how personal information was being used by the government. Many were concerned that they would have no more privacy in light of the emerging computer age. This act, created in 1974 puts strict restrictions on the governments collection and use of personal data, and gives individuals a method of suing the government for violation of the law.

The Federal Fair Housing Act, prohibits any discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, familial status, and other profiling criteria when it comes to housing transactions. Many people previously unable to rent or purchase homes or acquire financing have received benefit from this law.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990, by President Bush (Senior) which prohibits any and all discrimination due to disabilities.

All of the previously mentiones laws have been hard fought for. Behind every single law, there were many people who suffered indignities because of lack of fairness or equal rights.

Are you really listening?

"Other People's Stories can expand our views of the world." when i first read this quote, the first thing that popped into my head was, when people tell me stories about there life, am i hearing them talk or am i really listening? i think for me, listening to people is a major positive communication skill i have. We all view the world in many different ways, and have many differnt stories to tell. We all do not see the same things under the light of the sun or the moon. Listening to people's stories shows us that their is more to the day than what we see, some may think life is simple, or very diffuclt to get through however hearing stories shows us that we control our own way of viewing the world.

I have a story that happened just last weekend right after class, and on my way to service. Now the story is nothing life changing, however at the end of the day, i felt really good about helping this man with something very little in life that i sure take for granted. OKAY.now to the story, as i was getting off the highway there was a homeless man walking up and down the street asking for money, food, anything to help him get through another day, now in my opinion i do not like to give people of that nature money, because i really dont know what they will do with it, and again that is my own opinon, however, i looked down and i had a few grapefruits sitting on my car floor, and i thought for a moment.. keep driving? or give him the grapfruit. as he approached my car, i hesitated a bit, but i knew the right thing to do, and i gave him the grapefruit. He was such a thankful man, and it felt good giving back to him.Now, i could have gone about my day saying i did a good deed, now i do not have to do anything else, but i didnt, i told every one at SLICE what i had did, and went on with my day knowing in my head, that guy was very thankful for what he had recieved. Now to me, in this story physical contact was more of importance than verbal, by just showing this man did not have alot. But it opened my eyes to realize, there are many things in life i take for granted,and i should be thankful for the little things in life, and not value the WANTING items as much.

I have one more story about people opening up and showing me the world in other people's eyes. I went to camp Junior and Senior Year of high school called Our Town, with Calvin Terrell and he helped us open up to people we would not normally open up to at school, work, or any where our social network takes us. Thhrough the camp we all went through many struggles agreeing and disagreeing on the ways people view each other, the world, and the way society has become. At this camp, it took alot of listening and opening up,now it was harder to do then just telling my best friend what is going on in my life. These were strangers i had just met and tell them personal information, however it was not as horrible as it sounds, we all opened up which ment we all felt comfortable with each other knowing we all live seperate lives, and we see the same changes in the world but react in different ways.

We take action as indivduals based on how we feel towards it, weither it is school,work, community service, or meeting new friends. I personally feel as though the United States is such a diverse Country however the people in it are very much independent. I feel as if we listen to one another's stories more, and open up to more of a variety we can become more of a closer country and be more understanding.

Exposed

Listening to the stories of others expands our world view because we often only have the opportunity to experience a very small part of the world and of what life can be like. The things that I have experienced are going to be different to some extent than every other person that I meet. If I don't listen to what they have to say and what they have experienced then I am limiting myself to only understanding and feeling what my past has been and looking at everything from that limited viewpoint.

An example of this is my view on education. Growning up I had never been exposed to some of the programs that are in place today in schools. I also wasn't exposed to the racial diversity that is present in Arizona schools. When I decided to go back to school to teach I still had the expectations of what I had been exposed to as a child. When I first stepped into a classroom at a title one school I was blown away and immediately I could see some of the difficulties faced by the students and the teachers and some major problems with our system. Talking with the students and teachers along with having the totally different experience in my childhood really allowed me a bigger picture view and got me involved with trying to change the way some of the programs are run in our schools as well as start putting together a program of my own. Without being exposed to these new stories and better understandings to build on I would have continued to go on thinking that schools were the same as when I was a kid.

I got a late start with community service. It just was never something I thought about when I was working 12 hour days and maintaining a household. I would do a walk for this or that now and then and felt like that covered my part of things. Then I came back to school and at about the some time a started working in the gradeschool classrooms. The double exposure of seeing so many of my friends being active in the community along with seeing the needs of many of the families at the school opened my eyes and made me realize how much I really did have to give. I saw the excitement a new box of crayons could bring to a child. What seems like such small things to me can be huge to someone who has never had a a door opened for them in life. I grew up in poverty like many of them but I got a break somewhere along the line. I hope someday my story says that I was able to give even one of these kids the break they deserve in life.

Live n' Learn

You must learn from the past to move on from the present. When the author states that "other peoples stories can expand our view of the world" I believe he is saying we must oberve the past to move on to the future. Many times I love to hear war stories from people who have been there. We learn from war stories the horrors of humanity and that we must kill or be killed. We also learn that a comrade is the number 1 priority and you never leave a comrade behind. You could also learn from those who faced social in justace as to not repeat our predisesors mistakes. For instance, why has there not been another nuclear bombing since world war two. Thats because people know the destructive power of this horrifing weapon.

As for my own life, I have learned many things. Being in foster care was just part om my life. Most of my life I learned not to give up. This was from when I was increacing my IQ. It was often difficult and I was discuraged often. However, one day my aunt sat me down one day and asked me if I wanted to quit and become nothing more than I was or I could work hard and become something. This time of trial shaped who I am.

I got involved in my community just recently infact. My only view was that I had to better myself before helping others to do the same. However, I also believe doing community service will help me better myself as well. I will learn from others and in turn make myself better as a person.

As far as my view on my political ideology is conserned, I hold no one any better or worse based on how they look. Even the great Dr. King once said " I Dream of a day when my children will not be judged my the color of their skin but by the content of their character". I hold this fact close to my heart in the fact that I will never look down on others based on first impressions, as many did with me when I was close to mental retardation, but by how they act and how hard they work.

Fruits of Others

Many of our privileges we have today are ones we take for granted. Many of these have been around for less than our family trees go back and long battles were waged for them. Here are just a few of them:

1. Interracial marriage: Prior to 1967 it was illegal in some states as gay marriage is today. One couple changed every things in an eight year of the “Lovings vs. Virginia” that deemed anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional. Now it is commonplace to marry a person of a different race.

2. Discrimination: Prior to the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, 1965, and 1968 discrimination in the work place, grandfather laws in voting booths, and sales/ renting discrimination was allowed. Now we cannot be denied for these things on the basis of how we look. These acts were a direct result of hard work by activists such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

3. Environmental Laws: In 1970 the National Environmental Protection Agency Act was enacted. Without this there would be nothing to stop people from polluting the air, our water that we use, and dumping toxic waste where we live.

4. Food Safety: The USDA was formed in 1862 by Abe Lincoln, and today it puts standards on the food that we are eating every day.

5. Consumer safety: Before the 1972 Consumer Product Safety Ticket, it was not required for products to be tested, have warning labels, or be replaced if defective. John F. Kennedy was an activist in this era.

When Loeb says that “hearing others stories can expand our view of the world”, I believe he is referring to taking a different perspective. Although we sometimes feel our view is the best, you never know what knowledge can be attained by receiving another outlook on life. Hearing other‘s stories is also important because we can learn from their experiences. This owes homage to the phrase “the wise man learns from other‘s mistakes”. Make no notions that other people’s stories always mistakes, but by hearing them you are able to imagine what you would have done in that particular situation.
One story I might tell from my own life is the resolve I gained after my last match my junior year in which I broke my arm that required major surgery, to the successes I had my senior year in wrestling. That one story pretty much sums up all the values that describe me. Many people would have quit after having two plates and thirteen screws put into their body, but not me. I used that time to think about how well I would do the next year. When others see my scars I really want them to know that it is possible to turn a negative into a positive.
Throughout the years many stories have shaped my views of community involvement. Some of these include those of Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and Rosa Parks. A common factor in all of these stories is that these people all had enough with the problems in their communities and decided to take steps towards changing them. Honestly I am not sure how I would write my political autobiography. I guess it would be centered around democratic points of view and changing how expensive healthcare is in the United States.

Reflection Questions: Chapters 5 & 6

CHAPTER 5: UNFORESEEN FRUITS

Think about the movements for social justice that have made a difference in your life and in the lives of your family members. For example, without the woman's suffrage movement, the women in the class would still not be able to vote. Think about all the aspects of your life: social, work, economic, family, religious, etc., and think about all the rights and privileges that you enjoy that were earned by the work of active citizens. Try to list at least five of these rights, privileges, and gains in human dignity that grew out of the movements they created--for instance the 40-hour work week and laws against child labor.

CHAPTER 6: THE CALL OF STORIES

What does the author mean when he states that, "other people's stories can expand our view of the world"? Discuss the importance of listening to other people's stories. Why are other people's stories important to hear, even if we're not victims of social justice?

What stories might you tell from your own life? What story would sum up your own life? What stories shaped your views of community involvement? How would you write your political autobiography?

While I believe Leob's idea on cynicism is true, I don't believe cynicism is the best word to use. Originally it was an early, almost transcendental philosophy that believed in the rejection of all material belongings and the acceptance of a more simply life. Later it became what we know it as today; an idea of mistrust towards all organizations or actions of others. While feeling that you can't trust anyone around you may cause depression or a lack of desire to help others, it doesn't exactly make you feel incapable of achieving your dreams or helping others. This mentality may make it difficult to help those in need since you would be acting alone, but it is a good concept to keep in mind when help others. You can't always assume that the person on the side of the street that you just gave money to, is going to use it on food rather than drugs or alcohol. It's good to be mindful that not everyone you are helping need it, or are using your help for good reasons. While a completely cynical mindset would destroy the experience of helping others, its wise to keep your mind open to the fact that the help your providing may not be the correct form of help people need.
Instead I would say most people in America are overwhelmed rather than cynical. They either follow the perfect standard described in chapter 2, or see the masses of disadvantaged people and wonder how they can make a difference. As far as following their dreams goes, the concept is the same. They are overwhelmed by the number of those around them who have not fulfilled their dreams, see the very few who have, and are afraid of trying and facing the humiliation and defeat of failure. It's this overwhelmed or depressed mindset that I believe better describes the current situation in America especially the fear of failure.
Just last night I was watching The Office with my family. In the episode Pam tells Jan how it's always been her dream to become an artist or a graphic designer. Jan tells Pam about this excellent program that their company is offering that would help her fulfill that very dream. Immediately, though, Pam starts offering excuses and reasons not to do it. I was startled to see someone have a perfect path to their dream placed before them and they suddenly run from it. Then I remembered, I nearly did the same thing.
I've always wanted to be an Orthopedic Surgeon, specialize in Sports Medicine, and open my own practice. All through high school I kept good grades, remained involved, and built my college resume. But when I graduated my mom lost her job, and moved in with my grandparents who were struggling to tend their ranch with their old age. I moved out to Arizona to help them, and set my dreams aside. I made a point to still go to college so I enrolled at GCC. As I was speaking with my counselor, he looked over my grades and accuplacer and said I shouldn't enroll in the classes I selected. Instead he offered GCC's honors program with the president's scholarship, and offered a plan to get me the credits I would need to one day make my dreams come true. To be honest I was suddenly struck with the fear of actually committing to this dream and the possibility of failure and nearly rejected the idea. Only after several days of thought, and several more visits to the counselor did I finally decide to take the first step in my pursuit. Even today I am amazed by the fear I felt of simply going after my own dreams. So I am able to understand what Pam felt, and what Leob was talking about. It's that overwhelming fear, or even mistrust of ourselves that we don't have what it takes to make a difference, change a life, or follow our dreams.

We are but a tool of cynicism

Chapter 4: Reflections

I think cynicism is a nasty, destructive, negative interest that affects everyone on the planet every day.

“we’re coming dangerously close to believing that nothing is possible, except for a nation of corruption and greed people in the media and politics should be promoting integrity. But they give us a sense that everyone is on the take, that everyone is out for themselves and working for a larger common good is impossible” –Bob Chase Education Association president.

We are spurred in the wrong direction when it comes to becoming involved in all that affects us, by media, politicians, bosses, business owners, even car sales men! The majority of the world allows themselves to be manipulated by cynicism from people of all levels of society.
Although, if we do not participate, if we do not get involved we allow those set upon manipulation to win, CEOs can steal more money from the government, National leaders can hoodwink their country and bankers can become rich from the “bail out”. We read headlines every day showing us the corruption and bad actions that somehow or another affect us all, and we think that we are too small and that THEY are to powerful, there is no point evolving ourselves or that what has happened is set in stone that nothing can change.

How has this concept affected me? I think better yet, how has it affected us all as a society? We no longer look to ourselves as having any power in a democratic society, where feudalism has been replaced with corruption of capitalism, which can have just as much power…

YOU ARE UNIQUE

We all have unique abilities, unique skills and unique gifts. To access these talents we must step out of our comfort zones, we must be ready to face up the challenges stretched out in front of us, with the fundamental believe that one step leads to another and open up future prospects. According to Loeb "social involvement builds on who we already are, even as it changes us in unexpected and lasting ways." Life itself is a discovery process, as we advance in life we advance in our abilities, talents, and skills. That is to say, you can't discover this unique talents until you stretch out of your comfort zone to search for it. Airplane was invented via research; the cure for polio was discovered through research studies and experiments.
You can not succeed if you are afraid of failure. I was held back for 2 years with out proceeding with my education because of fear of how to pay for my tuition if I enrolled in any classes, but I took that first step not minding the consequences of failure with the notion that "I fail to success." I refused to wait for greater financial strength before I set out my goal, and I refused to be held down by the condition of my parents, as such I stretched out to make a difference.

My background held me back for a long time, because in Nigeria, the disparity between the poor and the rich is unquantifiable that we don’t mingle with the rich because of social class, the rich are seen as little gods. But reading the stories of people who made it from the scratch gave me courage that I could break through if I stretched, and my story could be a courage bomb for the poor to exploit.
Like Suzy stressed, "a good understanding of our mix feelings for something makes it easier for us to reach out to people who are reluctant to make themselves ready to face up the challenge of change," we cant make a change if we fail to discover our talents, skills, and abilities, because community service and social involvement entails us taking up different challenges where we may not understand the language or culture of the people like the immigration group volunteering to help teach ESL to the refugees. But the more we do the more confident we become, and understand that we have something unique to offer. As Douglas Everett once said "There are some people, who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other." WHO ARE YOU?

One of my earliest memories as a child was of a homeless man sitting outside a McDonald's in Downtown Phoenix. He was an older man, the cast on his leg stained with dirt, his eyes filled with sadness. Everyone leaving or entering simply walked past him, without looking (I'm sure to avoid the pain his sorrewness seemed to cause). My mother and I walked hand-in-hand, bellies full past this man's bench. Just before we crossed the street, she stopped and reached for something out of her purse. "Give this to the nice man," She told me. I ran back, carrying the 5 dollars in my chubby fingers. Without a word, I plopped it into his wrinkly hand. "Thank you," He said, his smile enveloping his face.
My mother taught me what it meant to give to others, and to share what I had with others who weren't as lucky as I. My mothers act of kindness, in that one instance, changed my life forever. Since then, it never occured to me not to give back to the community. It's our world, and we, as humans, function as one to make the world go 'round. I have numerous capabilities [people skills, leadership skills, etc.] to allow myself to be successful in giving back to the people around me.

John Wooden once said, "You can never live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

He was right.

Be Positive

I don’t think that the importance of social activism has ever really been stressed too much by my role models growing up, and it’s probably why I haven’t really been socially active until SLICE. At church, they will occasionally mention a mission’s trip to another country to help spread Christianity, but I don’t know if they have ever really just had groups of people help out in the community. My family has never really been socially active, and I never really was exposed to other people in my community that helped out either. I think that if someone I knew was socially active, or at least talked about the importance of community service, it may have inspired me to get involved as well. That’s why I think that it is important for anyone that may be involved in community service to try to encourage people they know to get involved in someway too.

I like how Lobe talked about trying to make use of your strengths and talents while helping out the community. I think that in order for us to be the most productive we can be we need to make use of our talents. I think that it would be really cool to use my artistic ability to help a cause. I could see how someone might be able create a really provoking piece of art to either help shed light on an issue or help get people fired up to get involved. Even just helping out some community service program with their advertising needs or with their website would be cool because you be able to get your creative juices flowing while also getting the benefit of helping out with your community.

I think that Loeb made a very important point about cynicism in society. It seems easy for us to feel that many problems we face in society and with the world are lost causes. Many of us feel too small to make a difference, or maybe we are just too lazy. We would rather believe that all hope is gone rather than believe that there still is a chance that we can turn things around. We all need to realize that negative thinking will only result in a negative outcome. We need to start being more positive and optimistic if we are to make a difference in the world. We need to believe that there is always something that can be done. Even if there was no hope for the future, it’s better to go down with a fight than to just sit by and watch the world fall apart.

"The only people who never fail...

... are the ones who never do anything." More and more it seems that people find a surplus of excuses to avoid making an attempt to help anyone at all. It has been morphed into human nature to want to see results immediately. This idea of instant gratification is not typically something that exists when performing community service. It can takes weeks, months, even years before some semblance progress is noticeable.

A good example I can think of is volunteering at Horses Help. Often times just working with one rider for a single lesson can show little to no change. Even following a rider through a ride session may not reveal much improvement. In some cases, the most obvious points may be setbacks. In order to see significant change it is sometimes necessary to back up and take a look at long term progress. For instance, a good way to feel accomplished working with a rider can be to speak with their instructor or coach to see where they started and just how far they have come. Just working there for one day can be stressful because you don't feel like you have made much of a difference. However, like chapter three implies, it is important to take things one step at a time. Big triumphs are truly a mass of small victories in disguise.

Cynicism is quickly becoming a societal norm in that the majority tends to believe that if something is bad or wrong that there is nothing that can be done to even try to change it. No matter how small the effort, it helps to influence those around you to follow your lead. These triumphs do not happen overnight. They are often exceptionally slow to advance.

Personally, it was difficult at first to feel like I was not accomplishing as much as I could. Last semester, when I started volunteering for Horses Help, it was very slow going from the start. I did a lot of sitting, watching and waiting to be put into a class. I felt like my five hours had contributed little. I realize now that there is a brief period of acclimation. After a few weeks, I was added to schedules and began to find myself very busy on Saturday mornings. I have learned that you can not expect to jump into something and hope to move mountains on your own. It takes teamwork and time and even sometimes some failures in order to facilitate change.

Title/opening quote from http://www.wordboner.com/post/82209368/the-only-people-who-never-fail-are-the-ones-who

The glass is always full.

According to Dictionary.com Cynical suggests a disbelief in the sincerity of human motives. It means that we would rather look at the negative of peoples actions than find the positives. It’s hard to believe that people can be like that. To be so Pessimistic about life. To wake up each day and convince oneself that nothing good ever happens, and that nothing can be done to change the bad things in this world.

I thought that I was a very optimistic person, that I saw the positive in everything and everyone. But now when I look at what I have done, the way my point of view effects my actions, the way I look at life. I see that I too am one with cynicism. I doubt what I can do. I doubt that my dreams will ever be a reality. I doubt if I can sculpt the world around me, in ways that I imagine and dream of.

I looked at the world around me and saw the pain and suffering. I knew that someone had to go out there and make a stand against the injustice and cruelties in this world. But I also convinced myself that no matter how big of a stand I made or how big of an effort I made nothing can really change. I am too small of a person, to unimportant of a person to make a noticeable change in this big world.

I let my doubt and my disbelief hold me back and also look at others who did take a chance as crazy. I mean really what 1 person can really do.

Later on I realized what 1 person CAN do. After coming to terms with who I am, and what my role is in this world, I knew that I am capable of great things. I knew that I can adapt and I can inspire, I can lead, I can take a stand and once I convince myself of what I can do others who are skeptics will also follow.

Now, I know my future, I know how I am going to leave my mark in this world. I am sure of myself, and the actions I take. I can’t just sit back and watch my home be ripped apart and see my sisters and brothers suffer. If no one else will step up to take charge I will, and I won’t ever back down again.

Life is a whole lot brighter when you can see that the glass always full, and really if u think about the there is no other way to look at it. My science teacher once told me, half of the glass is filled with water and the other half with air. It is always full; it’s all in your perception.

Your Community wants YOU!

I was fortunate enough to have my mom be a stay at home mom. Although one might first assume she spent her day sitting on the couch watching tv and eating bon bons, that was certainly not the case. For my entire elementary school career, I watched my mom take part in many aspects of my school. I recall her coming into my 1st grade classroom, as a homeroom mom, teaching my class to make Christmas wreaths out of construction paper and dried pasta. As a member of the PTA, she showed me how to be a participant of a committee and the hard work involved in working in the community. I think my life of community service began simply as helping my mom with her involvement, but as I grew up and discovered how rewarding it is and I started taking the initiative to work in the community for myself.

Both of my parents instilled in me the philosophy that when you are a member of a community it is vital that you give back in any way you can. When you see problems or injustices arise, it is important to stand up for your convictions and be a leader in change. For example, my father became involved in our homeowners association when he saw that the committee was not making decisions with the neighborhoods best interest in mind. Instead of complaining about the associations activities, he took a stand and became a part of the change.

When I am participating in community service, whether it is at a soup kitchen or Horse's Help, I have the ability to put myself in the other person's shoes (despite of their size). I always find some way to connect with the people I am working with regardless of what their situation is. At Horse's Help, even though I do not have a severe mental or physical disability like the kids I work with, I do know the importance of compassion.

Also I am able to accept any position or duty assigned to me when I am a part of a cause. While at Horse's Help this past Saturday I dug a 4 inch deep patio area and swept the floor. Yes, ideally I would like to work directly with the kids but I know that whatever I do while I am there is beneficial to the kids.

Ignorance is Bliss

"If we convince ourselves that nothing can change, we don't have to risk acting on our dreams." Many people have a process of thought which prohibits them from getting involved. They think that just one person can not possibly make a significant difference in the world. This way of thinking is absolutely false. “To the world, you may be one person but to one person, you may be the world.” Each and every one of us has the ability to help change others’ lives in a positive way. Sometimes, you do not even realize what an unimaginably important difference you have made. Being in many difficult situations myself that left me with little hope, I can truthfully say that it is those caring individuals that gave me the strength and the willpower to keep on going.
As long as people keep thinking that their simple actions could never change anything, then they will not. We have to realize that every little thing we do will count in some way. Take this situation for instance; a woman is in the grocery store checkout line and the lady in front of her realizes that she is five dollars short of being able to pay for her groceries. The woman behind her offers to pay the five dollars that the other woman is missing and she is able to get all of her items. Now, to the woman who helps pay for the groceries, five dollars may be nothing, but to the other woman, that five dollars will be the difference between her being able to feed her children that night or not. Each of us holds the power to make a change. The question is what will we do with it? We can just ignore all the problems around us and continue thinking that we will always live in a society that is simply far too broken to be fixed, or we can take a stand against cynicism and put in the necessary effort to make a difference.
People have learned to separate themselves from the problems of the world as long as it doesn’t affect them personally. People have chosen to ignore reality and they refuse to step outside their own boxes to see the suffering in the world. I have seen it time and time again; the individuals who view themselves as superior to those in society who are not as well off as them, and therefore brush these people off to the side as if they are lesser beings. Without knowing each person’s story, so many individuals are quick to judge and think that those without homes are just too lazy to get a job or that they are addicts, which is not always the case. There are some people who scoff at the idea that there many deserving individuals out there who, if simply given the opportunity, would exceed expectations and make a positive life change. Many are scared that if they were to become educated on the issues of our society and learn the facts, that they might actually care and then they would have to become involved and let’s just face it—most people today are just too selfish to be concerned with the problems of others. It extremely important to keep an open mind and educate ourselves on what is really going on in the world today so that we can take the necessary measures to make a difference. Change must occur within us first in order for us to begin to change the world around us.

I just needed a shove...

A lot of us are on a very tight schedule we claim that we are so strained we don't have time to help anyone but our selves. In some causes this may be the absolute truth, but the majority of the time people are just lacking the motivation and the know how to get started helping people in your community.
Thankfully I have been provided with many opprotunites throughout my life to give back to the area. At home my parents and my religion have always encouraged me to get invloved in charity work. I remember getting up early on a Saturday morning to go help fix up a less afluent neighborhood with my family, or going through all of my clothes and toys and books to see what we could donate. I never really had anything holding me back besides myself and my lack of motivation. I would see people on the news and I would want to help but since I did not know how I never truly worried about it. All I needed was the shove to get started.
I believe that everyone has something to offer while giving service. Sometimes all people want is someone to talk to, someone who will actually take the time and listen to what they have to say. I have been told that I have an artist gift with photography. I enjoy capturing life as it is happening. I cna use my skill to get others involved with volunteer work.

Say yes to the unknown---take a leap of faith

Throughout my life there has been many things that I have allowed to hold me back from getting involved in service. Recently, though, I have been able to overcome those barriers and decided to take a chance to be involved in something bigger than myself. After starting college I became more aware of others needs and realized how selfish I had been in the past. My most often excuses for not getting involved in service would be, time and fear of the unknown, but I'm sure this is the case with most people. I wanted to concentrate on school and my career so that I could become successful and I didn't want to let anything else get in the way of that. I didn't think I could fit in any time for service with my job, social life, school, family, friends, and church taking up the majority of my life. With a little encouragement from friends and teachers I decided to take that first step and say yes to the unknown. I didn't know if I would be able to handle all that I was taking on or even if I had any skills to contribute to service, but I was taking a leap of faith and hoping I wouldn't regret this decision. I found that I've really enjoyed being involved in community service. I feel that I have been so blessed in my life and I want to do what I can to help others have that feeling too. Service really helps me put into perspective and see all the different ways that God has blessed me and it makes me want to do what I can to give back.

Through service I have become more aware of skills I have and feel like these skills are important and can be helpful. I tend to be very organized and a bit of a perfectionist, but I never really saw these as good qualities to have until I became involved in service. It has helped me to get things in order and be in control of situations, instead of feeling helpless and unprepared. I also think I generally have pretty good people skills, I always try to find ways to relate to people and their situations and really listen to what they have to say.

I think what is really great about service is that you can always find something to get involved in to utilize the specific skills that are unique to you. It is a good feeling to know that what you do matters and that you really are making a difference no matter how big or small it is.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

It's hard when you are working 30 hours a week, going to school full time, living life, and then throwing community service on top of all this seems unbearable. However, with a strong support system and deep faith there is nothing that is unbearable. I am blessed to have such a loving family that supports me, and is interested in the things I do. They are there to comfort me and give me what I need, inorder to continue giving the best ME I can be to others. I am happy that there is that strength in my life, because they have made me who I am today. When life gets hard and others tell you it is impossible to make a difference, or why are you adding another thing to your life. You can simply tell them because I CAN do it, I CAN make a difference! So the messages that I get day in and day out are fueling my energy to do more, and that I can do anything I put my mind to, and I agree with that because I have the LOVE in my life to do it!

I feel that my particular ability that I can bring to my community is, my leadership skills. I feel that I can motivate others, make sure that we are fuctioning as a team well and productively. I also feel that I am very aware of others feelings and I am a very personable person. These are all qualities that I feel help me to be a good leader! I can not wait to observe other leaders throughout my life and learn and grow from their strengths.

The quote from chapter four really affected me in a way that it gave me joy and strength to know that I can and will make a difference in my career as a teacher, that I am studying to become. I want that huge house that you drive by and your jaw drops. I want the nice car that everone loves, but with the salary a teacher makes I will never beable to reach those dreams. However, I can reach others by changing children and their parents lives! I can inspire kids to see the real meaning of happiness, which is LOVE once again. So, to those that say I can't make a difference you don't see that things can change, or maybe you do but you want me to make more money... I say NO I will not stand for that! ANYONE can make a DIFFERENCE!

Just Jump! To get involved.

If we jump into making the world a better place and forget our comfort zone we might have skills and ambitions we never knew we had until we just jumped in. My dad always said "if you come home from work with clean hands you need to go back out and get them dirty." I always shrugged it off as "ok dad ill listen to you cause you want me too." But the more and more i think about it as im getting older the more it makes sense to me that if your hands are not dirty you cant show you did any work.We can use this in helping our community as well, if we go out and come back with no satisfaction that people heard us or knew what we were standing for, our hands are not "dirty."
I also had an experience with my church about a year ago were the whole church body was invited to visit different churches throughout the valley to see the many different ways people worship. What i saw was only a couple people wanted to go and see first hand what other people do around the valley on sunday mornings. I took this as people didnt want to step out of their comfort zone and visit other churches in order to see for them selves what was going on. I asked my friends mom that attends my church why she didnt go and she answered that she would rather read about than to go.I think the hardest part of letting go of our old secluded life is our comfort zone. Not many people get out of their comfort zone because they dont try. If we take the first step of reaching out and getting involved thats pretty much all we need to get going and move forward. Each of us have differnt skills we bring to the table because we are all differnet and if we work together and step forth we can
clear unimaginable obstacles in our way.

Get Involved

In many aspects of my life, community service and being socially involved has been encouraged. When I was in school, teachers and peers have always stressed the importance of being involved in the community. Clubs such as interact were quick to recruit all of those individuals who wanted to taken on a more active role in their community. They made it easy for me to become socially involved and to be more interested in my community. By th end of my sophmore year I was in a couple of different clubs, all of which helped me become more aware of my community. School was very helpful for me to realize the benifits of volunteering and being socially active, but I do have to say that it was my church that really got me started. Ever since my first years in Sunday School, we were always taught to help others and do all thay we could to make and impact in our community. We would start off small by bringing in canned food and once we got to junior high and high school we would go to foodbanks adn raise money for different causes. Every organization that has ever given back to the community has always stressed helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Every little bit helps, no matter what the service is.

There are many qualities that shape our roles in social activism. In the chapter we read we were given the example of the two art majors who wanted to get involved but couldn't fit it in there schedules. However they were able to show support by being able to design and make the banners for the cause. Each one of us lends a different quality that we can use to help our community. Whether it is leadership skills, or artistic abilities they all can help change our community. I think for me the quality I can use to help a cause would be my dedication. I feel when it comes to helping our community doing the job right and to the best of your extent is very benificial. It is important to remember not to lose focus and remember those who you are helping.

Captain Planet

I got started with activism through the television show Captain Planet. The main point of the show was to pick up trash and recycle, because it is good for us and Mother Nature. I also observed as a child my grandparents recycling and getting money for recycling. Recycling was not only good for the planet, but for my pocket book as well. I have taken these lessons and have added to them. Now I am teaching my family to get even greener. We unplug televisions and toasters when we are not using them, and recently we added a solar water heater to our house. I have been lucky to be involved in school activities like the National Honor Society and now SLICE were volunteering is important to the organization.

Some abilities I can bring to activism is my passion and dedication. When there is something I strongly believe in I support it 100 percent. If there is anything that can be done I will do. I can also lock in and fight for the cause. When you support something there will always be opposition that is why you have to know the problem inside and out.

My favorite quote in chapter 3 was what Cornel West said about "stepping out on nothing, hoping to land on something." I think that is how it is for a lot of new thing we try. We do not know what is going to happen, however we hope we can land on our feet and start running.