Win, Lose, Draw…You Have To Suit Up For Them All
1078 words by William J. Holla
Upon reading the assignment for week three I was a little worried about how I would answer. Being able to identify a problem is nothing for most of us because we do it every day. It is called complaining. Yet, I am truly challenged to come up with some ideas for a solution to the things I viewed wrong. Well I guess getting an idea should be like sitting on a pin. (For those who have ever accidentally done so) It should make you jump up and do something. I really couldn’t think of a clear solution to one of my problems. Some of them were on a global level, and I wish I had that type of clout but I don’t. Wait, I think I am developing a wishbone where my backbone ought to be right now. I would like to address the notion that people feel they are invincible. In actuality I can’t control what people think about themselves but maybe I can set an example.
To combat the wastefulness people have with their life I chose to dedicate a part of my life to contributing to the improvement of someone else’s life. I think perhaps the best use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. This world will not just take care of itself. Well, actually it would if we were not here to mess it up, but that is another issue. This semester I will do more things that others will benefit from. Working is good and plenty, but I don’t think too many people are going to profit from me filing papers of folding clothes at the GAP. Plus, technically I would be working for pay, so I would not be volunteering. I would be performing a service for monetary compensation. There are dozens of programs in the community and even at Xavier that are in need of young men to participate. I enjoy working with kids and helping them with there studies because when I was a elementary school Marquette University had students who would help us with our studies. I can go a step further and join the Campus Partners mentoring program at Xavier. I think by doing that I will have more invested in them than whether they earn an A or not. I will come to learn them as an individual, I’ll know their family, and I will be able to watch them grow as a person and not just a student. Ultimately, I think that by serving other people we become fully rounded people. After I participate in it for a semester I will probably apply to be a project coordinator for the program so I can become more involved in the direction of the program.
I have a lot of talent but it’s hard to find opportunities to exploit them. When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single ounce of talent left and I could say, “I used everything you gave me.” I am a very amiable person and I think I have a knack for cheering people up in bad situations. True, they can cast their worries to God and they would feel better, but sometimes a smile and a few comical words go a long way. I thought about how I could combine my ability to make people feel better and my infatuation with medicine, and came up with a pretty good idea. Tulane University medical Center looks for weekend volunteers to help out with the patients. Doctors do what they can, nurses can only do so much, and volunteers are almost non-existent. Dedicating just a few hours a weekend would probably be a load off for the nurses who are worked (and I use this term loosely) like a Hebrew slave. The system is not going to change itself. That’s like merely thinking you can cross the water by standing at the sea. Also, not to sound like I am looking for personal gain; it would look good on a medical school application that I have experience in a health care setting.
I guess you could say these are all things that I am doing for others, but I do not want to seem like I am on some type of crusade to change the world. I don’t want to lose friends because I am too busy dedicating my time to others. I hope that did not sound as vain as it sounded to me, but you know what I mean. In essence, for my plans to work I would need to support of my friends. Perhaps some of them will be compelled to join me, yet that will not work if I do not have any around. But, sometimes it is easier to get strangers to follow your example than your friends. Like my mama told me, if you want to make peace you talk to you enemies and not to your friends. I am not invincible and I do not want to be greedy, so I will strive to recruit friends and strangers alike into the positive programs in the community. Half of the time these programs do feed their participants, so I know that is a good way to get people on the hook.
I will admit right now that I am not sure how good my game plan for solving the world’s problems are, but I don’t think anybody will be putting them down any time soon because it doesn’t require any work on their part. I remember what my summer basketball league coach said to us when we were not sure how we would fare against certain opponents on the schedule. He would say, “You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you gotta suit up for them all.” I look at it as my plans might not actually be the best approach to solve this problem, but I have to try to do something. These things I plan to do might work or might blow up in my face and burn me out. Yet, I think the sincerity of my small, forgettable gestures will keep my going, and keep what I started going long after I am gone.
February 2nd, 2005 at 6:51 pm
Hey Deon,
I like the way you came at your situation and you’re willing to start small in your own community because that is where it starts. You have a lot of positive insight and I like the fact that you want to use the gifts that GOD has given you because if you don’t, he will take them away. I think your entry was overall good and it’s down to earth. Something you can really make happen if you wanted. Good luck.
.
February 4th, 2005 at 2:10 pm
I think you have an excellent plan! Volunteering your time to patients is a very selfless idea. It is also a good day to focus on the children’s ward. Children that are terminally ill or are constantly hospitilized are often bored. The spend their days in hospital beds, and I think your effort would be all they need to brighten their day. I really like your enthusiasm , and I wish you well!
February 6th, 2005 at 12:25 pm
Hi Deon,
I think that you have a really good idea. It is great that you are thinking about starting small and helping the communty that you are in first. I always think that it is best to start small and then branch out. You seem very excited and passionate about your plan. I hope that you are successful.
February 6th, 2005 at 1:17 pm
Hey D, I see that you have a plan put together, but to be honest I feel like you are still missing some details as to how exactly you are going to make things happen. Is joining one of the organizations at xavier the only thing that you are going to do? Have you ever tought about coming up with an all boy mentoring program since there are a lot of males needed to mentor yonger ones. Deon I like your plan and if there were more young men to follow in your footsteps then the world would truely be better place, and yes you are good at making your friends feel better in times of distress. Ill holla. Startin small to make it big that is the way to go.
February 7th, 2005 at 12:06 am
I think this is a good idea. Its someting that could really happen. I agree that we could all make a difference in someone else’s life. We all have talents given from God and some of us don’t realize it. Those talents that we are given can help someone else. I like how you put it that way. I think this is good. Make it happen.
February 8th, 2005 at 8:51 pm
Hey Deon! I think that your project is an excellent idea. I can tell that your plan is very suitable to your personality. I think that it is great to see young men, especially in our race, that have the desire to help others while striving to better themselves. Your project touches me because there are so many youths that have no positive males to look up to in their lives. I really believe that through the passion you have and your faith in God that you will make a huge impact on many people’s lives. It is also comforting to know that there are people like you aspiring to enter the medical field. I am sure your mother is very proud of you. Good luck with your project and may God continue to bless you.
February 10th, 2005 at 9:24 am
Hey Deon. I too enjoyed the simplicity of your plan. Making great changes in the world can be as simple as donating time. Even more so, it is more beneficial for people on both ends of that bargain, as opposed to someone just giving money to an organization. I feel that you would make a great difference in continuing to donate your time and recruiting others to do the same. Not only would you create more volunteers but possibly bring life to the concept of it takes a village to raise a child. Everyone helping each other would hopefully lead to a stronger community that could reach beyond the local stage but national and international. I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
February 10th, 2005 at 12:25 pm
Nobody can save the world. Starting small is still starting. It seems like you have the right mentality. Most people just dont give a care. Volunteering is a wonderful and selfless act. I think that volunteering helps a person become more humble and less self centered. When I started volunteering in high school, I thought it was so lame. But as I matured and saw the difference I was actually making I got excited and became more involved. You shouldnt worry about volunteering getting in the way of your personal life. If your friends are your real friends they will support you in whatever decisions you make (especially those that assist you in becoming a better person). If you know you are a talented person, use your talent for good. God blessed you with all of your gifts, and it is you duty to use them positively. Well good luck w/ your journey!
February 11th, 2005 at 6:10 pm
Volunteering your time to children who probably think no one cares is a very unselfish act. I’m glad that as I read these blogs that people in our society actually do care about the well-being of others. If only there were more people like you, then maybe some of the children that are sick, will have a better chance of living, knowing that someone besides their family cares about them. And you would also gain many friendships, more smiling little faces, and self respect in general.
February 13th, 2005 at 10:31 am
That is a pretty way to go at a problem, and helping people at a hospital is allways someething posotive, that should help alot of people out, the patients and the hospital staff. I hopr that dont come true with your friends, but if they your homies they will probaly suport what you doin because its something posotive. That was a nice little quote or whatever about you giving everything you got before you meet God i think anybody can respect that and i hope you get all your talent out peace.
February 13th, 2005 at 9:19 pm
I think trying to be an influence in someone elses life is a huge responsibility. I really hope you are able to handle the pressures that come along with this responsibility. If you are going to be an influence in someones life it has to be something that has to be long term. You cant just come into someones life and change it then disappear again. I hope you are really up to the challenge my friend. I suggest that in this project you shouldnt get in too deep. Otherwise I think it is a good thing that you are trying to impact someones life. I just hope its for the good. Hehe
March 2nd, 2005 at 4:43 pm
Deon, you need to spell out in clearer language exactly what you will be doing this semester for your project. You have a lot of mights, could, etc, but I’ll need to know at the end of the semester exactly what you did to improve the world.