I can see now
1021 words by monicamajors
Three major problems facing our world today, lack of involvement, ignorance and the depletion of morals and ethics. In looking at this blog’s prompt, the first thing I notice was that the blogs are becoming more analytical and now I am starting to see how a blog is an initiative to change the world around me (in reference to the first week’s blog). Back to this week, the second thing that came to mind was which problem needed to be fixed? In looking to which to fix, I had to look to which would yield the most benefit, or which would be more feasible. Referring to writings of last week, I determined that increasing involvement would have the most far-reaching benefits and thus yield the most profit to society. Increasing involvement would also create an atmosphere more conducive to mending the other problems present. Outside of the ideal outcome of increasing involvement, it is also more feasible. The smallest amount of involvement has the possibility of changing many things. The next question coming to mind is what program can we implement to increase involvement? There are many different avenues that can be taken to get to the same result; once again, you hit other obstacles.
Recently having graduated from high school and many neighboring schools had mandatory community service policies. Outside of the actual graduation requirement, there was also a requirement for the National Honors Society, Student Council and most all other organizations on campus. This requirement was not universal though. If it were made a graduation requirement at all, secondary schools there would be a possibility of seeing the harvest of the labor. In addition, outside of the fact that requiring so much community service would better society, it could also better the individual’s view of themselves and society. The young person engaging in helping his or her own neighborhood and that of others gives them a sense of purpose in life. I recall last week, it felt wonderful to walk for peace, to know that I had an idea that many shared and we were all in efforts of changing the way the world works. Mandating a type of community service for graduation would end the average egocentric apathetic individual. It might also perpetuate a cycle of semi-caring generations. An individual ought to have or feel as though they have a purpose. They should also extricate themselves from the sphere in which they live. Ordering community service on the high school level could, in fact, lead to some young persons continuing that service outside of graduation requirements, which again, has the possibility of ending the vicious cycle of an apathetic culture.
Seeing that college, many times, is just an extension of high school, numerous things are the same. The need of community service to remain a part of an organization still exists. Again, off a personal experience, last semester service learning was part of the curriculum for my public speaking class. Honestly, at first, I had no idea what service learning truly was but after experiencing it, I appreciate it and recommend it to my peers. If it would become a requirement, for an undergraduate degree, to complete at least six hours of a service-learning project there could be some of the same benefits as seen in the high school scenario.
It seems that when evaluating these methods on increasing the participation of the citizens of this world in the happenings of this world that coercion is the common denominator. At first glance, that is true. If your do not try to help you cannot get what you want. When you look further, it makes complete sense. You have to give an incentive a person to do something they otherwise would not do. The incentive is getting you diploma or degree. In acquiring that diploma or degree, there is a possibility of igniting a fire in some individuals to want to help the world that they inhabit. The implementation of such a project would only be the catalyst for a more productive end. If the involvement can start near the beginning of life, there will be posterity. The “vicious cycle” apathy will be replaced with one of involvement. With the establishment of such a project and the interchanging of cycles, the longevity of the benefits will increase as well. Not to say that all that are touched by the requirements will become activist, environmentalist and diplomats but those that would not otherwise be exposed to “giving back” would and that would increase the prospects of have a more involved populous.
The primary reason that I chose to try to alleviate the world from this problem is that the increase in involvement could curb some of the harms caused by the other two issues facing society. The involvement would, as stated earlier, allow an individual to escape the small sphere that encompasses their lives, and see where the other person stands. In seeing the other person for what they truly are and not how you have been taught to perceive them, the outlook changes from one of ignorance to an informed citizen. Not all ignorance can be dissolved; ignorance is a choice that some choose to live by. Outside of ridding the world off some of the ignorance, a by-product is the issue of moral standards and ethics. With knowledge, an individual approaches life and situations differently than one without that same information would. Understanding the world, how it operates and those that inhabit it can help us reach a consensus on the moral and ethical issues. Again, in reference to the happenings of last week’s march, I got involved and met new people and gain a bit more of an understanding of the new “community” I dwell in. In that, I have looked to their ways and realized I am ignorant to some issues, but who is not. When we can look to all the aforementioned problems being fixed or at least lessened, we will probably reach the closest thing to a utopian society possible.
February 2nd, 2005 at 6:41 pm
Hey Monica,
I think that service learning or community service is a good experience for people. It broadens people’s outlook on things and its good fro the community. I think you should have given a little more on how you would go about getting universities to make it a requirement or how you would get people to participate in such activities. I think its a really good idea though.
February 5th, 2005 at 4:28 pm
I do remember those requirements for high school graduation. I myself was one who thought they were stupid and a waist of my time. Like most teenagers, I wanted to spend my time doing more important things. Things like hanging with my friends, going to the mall or the movies, whatever. Those things are so trivial when being compared to actually making a difference in someones life. I was so proud of my self when I finally fulfilled my required volunteer hours. I continued volunteering, even though I was done with the requirement. It is good for a person to want to get involved, but sometimes forced involvement has a stronger affect. I agree that you do have to give people incentives, but hay if it gets done it gets done. I think there are more serious issues than volunteering, but you touched on some good points, and I do applaud you.
February 5th, 2005 at 4:30 pm
Monica
I was at a high school where some 36 odd hours were required for graduation. The problem with this was what was considered community service. Singing in a church choir was considered a community service credit. Anyone who knows me knows that I love singing in church (I love church period). However, there are so many other things that could be done with that 36 hours. With a system of mandatory community service in place, you must watch out for the students who just want to get credit for doing nothing. We had those types of people in my school, who would lie on their Student Service forms. It is virtually impossible to stop those types of students from operating, but you can set-up rules to stop that behavior. You project is a really good idea.
February 5th, 2005 at 7:05 pm
I think this is a good idea. Getting more involvement from people would help improve communities. You always here people talk about what needs to change in their community but they are not trying to do anything to make those changes. I also agree with you about ignorance. Some people are not far in life because they are ignorant to a lot of things that could help them. Some people are ignorant to whats going on around them. They see things happening but don’t know why. Maybe if they knew they could help make a change. Overall I think this is a good idea.
February 6th, 2005 at 9:27 am
Hey monica, great blog. I feel the same as Denotra. You should express how you plan to get universities to make community service involved in the program. But i feel that community service will shapen things up a bit. I dont think a requirement is needed though. I feel that volunteering may be more appropriate because you dont want anyone over working themselves. Forcing people to do the work is not the answer.
February 6th, 2005 at 11:42 am
Hi Monica
Yur idea of trying to get people involved is really good. Since have experience in service learning you know how it affects students. The only thing that was missing form your plan was how you plan on getting the programs started. You should give some detail on how the program will be structured and how you plan on getting the universities to start the program.
February 8th, 2005 at 10:19 pm
Hi Monica! I definately think that community service benefits the people performing it and those receiving it. I think that though it should not be necessary for a university to make community service an obligation, it may be the only way to get people involved. This is a shame because people should be willing to give something back to their community. All in all, I think that you have a great idea and you are on the right track. Good luck with everything!
February 9th, 2005 at 9:17 pm
I agree that getting more involved is a problem in todays world. Monica i think that you had one of the most relevent topics that i read and i think that your plan is great. People today are lazy and i am no exception. (Guilty as charged)! But anyway i think that if you stay on the right track in implement your plan then you could get great results,because i am sure that there are more people who agree with you on this matter. GOOD LUCK!
February 10th, 2005 at 12:26 pm
I do remember those requirements for high school graduation. I myself was one who thought they were stupid and a waist of my time. Like most teenagers, I wanted to spend my time doing more important things. Things like hanging with my friends, going to the mall or the movies, whatever. Those things are so trivial when being compared to actually making a difference in someones life. I was so proud of my self when I finally fulfilled my required volunteer hours. I continued volunteering, even though I was done with the requirement. It is good for a person to want to get involved, but sometimes forced involvement has a stronger affect. I agree that you do have to give people incentives, but hay if it gets done it gets done. I think there are more serious issues than volunteering, but you touched on some good points, and I do applaud you.
February 10th, 2005 at 3:24 pm
Egos, apathy, and selfishness is running rampant nowadays, so I can see the need to address the issue. I went to a high school that had no community service requirement whatsoever, but I willingly did volunteer work. But a required amount of community service is helpful because for one, not every one cares enough to help out. As I stated in my blogs, apathy is a root of many of the problems we face, so any step in getting people to care at least a little is a good step.
The only issue I can think of with your project is the fact that there are people who could probably get credit for community service for doing little or nothing. So I suggest that you specifically detail what is and what isn’t service.
March 3rd, 2005 at 10:40 am
Maybe you should go talk to the service learning office about your ideas. I need more concrete stuff about exactly what you will be doing this semester ,so at the end of the semester, when I ask what you did, you can show me some concrete stuff beyond ideas and theories. Good job writing though. You have a good voice in your style and your word usage is very good. With some work, you could be a professional writer someday.