Do your part

There are a lot of people that will send on "messages" to us as we do service. Some messages are positive and encouragin. However, some are negative and rude. Regardless of the messages we receive from others. We need to do our part in our community.
For example, one day last year I had told this guy about SLICE and that I would be spending my spring break in California doing community service for those less fortunate. And here I was thinking about how awesome the experience was going to be and what a great thing I thought I was doing, and the man told me that was stupid, why was I going to california to do community service instead of helping out my own state.
So, although we somtimes hit some bumbs in our road and some negativity along the way, we need to just keep on truckin' and stick with it!
No matter what someone else tells you, you are doing something wonderful and even though you do no always get told "Thank You," your service is greatly appreciated! And one day, all your good doings will make something good happen for you!

It seems like in our community, sometimes activists get a bad wrap. Also that we envision a crowd of crazy, angry extremist when we think of the word activist. It is like not trying would be much easier because "we can't make a difference anyway". That's how many people I've come in contact with think. I'm one to believe that if I really want something then I should at least try and see. If what I want didn't turn out, at least I tried and can try again or try a new way. I'm not much of a public speaker myself but I feel way more comfortable expressing myself when people aren't looking at me, ready to counteract my words. Maybe I could reach people electronically and provide information and help they need for whatever I would be helping with.

Taking Baby Steps To Who You Are Today!!

Every since I was a little girls my parents have put me in every sporting event, social event and musical event. I have been raised to be comfortable with being involved. Which trust me I have no grudges towards. Being adopted though this is more then I could have possible ask for. Through my church, school and home life I have had people supporting me, giving me the since of right and wrong based on the values I was being taught. Being raised in a christian home I was brought up always being involved in my community. Then in my schools they had programs stating in 5Th grade that allowed me to be involved with the school which then reached out to the community.

I think that this was all very important, the support I got as a child was phenomenal and knowing that my life could have been a lot different before my adoption made me very glad to be raised in the home that I was raised in. Like we had briefly discussed in class last Friday I think it is great that kids start getting involved as early as possible so that they can be aware of what is going on in our communities and they can begin to appreciate what they have. As we also discussed in class there may not be many options for kids at a younger age to get involved because organizations have a hard time letting younger children in but I think that they're should be school organizations that can get the kids involved at an earlier state. Again so they can be aware of the world around them plus I've found that I am more appreciative of what I have because I see how bad my life could be, so this would allow kids to become more confident in who they are and be who they want to be.

My strongest attribute to social activism is leadership. I love being able to lead groups towards a good cause and accomplishing what the task at hand is. Social activism is becoming a more permanent statue in my life and I feel that me being confident in my leadership skills will help me go far in what I want to accomplish. I also feel that I have the communication skills to do so too. I am very good at listening to other people and being open minded to what I think because this is truly how you can find the truth about things you are studying by not only listening to fact but to personal experiences that allow you to see situations in a different light. I think that many people can be leaders though not in the since of stating up for what they believe and speaking out above everyone. But they can defiantly be leaders by educating themselves and others. And not judging what they see everyday but taking different aspects of life and finding their true story. Leaders aren't born but they can defiantly be made. Everyone has a leadership personality in them some just shine a little more then others.

“Trying to leave the world a little better than you found it…”

One lesson that I have learned from my parents as well as from church is that even though there exists much sadness in the world, there exists unlimited ways in which one can make a positive difference with our actions. For example, I remember that when I was 11 years old, I was part of a youth singing group of a church nearby my house. One day, the leader of our group told us different stories about children who worked along with their parents in order to eat. They could not make much money and therefore many of those families lived in rural areas and in really poor conditions. These children were not going to receive any gifts from “Santa” and they were definitely not going to celebrate Christmas at all. As a group, we wanted to change that and therefore for several months we collected money as well as toys for all those children. On December 24th of 1999, we went to their communities with lots of paneton (fruitcake) as well as hot chocolate and other food items in order to give all the things we had prepared for them. (Paneton and chocolate because that is what people in my country usually eat during Christmas time). We spent all day long sharing stories with them, eating, singing as well as playing with them. I remember that day as a special day not only because I was able to see many smiley faces but also because, I realized that I wanted more days like that one day, and in order for me to help others such as those children, I had study and prepare myself so I would have something to give and offered to them.

I do believe that if one gets involved, one can contribute for a better world in different ways. The quote from Cornel West that I have as a title really means a lot to me because it summarizes the role that I want to accomplish during my lifetime. I have lots to learn but I think with perseveration as well responsibility, all the different goals that I have set to help others will be accomplished.

Alexa

Have Faith in Ourselves and Each Other

I consider myself very blessed to have grown up with the families I have and the views I have been subject to. Although my parents are divorced, I was fortunate enough that both families stressed the same beliefs and morals.

My mother taught my brother, sisters, and I how to be involved in our community with such activities like creating shoe boxes full of toiletries for the homeless and picking out angel tree gifts every year. My step-father has always been an example to me of social activism, with things like volunteering at church, coaching children's' sports teams, and helping out friends and neighbors with "handy-man" jobs. I received the same support and examples from my father and step-mother will their involvement in church and school activities.

I follow the Christian faith, as do both of my families. I attended Northwest Christian School from when I was in preschool until I graduated high school in 2007. From a very young age, I was taught to love and respect all people, "For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. No man is better than another and we all need help, therefore do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.

In Jr. high and high school community service projects were required to graduate. There were always opportunities through school to go on mission trips to California, Mexico, Illinois, etc. over Christmas Break, Spring Break, and Summer Vacation. There were some students who considered it a burden to have to complete a designated amount of hours each semester, but I enjoyed working with the community. I had opportunities to work with the elderly, Gompers, children, and the homeless. Not only did I enjoy each time but I also found that it is a rewarding experience to help others in any way possible.

I believe that my families, my religion, and Northwest Christian opened my eyes to issues in our community and further more the entire world. The Christian faith stresses the importance of reaching out to others; Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all nations". I believe that although I may not be well-educated in every social issue, my previous experiences and compassion for people qualify myself and anyone to reach out and make a difference in our community.

The word "faith" is often coupled with "religion", but I like how Cornel West corresponds faith and courage with taking that first step into social activism; its like "stepping out onto nothing, hoping to land on something."

-Morgan :)

Changing the world, one life at a time

Growing up, my parents always taught me to try to make the world a better place and to find my place in the world. So, I figured, I need to become famous because they have all the money and resources to protect the world. But as I grew older, I realized that all I need to do is become a better person. So I decided that I can give the world one less criminal by obeying all laws to the best of my ability, to try not to damage our environment anymore by recycling, and to pray for lost and poor souls. That was all fine and dandy to me, but when I joined my church's youth group my freshman year in high school, I realized that I wasn't doing enough for my world. So, from that point on, I decided to dedicate my life to helping make the world a better place, even if I only help one person a day. For example, I began to volunteer at 1st Way Crisis Pregnancy Center my freshman through junior year. All they had me do there was organize baby clothes and maternity clothes, make gift baskets, clean, and switch out seasonal clothes when the time came. I knew I wasn't directly impacting the lives of others, but I was helping the women who worked at 1st Way by making their job a little easier so they can focus more on the needy mothers who came in seeking advice, clothes, food, etc.

I think I have a lot to offer the world talent wise. One talent, in particular, is my ability to sing. I've been singing since I first started high school and I knew that I wanted to help others through my singing. So i joined my church choir and through them I have realized what an impact music has on my faith and others. I have sung at concerts and praise and worship sessions with this choir and I can see the impact our music has on others: people begin to open up more, some have religious experiences, while some sit there and soak up all the music and meaningful lyrics.

Throughout my life, I have always been taught to do my best to make my place in the world. So, as a child, I figured I needed to be famous. But not, as I've gotten older, I've realized that this means that I try my best to make the world a better place. Whether I give the world one less criminal by always being on my best behavior, not littering, or endangering the lives of others with my driving, I knew what I had to do. But as time went on, I began to feel a sense of unfulfillment and I wanted to know if there was more I could to do better the world. My church taught me how to do that. Through them I began to volunteer at 1st Way Crisis Pregnancy Center and St. Vincent de Paul for a few years. Also, through my high school, I went down to Tijuana, Mexico every spring break and we would rebuild the lives of the needy by building homes for the poor and homeless in Mexico. And when I heard about SLICE, how could I say no? I've dedicated my life to bettering the world, and SLICE is just one extra step I can take in doing that.

The little things do matter

I have grown up in a Christian home, with a large family; each of these factors in my life have greatly affected the development of my personality throughout the years. At times, living in as large of a family as mine (nine people in all, not to mention the many childhood pets) has seemed like being a part of a small community. In fact, it has taught me many life lessons, including how important it is to be involved with the world around you, even if you will only end up affecting a small portion of it. For example, I've often aided a sibling with his or her math homework. This act that only helps one person in such a large world may seem to be almost worthless, a waste of time. However, on occasion, one of my siblings has told me how since they learned the concepts behind the mathematics so well, they were then able to help others to better understand it as well. Having grown up as a christian, I've been taught that being involved is not simply a charitable action, it is a responsibility that I have adopted as being a believer in Jesus Christ. Being a part of a community allows for me as a believer to share God's love through actions of aid and participation towards a greater good.

Through my life, I have learned many skills, abilities and attributes that can prove to be useful in a socially active environment. Some of those abilities include leadership, public speaking, patience, being observant, being flexible and controlling my emotions. Among these, I would say that being observant and flexible are my most useful skills, by far. With these two, I am able to assess a group and the situation that they are in, and then implement myself into the group the best way possible. This could mean that I wind up doing research, acting as a spokesperson, remaining quiet, making suggestions, being an encourager or stepping in as a leader for the group. The important part is not that I do as I want, but that I do what is best for the group, and when I can do that, then I am doing what is best for what the group stands for. It requires patience, the ability to see the bigger picture at hand and most of all humility. Needless to say, I wasn't born with these characteristics and I still have yet to perfect them, but with every opportunity I do my best to practice these skills in hopes of bettering them.

I find that cynicism is a severe problem as far as inhibitors to social involvement go. There is undoubtedly an underlying concept in America that seems to have been accepted by the public in large. This idea suggests that our actions will do little to change the world around us, leading to inactive Americans that use this concept as an excuse for their lack of involvement. Often, I hear this same, mind numbingly stupid excuse for why individuals are not doing something to change an aspect in the world that they do not agree with. This absurd line of logic doesn't make very much sense to me as it does nothing to stop their problems, nor their complaining for that matter; instead, it only allows the problem to continue without any hindrance or challenge, accomplishing nothing at all indeed. Consider my story at the beginning of this post, how I was able to perform the small task of teaching my siblings how to better understand a particular part of their math assignments. Like I mentioned, this task may have seemed fairly trivial in the larger picture and a more skeptical person may have stated that this was a waste. However, that little act of aid was replicated who knows how many times now, affecting more lives than I had intended for it to. In that one small act, many were eventually helped. This is how I choose to view our actions in life, instead of submitting to the rather depressing view that nothing that we do can change the world. So instead, live and help, no matter the apparent potency of your actions.

Jeremy has the greatest blog post ever!

Let's just start with everyone agreeing that Jeremy's blog post was most likely the greatest blog in blog history, probably the greatest thing written off Skywalker Ranch!

Anyways, these chapters were packed with great stories of perseverance and "The Patchwork Citizen" in chapter 3 I related to very much. I like how psychologist Lillian Rubin describes us as a layered self. Shrek says "ogres are like onions...we both have layers!" I like this because the layers, or new/previous selves change us but we adapt into a collective soul that has grown from all the experienced we have had. These experiences are from the messages we get in life from various sources through out life. Messages I have gotten have been amplified lately due to all the political unrest and criminal activity in my neighborhood. My community has always silently urged everyone to mind their business, even it further buries the community. My father has always urged to be aware of the issues surrounding us, "it's the government's job to make sure we obey the laws, but it's our DUTY to make sure they obey them too." Though speaking against popular belief can be costly in my neighborhood, the Internet is a great way to spread concern. Also a few years back, before I started school, I spent the week at my church summer bible program for kids up to 5th grade, I was just on the recreation (recess) crew but it was great to be the fun part of the kids day knowing that at least they would come back for the fun tomorrow and hear the good news.

The particular traits or abilities I have vary and the most obvious would be a more physical presence. I am a very hard worker, and as such I can help in more laborious tasks. I am also a very skilled writer, I have always written very well, I don't know why, I just naturally have been able to write.

Underneath the Surface

Social activism can be hard to achieve when you are not in a welcoming community. I encountered this is high school in the National Honors Society. I was inducted in my sophomore year, which is the first year you are eligible to be inducted. The requirement to graduate to have the club on your transcript was 100 hours of community service. However, none of the teachers were helpful in providing any ideas or places to do the volunteering. Most of the students were not helpful either, they would just stick up their noses at the word volunteer. Many students refused the National Honors Society invitation until senior year, when you only needed 25 hours of community service. I felt so disappointed in these people, they only wanted the label of being in the National Honors Society, but without all the hard work that goes into it. It was very frustrating seeing all of these two-faced people(sorry for the cliche) who were not willing to do something that would help their community. Even though I didn't have very much help, I still went above and beyond. I accomplished over 500 hours of community service through volunteering for the YMCA, tutoring younger kids, and helping homeless shelters. Even though social activism is hard to achieve in an unwilling community, there is always a way to overcome it all.

I love helping little kids on school work, I would say that is my best quality in social activism. There are so many other qualities that other volunteers have, and that is what I wish to learn from everyone at slice, so I can give more of myself to multiple causes instead of just one specialized area.

Just Another Blog Post

I grew up in church. I've been going since I was three days old, so naturally that has influenced me a lot. My parents have been working in a church's preschool program since long before they got married, and so that showed me how important it was to serve as well. I have been working in the preschool program at my church now for 6 years, starting out in my parent's classroom and branching out into several other classes as I got older. My parents helped senior citizens with home repairs and stuff like that all of the time when I was little. Though, I don't necessarily help with that it has still instilled in me to be there for those who cannot help themselves. It was because of this that I worked with handicapped students in high school.

I have always felt that sitting on the sidelines was something that I should not do. I don't want to be a fan of life, like I am a fan of the Phoenix Suns. If I were, than I would just sit back and watch the game go by, with the "refs" calling fouls on the thugs on the street and the players on other teams failing to pass the ball. That just doesn't see right to me. I want to be on the court.

As far as abilities go, I would say I'm strategic. I can figure out how things will usually play out, before they go that way, not in a "psychic" sense like predicting the future or anything, but figuring out the cause and effect of certain things. Like how people might react to a sign when written a certain way, or how what one person does could effect another. I've just always liked to look at both sides of a situation. I also try to make certain that everyone is included in everything, so no one feels left out.

Everyone in SLICE has leadership capabilities, so that would be another trait. I actually used to not think of myself as a leader. I would occasionally lead when necessary, but I never thought I was any good at it. It took my high school drama teacher, and a few other teachers at my high school to show me that. My junior year of high school, my drama teacher had us write a reflection about whether we were a leader or a follow. My response was basically that I did lead sometimes, but I chose to follow more. My senior year I was one of the more experienced techies, so I was put in charge of a ton of projects. It was through those projects that I learned that I was capable of being an effective leader. At the end of my senior year she gave us a folder of all of the assignments we had done that semester. On one of the assignments we had recently completed she wrote in all caps "You are a leader." That is one thing I will never forget. My experience in high school drama taught me a lot.

Changing Our Views

Cornell stated that in order to leave our comfort zone we have to "Step out into nothing, hoping to land on something." When I was young I was not exposed with helping my community. My parents were always working hard in order to give us a future and opportunities that they were not given. They never volunteered and it wasn't until the beginning of my senior year in high school that I became evolved enough at my school to do any service work. What I did was the typical trash pick up you see on tv. I also didn't enjoy the people that I was doing it with seeing as how they were all much older than me and we didn't have much in common.

Towards the end I had to do it again through my mom's church she couldn't volunteer but she donated money and me. We organized a party for the kids that went to the church after their school. This is the first time that I actually enjoyed doing something for someone else without any pay or reward. But I did get a reward I got to see these kids have a blast with things that they weren't used to having such as a bouncy bounce.

This experience changed my point of view on doing service work but I never pursued it again until now that I have decided to do SLICE. At one of the clubs I am involved in at GCC I made a motion that we do some sort of service work and most of them were opposed. The funny thing is that we are a business and leadership club. One of the remarks someone made is that if he/she wasn't getting paid they weren't doing work. Now I have made it my mission to try and get them to do something that is fun but still volunteer work and change their perceptive of what it is as mine was changed.

Day-to-day democracy

This section of the book is the greatest part of the two chapters that I am currently facing in my life. I would absolutely have to agree with writer Frances Moore Lappe when he says that the art of democratic participation can be learned in only one way and that one way is by practice. I believe one of the biggest steps in getting involved in social activism is actually getting the courage to do it. The reason I chose my reflection blog on this is because I am debating about going into Peace Corp after I finish my bachelors. I have a big fear of going in because of all the risks involved, my heart has been saying to go to Africa because of all of the social issues there, but with some of the dangers such as malaria, brutal warfare, etc. it certaintly makes me nervous to go, and I understand that not all of Africa is like that but the places that need our help the most are going to be greatly affected by this the most. In order to prepare myself, I am doing what the section of the book "Day-to-Day Democracy" is exactly talking about. Mr. Lappe gives an example of how to gain there skills and confidences that I need to go into peace corp and his example is of a child. he says "think of kids learning to walk. They pull themselves up with the help of a chair, take a step, stumble, fall flat, then get up and try again." That is exactly what I'm trying to apply to my life of social activism by getting involved in Americorp, volunteering in my own community, being a good and active citizen, and when I know the time is right, I'll take the plunge and go into Peace Corp.

During our last class their was a short debate about whether we are born leaders, or molded into leaders. This week's blog adresses that question; I believe that the influences and experiences around us are what help us grow into leaders. At one time or another in our lives, many of us have been confronted with issues or conflict. We are forced to make a decision that could lead us down one path or another. "Do I go against what I know is right or do I trust other people to tell me what to do?" Some of us are not fortunate enough to have that positive influence around us to help us distinguish right from wrong. However, when you are given the support of your family, friends and a strong community they will not lead you astray.

As leaders we should always take it upon ourselves to help out no matter how small the task. And we should feel inclined to encourage others to do the same. Being privileged to leadership positions say alot about who we are as people and where we come from. I sometimes choose that road less traveled. Although it takes extra effort and others may stand back and ask me why, I simply reply "because I can". I am forever thankful to have a family stand beside me with constant support in everything I do. To have friends and community to stand behind me to always give me that extra push. But most of all I am thankful for the opportunities that are laid in front of me to make a difference in my life and the lives of others.

There are a few important characteristics I use in social activism. The passion I develop for a person who needs my help or a problem that needs to be solved. Passion is my drive, my strength to do good and to act on things or people that need change. Responsibility, when a problem comes along, I take it upon myself to do what I can to help and to join others wanting to help the cause. I am always happy to offer support to others whether they need an extra set of hands or just someone to give them emotional supprt to keep going.

It's YOUR world.

In this chapter, I like how they use the Alcoholic Anonymous maxim of "One day at a time." That is exactly how we should live our lives. There is nothing we can do about the past and that is why we should live in the present. Don't stress about the future because today has enough worries of its own. To make a difference in the world, we must start out with baby steps..."One day at a time." I have greatly been encouraged to get involved through my church. I have been going to Living Streams since my Sophomore year of high school and the church is always making me aware of ways I can help. I have been on countless Missions Trips to Mexico and even ventured as far as Belize. These are huge, but there is stuff as simple enough, as creating a shoebox of goodies for a soldier overseas.

If people take the time to open their eyes, they could see that help is needed everywhere. The opportunities are endless, you just have to be willing to be that answered prayer. In chapter three, Cornel describes leaving one's comfort zone as, "stepping out on nothing, hoping to land on something." We cannot wait until everything is perfect to stand up, if we do, that time will never come. Adam says, "I've learned that going ahead and doing the best you can is better than waiting until you have all the answers." He is a perfect example of the little steps. The little steps that brought him to run a fifty-million-dollar-a-year national organization. If individuals find a passion and run with it, your bound to have some followers. Just like Allison who stood up at the town meeting even though she was red-faced and nervous. After she voiced her opinion, she realized all the other people felt the same way, they were just too scared to take a stand. Each step prepares us for the next and it just takes that courageous person to actually take that first step. Getting involved is a win-win situation. Individuals are helping others along with themselves.

My passion has always been to help others, whatever way that may be. There is no reason to be in fear because there will always be at least one person who agrees with you. Whether they are in another state or Arizona, you are not alone. Everyone has their own, unique abilities to contribute, and that is how success is achieved. I believe I have the skill of being a leader. I have been designated this role and have also stepped up in a time of need. I have been a captain on both high school and club soccer. This had many different meanings. I had to be a good example, go above and beyond the call of duty, be complementary and positive (mainly due to the fact that most of my coaches lacked this skill and I had to step in to give my players confidence again), organized and responsible, just to name a few. Also, in school, when I am assigned group projects, I am usually the one to take initiative. Someone has to step up to keep things productive and that is usually me! I think my experience with sports has given me the courage and confidence to be a leader. I am also a hard worker and will put forth the effort until things are done right. My drive to be successful usually encourages others around me to raise their standard also. I know that SLICE is full of leaders. Leaders are the people that will and are capable of making a difference in this world. It is truly a blessing for me to work with so many people that want to be that answered prayer.

A long, long time ago...

Most things for social activism are centered on the prospect of individual gain. Most people who do service, aren’t the types to relish in the glory or fame of doing something for someone else. The problem we face daily is what I call my “yes and no” theory. I know I didn’t coin this, and we did talk about it briefly at the last meeting; however it is in our daily regime to decide if we will or won’t do something. These tiny subconscious questions revolve around the ideal of picking and choosing what is right for us as individuals. Some people are not capable of leading. They are not capable of standing up, and like the woman in chapter 3 whose name escapes me, are a more “behind the scenes person.”

Within most bounds it is our priority to decide what is right for us. Our fears play a huge role in our ability to function. The “yes or no” theory is relative to the type of person you are. People involved with religion, teams, participating at school function etc... are the ones determined to do what feels right for them, regardless of the outcome and thus making it a more priority based decision. People don’t like to be out of their comfort zones and 95% of people won’t do something out of their way if they can help it. Also a fact, 75% of statistics are made up on the spot. =P

What I relish in, the pure fact of my ability to help, is the patience and way I communicate. Although I know some of my ideals are not picturesque to most, I can calmly and collectively gather information that centers around speaking with someone on a common ground. I won’t boast of all that I do, or goad someone to do the same, however it is easier to have a conversation when you see someone else’s side of the argument. I feel that I can reiterate my thoughts to not offend, nor to diminish my feelings on a particular subject. I think it is essential to have an organizational and problem-solving mind when faced with issues that are pertinent to us all.

We as a people need to relinquish this superiority complex. We as a people make mistakes and for some reason have the mindset that we deem them failure. Serve, Learn, Inspire, Change, and Educate the world. We only have one chance to change something, why not force it by doing something?

Luke is going to do whats right. He knows what he has to do. Its an impossible shot, but he is utilizing his practice he used on Tatooine.

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on

When I was younger when I'd express my distress about problems in the world to my mom she would tell me "you can't save everyone," which discouraged me. Even if it wasn't completely blowing away any attempt I should make to try to better the world it was enough to make me more inactive. Since I don't think I was really part of a "community" so to speak, there wasn't really an opportunity to many others in that  vein to discourage or encourage me.

Since people sometimes come to me to help them with it, I think fairly I'm okay at softening speech so that it doesn't sound offensive. While I may not be very good when I comes to actually speaking, I think I'm able to assist with preparing to speak. Drawing may also be something I'd be able to help a cause, even if my "skills" aren't fantastic.

"The dogmas of the past are inadequate to the stormy present" (Abraham Lincoln).

Step Up

Growing up I moved around a bit, but it seemed that whatever community I was in, there were always different ways to get involved. With it just being my mom and I, I started to get involved with some things with her. She started getting me into the Relay for Life when I was really little, and now it has become a Huge part of my life. Everyone that is involved with it is so welcoming and passionate about trying to make a difference in the world when it comes to cancer. All because of that one family member getting me involved with the community, I am now able to get more family members, people from my church, and friends in the community involved with it to help out any way possible. I think that everone shows that it is so important to become involved, because it is like a chain reaction. Once one person stand up and becomes involved in something, there are more people who are likely to stand up and become involved as well. It all starts with just taking those baby steps to become the person who can step up and make a difference.

Some of the things about myself that are able to help me with particular causes I think, are that I love working with kids. It could be any kind of thing, but I know that I will always be willing to help out with them. Also, I love to listen and talk with people, hear there stories about life and what not, I think that the communication one-on-one can help with any type of cause.

Taking Initiative

The main message I got from this chapter is that if you want change than you have to take the initiative towards that goal. The first step is always going to be hard and a little scary, but we shouldn’t let that fear turn us away. In order for us to grow we need to step outside of our comfort zone. I learned that the hard way when reality began invading my space. That’s when I started to care for the environment and wanted to help others become more positive. It was difficult at first and I was scared. I started out as befriending random people that I saw at lunch. Then I complemented people for their achievements. Next I joined NHS where I was able to overcome my fear of large needles and donate blood, pick up trash on the side of a road, and help in the Special Olympics. Now I’m here in SLICE, where I can continue to help save the planet and keep people smiling.

My optimistic personality would best benefit social activism. With it I can keep everyone motivated even in the grimmest of situations.

Don't Let Your Happenings Ruin Your Happiness

-Joseph Simmons

FEAR

To me fear is the essence of the enemy. Of course we all know common fears such as the fear of needles or of spiders. These common phobias affect many people but don’t necessarily have a great impact on their life. The fear I am talking about is one such as letting the fear of flying keep one from traveling the world. When thought about fear is almost always the one thing holding us back. The fear of trying something new or challenging may keep us where we are because we don’t feel we can succeed or even fit in. To me the fear of talking is a big adversary in itself. I think every person has a fear of talking whether it's in front of a large group, a leader, or even one of the opposite sex. For most these are all huge fears that takes a lot of work to overcome.


It’s time to stop letting fear get in the way of success that many can only dream about. Most of the successful people we know today have put the thoughts of fear behind them and now only focus on their incredible visions of the future. When it comes to helping our world fear is yet again right there holding us back. It’s the intimidation that keeps us from taking a step forward. I feel religion is a powerful factor when it comes to social activism because religion is a great supporter of helping the community. For those involved in churches they are surrounded by others who have a drive and are dedicated to reaching out to the world. As for the rest of the world it is simply the luck of the draw to find support for helping the community. Family and friends may not always be supportive either because they don’t like what you’re supporting or they simply feel time could be spent in other ways.


Unless this support is encompassing us from the beginning which allows those select few to be pulled into social activism then I feel we won’t get the drive to help until we find ourselves in that type of situation. I can’t see someone going out and searching for a way to help those around them until they have felt the accomplished feeling before. For many forms of community service it does take time and a certain amount of effort to get completely involved and I don’t see this happening without God intervening that first time.


The desire to “Bring about change for the better” may be my greatest strength but can also be my greatest weakness. I know they say there is no job too small but I just can’t fully dedicate myself to something that will bring about no noticeable change. This can keep me from helping simply fill an emotional need for someone at a given time, or it can keep me from trying in the beginning when I don’t see how a change can come from the work put in. On the other hand wanting to bring change will push me farther and will make me think more on how to help those in need find a transformation in their life. One example I can personally show is helping the Lost Boys last semester which most reading this probably know about through Emerging Leaders. I thought this was a great form of service because the money we brought in was being put directly towards college scholarships for these men and women of Sudan. The work we did for them helped give them a future and it was a path they could take to get themselves out of the situation they are currently in. I know some of you may hate me for saying this but I don’t like food kitchens because of this reason. These people keep coming back and their position in society doesn't change. We help them cope with the life they are living when I think time could be spent much better by helping even one of these people find a job because that has the potential to change their life forever. I want to know that when I have completed that job I can leave without looking back because that person doesn't need me anymore.

The picture on top is a great representation of what I was trying to put into words at 3:30 in the morning. :) (myspace.com/kivaloans)

What can I do??

When I was younger, I attended a small Lutheran school who had a total of about 300 students, K-8. We were very small and had limited resources to work with when it came to helping out our community. We did simple things such as clean up the side walks and clean up the parks that were within walking distance. Sometimes we set up booths to raise supplies for the needy and we sang at nurseries at Christmas time.

Although we were just kids trying to help out, I realize now that we were merely doing what was capable of us at that time. No, I didn't raise 100's of dollars for the homeless, I didn't get to witness a family who dealt with domestic violence or sickness, but I did what I could. I believe we all have abilities to help out in some way. No matter what it is, big task or small, helping is helping. For me, I have always been able to relate well with others and be able to break the ice right away, for another, they may be able to design posters that will get people's attention. Everyone is different and I believe that we all can help out in our own way. The outcome may be different for others but what matters is that we go out and do what we can to make this world a better place to live in. Anyone and everyone can help.

Lynds

Little Things Count

Growing up, I experienced some very negative things in my community. I come from a small town and belonged to a small church, and for whatever reasons, there was a totally negative vibe in the church community. Even though everyone talked about everyone else's business, people kept to themselves when someone met hard times. I specifically remember a terrible incident that happened when I was 13. My 31 year old uncle was dying of cancer, and I spent quite a few of my afternoons after school at my aunt and uncle's house babysitting my little cousins. I was on the cheerleading squad and missed alot of practices, and a week before a "competition" the coach called and asked me to quit. This was a Catholic school cheerleading squad; small and not much of any competition with or without me. It hurt me greatly that these people at my church knew my family situation, and were not only unsupportive but petty.

I am so grateful for the time I spent with my uncle, and that I could offer something to my aunt and uncle; even if it was just babysitting. I will always remember that anything you can do to help matters. Sometimes in the most overwhelming situations, the only thing you can do is something small. I made a promise to myself never to become one of those people who dismisses the hardships of people in my community. I offer what I can of myself to someone who may be suffering because anything is better than nothing.

Baby Steps.

This chapter really did make me reflect on what my parents always told me while growing up. My Mother would always say what Lao tzu said that "the journey of a thousand mile begin with one step". she would always tell me that i would never get to where i want to be if i don't try to work towards it. But then my desire to always help out came from watching her help others while i was growing up.She was always ready to listen and sacrifice time to help even people.And she would tell me that the greatest law is to love and help your neighbour and to fight for your belief.

This background was what made me want to get involved more.She made me realize that no matter how small the commitment i make, it might make a whole difference to whoever it is i make that commitment for.She always said that i might not make a big difference to the world but that i can make a big difference to a person. And so with this, i took my first step in getting involved here on campus wondering how the experience will be like. but through it i came to grow as an individual and also learn how to a good leader.Through involvement i now have an expanded network of people and friends i can count on.And this i would never have gotten if i had not taken that my first baby steps.

Listening to someones problem i was always taught is probably the best gift you can give to them. this is one of the abilities i grew up to learn and possess. this is so because, hidden in their problem might be the solution. Perseverance is also what i think defines me. I know that getting to change is not always easy but persevering gets you through it.Always ready to help out is also one of my strong points.

Taking the First Step

Growing up I always went to church, but I don't really feel like I ever got the sense of "help out your community" from that. My parents were always telling us to love your neighbor as yourself and treat them with respect, so I think from that I gained a compassion for helping others from them. It wasn't until I came to PVCC that I really got into community service (service learning) projects. At the time I didn't know I would love doing service learning because I was new to all the opportunity had to offer, but I did believe in helping others. After the first semester was over I began to understand their worth and fulfillment. This ties into the chapter quite well because it is all about taking the first step and going beyond your confort zone toward making a difference. You can't always know how things will turn out, but just by having faith and taking the first step you have begun a new journey. As said in the book by Phillipe Vernier, “Have you strength enough to take this first step?... You will be astonished to feel that the effort accomplished, instead of having exhausted your strength, has doubled it- and that you already see more clearly what you have to do next.” After taking the first step to get involved in a service learning project my first semester here, it became very clear to me what I had to do next- continue to participate in them!




Being the middle of three kids, I have always been the problem solver. The person my older brother and younger sister looked to during the heat of battle to solve arguments and figure out solutions that best fit both sides. Also tied to that, I feel that I am a good listener and can look at a situation from more than one perspective in order to come up with the best solution. I do have some leadership experience. I was captain of my high school cheerleading team for two years. And although this job might not seem very hard, imagine trying to stop arguments between 20-30 teenage girls that all have their own opinion and who all think their way is right. It definitely took some negotiation. I am also a fairly organized person, always making lists and agendas for doing things. I think any these would help in a particular cause I am in because they are all skills that have the ability to make the group itself work together better.

JUMP ON IT!

Growing up in a Christian household and a dad as a Pastor, I was always taught the importance of involvement towards my community. My parents came to the United States as refugees and so they saw first hand what it was like to be on the other side of the spectrum. They saw what it was like to go from almost nothing to a house, a car and most importantly a loving family and a caring country with so much FREEDOM. As a child hearing stories from my parents  really helped me understand there is always people in need, there is always something that can be done to better the life of not only myself but my community as well. I could have been the one in their shoes.

Realizing that there is so much I can do is not going to help anyone. It's when I take that first step. I think Lao Tzu, a Taoist philosopher, quoted in Paul Loeb's book Soul Of A Citizen, says it best, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." I think that the SLICE program is that first step from me and I cannot wait to see the outcomes. 

I have good organizational skills which is very helpful for coordinating events such as fundraisers.  Organizing, calling people, booking appointments and such doesn't sound like much of an enjoyable activity but it's my passion and I enjoy it a lot.

Exciting Post Title #2!!!!

The main message I get from people in my life is that it is a very noble thing to do. After having done SLICE last year, my parents always talk about how proud they are of me for doing what I did during my spring break. I think the reason that they are so proud of me, is because they have never really been about getting involved. Growing up my parents were always very busy, working 12 hours a day, 6 days of the week. Because of this, they were not really able to get involved themselves. Being involved to them, meant having food on our plates and clothes on our backs. However, I was very lucky that my parents always support me in what I do. I have encountered people who do not understand why I would go to San Diego just to work with homeless teens. To those people I would like to say, you do not know what you are missing out on. Those who do not understand the importance of being involved, I don’t care what you have to say.




There are a couple of skills that I believe that I possess that will greatly help me in social activism. The first skill is my love of speaking. I believe myself to be a good speaker, so I am not afraid to speak with someone in fear that I will not be understood. I think that I communicate what I need to say so I think that is definitely one of my greater skills. A skill that I think I am currently working on is my leadership skill. I have not had much experience being a leader of a group, I usually like to kick back and be told what it is I need to do. I am currently learning that while leadership can be very difficult, it is also very fulfilling. I feel like I am truly making a bigger difference this time around in my SLICE experience, than I did last year. I know that being a leader has helped me to step out of my shell, so hopefully I will not be nervous when I work with the teens in San Diego.





Image from fatihtepe.com/

Get Involved

The message I get from my community is self-absorbed. They do not communicate with each other and nobody cares what goes on around here. A couple of mounth ago I went to the Home Owners Association meeting for my community and there where literally four other people that showed up besides my mom and I. My family is not very invovles when compared to others I know. My mom sometimes does the memory walk or race for the cure but thats about it. No one else is involved in anything outside of work. I want to start a new chapter in our family to lead by example that being involved is important in growing as a person.

An ability that I have that helps me in particular causes are my determination and passion. When I feel for someone or something I usually do not stop until I have finished it or have done all I can. I think this is a valuable asset because if you do not have passion towards something your will not do everything you can for it.

Don't Look Down...

As a child growing up my family didn't really discuss social activism and it wasn't something that I experienced in school. I was always told that I could do or be whatever I set my mind too and I think that has really helped me take the first step in becoming involved in my community. My dad would tell me that if I wanted to be the first female president that I could. He instilled in me the idea that just because I am one person I can still do great things. It was still difficult to take the first step into volunteering because I was doing it all alone. But as they say if you are afraid of heights...just don't look down. Take that first step and conquer that fear of the unknown.

As for the abilities I feel I can contribute I feel that I am a very good listener. I don't mind lending an ear to someone who needs someone to talk to. I also feel that my unwavering dedication to a cause will allow me to press on even when things are tough. As we have discussed, you may not get the outcome you desire at first but if you keep on trying change is inevitable.

Perseverance

Chapter 3 really made me realize all of the obstacles we face on the road of social activism. As we discussed some during the last class meeting most of us feel that in giving up our time to better our community that it should come easily. This is far from reality. We had all faced challenges from the rejection of organizations, family and friends. The key word to this chapter is perseverance. Persevere means "to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement".

I dont think that the focus here should be on the messages that we have received on social activism, I believe the focus should be on that no matter what those messages say, we as a group are willing to strive through the good and the bad and see the bigger picture, making our world a better place. I was once told that the difference between a successful person and others is not in the lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.

There are many obstacles that I have personally overcome in my life. Things I have faced have forced many others in the same situations to give up on life. Instead of giving up I have found my calling, helping others. I believe that the abilities that I have that can help a particular cause include my listening skills in addition to my life experiences. I believe that the hardships that I have been through should not be supressed but shared with others in order to give them insight. To help them persevere and find their purpose.

A Single Step Defines Who We Are

As stated by Alyssa, we are all in this together. I feel that the message given to me within my own neighborhood is selfishness. No one talks to one another and no one helps each other. This is saddening at times, however this does not bring me down. My family has always taught me to open your heart to everyone. Selfish is not a word in my family. To me social activism is very important. We were all placed on earth and so we might as well make a difference while were here. We must all do the best we can to better our community and our city.

Chapter three really made it clear for me that to make a difference in our lives we do not have to always do something amazing. And to accomplish great tasks and goals withing our lives, we must first take a single step. This single step defines who we are as a citizen. If we are too afraid to take a step outside of our comfort zone than we are not any better than our neighbor complaining about an issue, but not doing a single thing about it.

I feel that an ability that I possess is speaking. I am a very sociable person and I love hearing others stories and ideas. I feel that I can use public speaking or speaking to others in regards to their problems as a talent. Although I do enjoy speaking, I also like to listen. By listening you can learn a lot about a person.

Since we are in this world together, it is important not only to identify our feelings and goals in life. But it is also important to hear and learn others feelings and goals.

Put your heart in it.....

As a child, I was one to stand up for somebody who was being picked on or befriend someone who needed a friend. I have always had a caring heart especially for those that are hurting. I have spent most of my life caring for my children and as they get older, I realize they need less time from me. While that saddens me, it also allows me time to discover other areas in life to dedicate time and energy. I believe when you decide to do a project it will always mean more if you put your heart into it.

I am a very organized person who enjoys doing crafty projects as well as encouraging others to try new things. I enjoy sharing my life experiences especially when it can comfort somebody going through similar difficulties.

We Are All In This Together

I really liked this chapter because it did remind me of my values I was taught when growing up. Remember the phrase: Treat others as you'd like to be treated? It almost goes to say that we should step out of our comfort zone to help others who may be living like we would never want to be living, to help our planet so our children and grandchildren will have a planet left to live on. To treat things how we would want to be treated.

I got this CD for christmas from an artist named Ben Lee and he has some very powerful songs on this album. In the song, "We Are All In This Together" he says, "every 12 seconds someone remembers that we're all in this together." He also says things such as, "I'm made of atoms You're made of atoms And we're all in this together. And long division just doesn't matter'Cause we're all in this together." I think that is so true. We are all human, we all make mistakes, yet we can also all make a difference and some things just do not matter when it comes to opinions we have. We should not let what other people say get in our way, yet we all do. It also shows us that we are not alone in these causes. Sure we may be the first to speak up, but it's almost garunteed we are not the first person to think of the issue at hand. Once again, we are all in this together.

In the book, a woman named Gloria Steinem is quoted as saying," As for who we will be, the answer is: We don't know....But we do know that growth comes from saying yes to the unkown." I think this is what we will all be doing here in the next few months, but also what I will be doing as I move into the future. I believe only God knows what my future looks like but one thing I do know is that I will be using music (one of the things I love in life) to reach out to others. Thus I picked my major based off of that idea. I have a passion for music and a passion for disabled kids, therefore it was obvious I would help those kids using music. It is something I look forward to in my future but then again all I am doing is saying yes to the unknown.

We are all in this world together, so shouldn't we all take the first step into the unknown and see what a difference we can make for the rest of society?

Here is a video I found of that song quoted in my blog, it is pretty amazing!

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlUXEJaWCkk

Get In Where You Fit In

I enjoyed this chapter. For me the message of chapter three was about finding your niche and also realizing that all contributions are valid and necessary; it is not essential to know everything that must be done or to try and do everything alone. I really liked the examples of applying your existing skills and interests to service as I feel this is a great synthesis of intrinsic and extrinsic value and also that this allows us to make the greatest contribution we can simply by doing what it is that we already do best.

In addition, it is good to think about the fact that there need be no qualifiers to service. No matter how little time you have or applicable skills you think you possess (or don’t possess), you can still make a contribution that both singularly and collectively with the efforts of others can make a difference. If everyone did just one small thing, the results of even that would be dramatic.

For me, public speaking comes rather naturally as I am reasonably able to articulate myself and communicate effectively with others. In addition I have fairly adept critical reasoning abilities and am good with conceptual thinking and the “big picture.” Although I am still learning and developing, I will pursue avenues that take advantage of these skills, such as spreading awareness, networking efforts together, and conceptualizing plans of action.

Just a little about myself :)

I grew up in Flagstaff with my mother, sister, and father. My sister and I were taught the base fundamentals: how to share, how to communicate well with others, be nice, do not lie, and "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." These core values are probably the same ones instilled in most to all children.

As I have grown, those lessons really never changed but became more in depth. My teachers, while teaching me valuable skills I need in life, always based their conduct off of those values. My mother, who has always been and will be my greatest model for life, instilled those values with a conviction. She is not perfect and has made mistakes, but that helped me to understand that not one person is unerring.


I apply all of the things I learned as a child to my life now. Yes, it may sound somewhat ridiculous, but it works for me. It lets me know at times when I feel like being rude, ungrateful, or closed off I shouldn't be. Life seems complicated every once and awhile, and when I think about my values and those things that matter life becomes less of a struggle. Then I am reminded of what I can do for others.

The best thing I can offer to the world is myself: my time, efforts, and compassion. I enjoy helping others and doing hands on recreations. Honestly, I don't know how to seperate my strengths, because when I evaluate myself I don't see seperate pieces. I see me as a compelation of things I have learned and experienced thus far.