Reach Out & Make a Difference

Reaching Out:

In the article “Create Meaning by Helping Others” I realized that sometime we give too much of ourselves that we forget about have “me” time. When we overwhelm ourselves with meeting the needs of others before our own we tend to get hurt, taken advantage of, and sometime feel unhappy. It is important to help others but remember to set time aside for yourself. It is very easy to get caught up with taking care of others and letting their problems or worries become our own because we care so much about that person(s). I thought about the part in the article where a long distance couple had broken up and it really hit me because my boyfriend and I are apart for college. I often catch myself worrying too much about what could be going on in his world of college or what he’s thinking and the last thing I ever want to happen is for us to break up due to distance. Long distance can be a challenge because it takes a lot of dedicated time and constant communication but the outcome is definitely worth it; that’s why I continue to push through the conflicts to make ends meet. But I always put the needs of our relationship and others before my own needs which sometimes can be stressful. Sometimes you may have to reevaluate the help you are giving others is it for selfish desires of accolades or is it because you truly care for the individual(s). Be honest and keep open communication when helping others so you do not feel compelled to always help even when you honestly are busy. It’s okay to say no but you do not want to make a habit of it.

In the reading of the article “Create Meaning by Helping Others”, the question why serve is because we want to help others rise above and achieve greatness. Serving is an act of giving time to the needs of others. This contributes to my leadership because you lead others by listening to their concerns and needs, then help by leading them in the right direction by either giving advice or being their confidant. My feelings towards service work with Family Matters is that we are being a great asset to their community, it is so exciting to give back to the community and help children with school as well as being a mentor. 

   

Make a Difference:

After watching “Hide Your Schools, Hide Your Homes, Hide Children, Cause He’s Wrecking It All” I am not sure really how to relate to the “New Chicago” because I am not from Illinois. However, with the government shutting down school I am not in the least bit condoning closing down education facilities. Education is an asset to life and without can be very difficult to survive in a world of today. I do honestly believe that more money should be spent on improving and bettering the education system rather than only focusing on achieving high test scores to get more money from the government. I am assuming that building a “New Chicago” will be more focused on the higher class needs. Which means the finances of the city would take away from education. My service in my mentee’s life or time in school will encourage him to push through challenges and keep your eye on the prize by never giving up. I encourage my mentee to always finish tasks never give 50% instead aim for 110% and stay focused. The value of education is worth so much more than anyone can imagine it often times sets individuals apart from others. It can be beneficial in several ways never a disadvantage to have an education. Education should always be preserved and never destroyed, it should always be improved to better society. Although, student of color tend to have more struggles and difficulties with their studies than the average white student because they are not accessible to services that improve educational skills and understanding of school materials. We, as students of color, can overcome this obstacle by seeking help from outside sources or looking for organizations that want to see growth in students. We can all work together to overcome these challenges.