Personal Narrative: Why I Give Back To My Community

Through the duration of this course some of my opinions on civic issues have changed and some have stayed the same. An opinion of mine that has changed is the number of flaws in our education system. This is an important civic issue because the education of young people is deciding the future of this world. This is politically significant because this generation will grow up to be a part of politics whether running for a role in the federal, provincial, or municipal parliamentary or simply voting in an election.

I will shortly be receiving my Bachelor's Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration on business. I will soon leave the world of studies and enter what is commonly referred to as "the real world." While this thought is someone frightening, especially given the current economic situation the nation faces, it is also exciting as well. I believe that crossing this threshold will change the way I view my role in the community, as well as the impact I will have on the community when I graduate. No longer will I see myself as a "child" in society, taking what society has to offer but never thinking of giving back. Instead, I am soon to become a fully fledged member of the community, with responsibilities to the community as a whole.

There are many things I want to get out of the next four years, friends that will last a lifetime, a great education, and memories that will never fade. Being a Community Assistant will put me on the right path to succeed those goals. It would be a great opportunity to be able to get involved into the community and meet fellow residents. One major factor in why I want to work at Red Rock Ridge is from what I have observed it has a positive work environment.

When my aunt asked if I wanted to help at the nursing home, I mainly went because I was bored. When I arrived, I helped the residents play bingo and I even painted a few nails. Even though it does not sound like a lot, I realized on that day how much I loved helping others and how I couldn’t wait to volunteer again.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

My strongest advocacy point these day is to create Community Powerhouse Collaborations made up of Parents, Educators and Business for the sole purpose of developing what I call, the Kindergarten CEO. Nurturing, supporting and developing each kids unique skills and abilities to be eventually monitized in some form in a high demand job in the global work place. It's the best way to ease the pressure off the Public Workforce Sysrem and ensure that young people get the "first chance" system opportunity right. We're looking to plan a strategy in Bergen County to address this. If you're interested in supporting our initiaitve, please let me

I am a PhD student at the Dalla Lana School for Public Health at the University of Toronto. I work as a research coordinator under the supervision of your former colleague Dr. Julia Woodhall-Melnik. Dr. Woodhall-Melnik has recommended the Communications and Dissemination Research Assistant position on "The Community Ideas Factory Project" to me as she knows I am interested in continuing my work in this area. I have two years of experience in knowledge creation and dissemination from institutions such as St. Michael’s Hospital, and I can use the skills I have built to help you on this project.

My community involvement started my Freshman year of High School when I began helping with the Miller Keystone blood drive. I was too young to donate but I did my part by helping sign others up. During my sophomore year it became more of a club and they trained us more so we could be a bigger help. I worked at the canteen, this continued up to this year. I have donated twice so far and plan to donate once more in May.

Community has a very strong positive connotation attached to it. A community bonds together when one falls. The true reliance an individual has with their own community runs deeper than any explanation can explain. It is because so many people often forget this connection, that I have taken the most drastic measures to immerse myself with my whole faction. The easiest yet most beneficial involvement that I have had with my community is through tutoring. Teaching a child, or even an adult, makes each individual in the population a stronger contributor to society. As one who struggles with family finances, I cannot put a price on knowledge.The payment of my tutoring is in the brightening faces of those individuals that see the connection.

The agency I volunteered to work at was the Graffiti Church Ministries After-School Program on 205 E 7th St. During the school week, usually Mondays, I would take the train to this program and strive to make the kids’ days at least a little bit better. I would almost always arrive at 3:15 PM exactly and would first help the children with their homework. Helping the children was shockingly much more troublesome than anticipated. I would have to explain exceptionally basic concepts to someone who knew next to nothing about it. I remember distinctively helping a kid, Jamel, with his homework and it proved extremely difficult for me to explain the concept of time to a first grader. I attempted to clarify that a quarter, as far as time, is commensurate

My diverse background allows me to see both sides of the spectrum. One day I live in the suburbs of the city that I live in. I see old white males in drive around in their corvettes and think about what it would be like to have one of my own. Another day I see poverty. I see urban areas. I see what it’s like to not have anything. I see the quality of life that the people in the suburbs would not have the experience of living in.

Many people do not care about where they come from. Many people are selfish with their time and effort, but not me I do care about where I came from and I devote most of my time and effort to make many people happy. I try my hardest to do the right thing and to give back when I know I should. Giving back to my community is an important thing to me. People should care and protect about their communities. Three reasons why giving back to my community is important to me is because my community has done so much for me, I take so much pride in where I am from, and because I want people to see how wonderful my community is.

I would contribute to diversity on the NC State campus because I identify as a lesbian and have been out to my community for many years now due to the love and support I have received from my hometown of Wilmington, NC. I try to give back to this wonderful community in whatever way I can, I attend meetings at our local Gay Straight Alliance and Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. I have also scheduled many events that are LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) inclusive such as a Pride Prom and a transgender visibility Potluck in light of the horrors of House Bill 2. I also consider myself to be a feminist, someone who believes in the equal rights of all genders and I do a lot in the sense of advocacy for gender equality.

I have written previously on several occasions but all emails have been returned as undeliverable. I in-processed at the office and told to check back after the summer. I am currently in school but I am interesting in finding what volunteer activities are available. Previously, I volunteered with the ARC for several years overseas. I had been asked when I first arrived to represent the ARC at the Arsenal by a organization on post (the requester Tonya Danial) but the ARC office failed to responded to any requests. I have been contacted by the Central Alabama Chapter but the locations are out of the vicinity. I would like to volunteer here in Huntsville. I have contacted several group members but received no acknowledgement. I would like to participate on the awards committee in the interim, if a slot is available.

Coming from a small community is either a burden sometime, or it is occasionally the best that can ever happen in your life. If a person comes from a small town, it feels as if people are always in others peoples business, but it could be the most comfortable feeling when a person’s community is there to back them up. I come from a town of around two thousand people. Unfortunately, my town has endured tremendous and multiple tragedies. My little town has survived the deaths of class mates, officers, coaches, and well known community members. All of these deaths were unexpected and rocked everyone in the community. It felt like every time and accident happened the community knew that the school would be hit the hardest. I can’t count