Helping Others - 13
How Helping Others Can Help You
L
isten, I could sit here all day insisting that you become a better person. At this point, I think we all have the script down to a science—infidelity is wrong say the spouses; plagiarism is wrong say the teachers; eating fatty foods is wrong says Michelle Obama. We are all, in some way, brought up to learn a similar code of ethics by the use of propaganda in different mediums. At times I wonder: if the concept of morality is drilled into many of us at a young age, then why do we ignore those who need our help? My theory is this: we all know how to be a good person, some of us just have not been convinced as to why we should be a good person. This being said, I’ve decided to take a rather unorthodox approach in convincing you all to lend a hand in your community. I’ll be throwing religion and moral integrity out the window for this one because in my opinion, the most effective way to convince a person to do anything is by specifying that it can, in some way, benefit them as well. This my friends is how lending your hand can, in fact, help you.
Community Clean-up. Along with her teammates from the women’s varsity soccer team, senior Emma Jacobs helps pull out weeds in a planted area of the MSD courtyard. Jacobs favorite form of community service is volunteering at local soccer camps, where she can help teach kids how to play soccer. Photo courtesy of Coach Laura Rountree
Students should contribute to the community
For starters, volunteering or donating can keep you well educated in issues regarding social injustice. Personally, I genuinely enjoy learning, and like many, I prefer obtaining knowledge through experience and observation rather than the non-stimulating textbook skimming and PowerPoint presentations. This being said, when I volunteered at my first nonprofit event, helping under-privileged teenagers pick out new clothing for job interviews, I left feeling so frustrated Planting Positivity. MSD Key Club members Emilie Prestronning with my own ignorance. (11), Roberta Brugger (11), Amit Dadon (11), Emily Halleran Everything I thought I (9), Kiara Seon (9), Lauren Faulds (9), Brianna Halleran (9), knew about equality and Robert Schentrup (11), Joey Wong (11), Gabi Romano (11), economic opportunity was Sydni Lazarus-Parache (12) and Courtney Hart (11) plant a new embarrassingly naive, and garden for students to enjoy at Country Hills Elementary on listening to the symptoms Feb. 25 to help beautify the campus. “I participate in Key Club of poverty proved to be because I want to help out the community,” Schentrup said. incredibly thought-provoking. Photo courtesy of Nick D’Souza Let me be clear, the deed of giving In addition, our own can offer incredible intrinsic rewards. school has set up an incentive system to For instance, according to Harvard make us better people: those monstrous research, self-help gurus and community service hours we all know and hate. Not organizations have endorsed the notion only do those pests look good on college that helping others has mood benefits; applications, but they can also land you it appears to genuinely make the givers a cute little chord at graduation. In other happier. However, I’ve decided to target the words, a little pat on the back for being extrinsic values because tangible results are, such “stellar citizens of the community.” in my opinion, the most effective incentives. If you leave here with anything, please According to Stanford Social Innovation note that volunteering for nonprofits can Review, high-impact nonprofits have learned literally be the difference between walking at graduation, or not, if you have met all the that appealing to self-interest is far more effective than appealing to pure altruism. other requirements. In other words, the most efficient way to Helping with nonprofits are also helpful entice citizens into the world of charity is to for those who do not have a clue what they essentially prove what’s in it for them, as sad want to do with their lives. Volunteering as that is. may reveal some undiscovered interests, or I think people sometimes forget that even provide practice in a field you plan to doing nothing reveals a weakness; it means pursue. Whether your interests consist of succumbing to what is easy. Many people working with children, sports, fashion or spend time deciphering how they can leave the arts, there are nonprofits that can move you in the right direction. Not only that, but their own unique mark on the world. I honestly think the best way to make an volunteering means working with people that share similar intentions. It is worth the impact is by leaving your mark on other possibility of making a lifelong friend or just human beings. Ultimately, my point is this: get up and do something. Editorial by Julia a probable business connection you might Corin need down the road.
