Throughout the discussion, creation, and implementation of this project, I have learned that taking the things we learn in the classroom and bringing them to the larger community is easier than I thought. I have been worried for a long time about finding the “right” organizations to support and the best career that will not only interest me but also make a profound impact. Thinking that I need to do something immense has put a lot of stress on me, and narrowed my interest of what to become involved in. Our project was small, we took photos and put them online along with some information. I wouldn’t have thought that something like this would be important to me before this class, but I’ve realized that taking small actions does contribute to the larger whole, and that we can reach other people. That was surprisingly the easiest part; walking up to strangers and engaging with them. They were more receptive than I could have imagined. I feel like I have actually done something, and I can see the proof on our website, that two hundred people we didn’t physically approach have taken the time to look at what we are sharing. Making the effort now to do things that I know are constructive is worth just as much, probably more, than planning to do something good (but potentially never getting there).
This really affects my idea of citizenship in the future because it makes me more aware of the smaller, local efforts that are going on around me. I feel more motivated to take the time and contribute to smaller scale changes because I know that they don’t take all that much time, and I can easily do them. When there is the option to do something that won’t cost me much but will make a positive impact, even a small one, I think that it is important to go for it. I don’t want to hoard my time planning for some brilliant contribution because I don’t know when or if that opportunity will come in my lifetime.
