There aren’t any classes in philanthropy.
You can see examples, but it’s not something that you can learn out of a textbook, or teach in the traditional way. For me, philanthropy was an area in my life that lacked development.
When I was 14, just entering high school, I felt that my impact on the world was a small one. Going from class to class, I focused on achieving high grades, and trying to get into my dream college. For recreation during school, I sauntered over to the library to read the new issue of the Atlantic Monthly, or Rolling Stone.
At home it was similar—homework, recreational reading, then surfing, hanging out with friends, etc. But it would be marked by periods of extreme melancholy when I took time to truly penetrate the bubble that I lived in and see all the dark spots in my otherwise perfect world. What was wrong? Feelings of powerlessness flooded my mind. What was I doing? How could I live in a world so centered on my sole existence? It was too easy to get caught up in this day-to-day routine. Why wasn’t anybody doing anything? I asked. Why wasn’t I doing anything?
My own personal experience with service started with that compelling urge to make a positive impact on the world around me. I was also very lucky, because my teachers were the ones who inspired me. My first service experience began with an oceanography class taught by Ricky Grigg (a world-class oceanography professor, and a legendary surfer). After seeing his enthusiasm for our ocean, I decided that I wanted to make sure this precious natural resource stayed healthy. I cleaned my beaches, got involved with a couple Sierra Club projects, and planted some pollution-reducing plants in one of our extremely polluted canals.
Unsure of where the next step would be, I enrolled in an AP Environmental Science class taught by the late Jeremiah Johnson, hoping to learn more about the earth, and potential ways to improve it. I was incredibly lucky to have a teacher who was so passionate about our ability to change convention, and although he is no longer with us, the lessons that he taught me have changed my life. Learning the dynamics of global warming, the negative effects of the mono-cropping and inorganic farming culture, and all of the other hot topics surrounding our environment from a man who actually practiced what he preached was an experience that I would never forget.
With a passion, I seized the day. I found outlets for my feelings of “smallness,” and you could say I’ve been growing ever since. Actively looking for community service projects that I felt I could contribute to, I found a little niche that I could call my own and officially contributed my life as student servant (161 hours of active service projects). Every day I attempt to make small, but important, informed choices, such as taking the bus to school, or eating local organic food.
Most recently I volunteered for a Hawaii organization called Girl Fest, run by Kathy Xian, a womens study professor at the University of Hawaii. Girl Fest’s aim is to prevent violence against women and children through art, film, spoken word, and music. Because I volunteered at this event, learned artists, musicians, filmmakers, and poets taught me about their crafts in ways that a conventional classroom cannot. Inspired by this event, I decided to start planning my own festival, where I hope to incorporate student talent to raise money for Kathy’s organization, Safe-Zone (something that focuses on sex trafficking, as well as domestic violence and rape).
What I have created for myself, this freedom from the four very beautiful but also restrictive walls of my school, has expanded my knowledge exponentially. Before, math was math, writing was writing, geography was geography, art was art, and science was science; now, they are not my focus, but my telescope.
I had to look outside of school to get this satisfaction. Why is that? “Schools, we might say, are mirrors of social beliefs, giving back what citizens put in front of them,” says professor, and Chair of the Department of Culture and Communication at New York University, Neil Postman. If that’s true, then there is no growth, no change. But more importantly, students are deprived of the freedom to explore the world, and form opinions on their own. It takes teachers who are willing to inspire, and encourage education outside of the classrooms to help students find their own service passion. Acceptance of individual thought and ideas is key, and so is the willingness to let go of the rigid rules of conventional teaching.
Students have the potential to institute great change in the world. It’s true that we are the future. Much like we’re speaking up for the silent majority through Students 2.0, we can and should take responsibility for the problems that they see in the world, and go out and make a difference.
A special thanks to Mr. Watson for getting me involved with Students 2.0.
Your greatest strength is your awareness of what is, what should be, and what can be.
Very few people, adult or young adult, look beyond their immediate needs or desires.
Now that you’ve experienced the satisfaction that being involved can bring, I guarantee that you will continue in the same vein.
Do you have any clubs or organizations at your school that participate in similar service projects? Have you ever considered starting your own volunteer group? How might you use the power of the Internet - and this blog - to further your humanitarian goals?
I look forward to reading more about your experiences. Congratulations on a thoughtful posting.
diane
You represent the next generation which will be in charge when I am near the end (I’m already gray & feeble), therefore it is our job to equip this generation with the very values you had to go outside the four walls to develop. This is a sad commentary on the state of American education.
I’m thinking there are some crucial literacies that need to be taught and practiced in k12 education: reading literacies, writing literacies, mathematical literacies, digital literacies, philanthropic literacies. Have I got it right?
You’ve got it partially right, but I don’t think any amount of empathy integrated into the classroom can replace the experience and learning gained from going outside the “four walls”. This is not so much a sad commentary on the state of American education, but a challenge to the students, and the teachers, to take control of their own involvement in the world community.
However, we can have philanthropic discussions: debate the merits of views and actions. By forcing students to discuss issues, awareness is forced: thus, many will begin to think beyond their day-to-day existence.
Thanks for writing our first post! It puts us off to a great start: reflecting on the world beyond school and how we, as students, really can change that world.
I think philanthropy isn’t something that can be taught quite as easily as experienced. And even then, I think a lot of people miss the point.
Teachers can encourage students to do community service (National Honor Society, Key Club, Habitat for Humanities, for Government classes, etc.) but there’s a key difference between working for a cause they believe in and simply padding one’s future college application.
I see this a lot when I talk to my peers; they go to Tibet or South America to do relief work over summer vacation. But instead of finding passion, they find another thing to add to their college application to make themselves look good.
Maybe I’m being overly cynical, but sometimes I think that philanthropy can’t be taught. I hope I’m wrong though, because the world needs more people who want to make changes for the better.
It can be easy for us as adults to focus in our our little “niche” of what we are doing–teaching algebra, or “European History” or whatever the subject area.
I do think , that although you have made your discovery outside the four walls of the school, and so beautifully express that these subjects are a telescope for you to focus from–I do think that we can reach through these subject areas and connect compassionately with what goes on in the world around us. As educators, we should recognize how much capacity there is for good in our students, and be sure we are supporting that, and offering connections for students to make.
And as students, as you mentioned, it’s important to realize that you can make a real difference, by taking a personal interest and being an active participant in your world.
Those of you who have just started Student 2.0 are a part of that!
I’m just watching Tom Brokaw’s special on 1968. Bruce Springsteen mentions that the music that preceded him–”moved him to live.” I love that expression. What you are doing–your personal commitment–moves others to live.
Thanks for sharing and for your first post on Students 2.0.
My parents have been the largest positive influence on my sense of self, and view of the world. I am lucky to have parents who are not only extremely intelligent and inspiring, but who are able to let me lead myself. Also, they pay the tuition for a very expensive private school that gives me the significant opportunities you talked about. The same goes for teachers, they have been inspiring and yet understand that they can’t control my choices.
Thanks for reading!
And thanks Arthus, you rock at design.
What an utterly thought provoking post. You certainly have a way with words that makes your thoughts and passions leap off the page. You have given me much to think about and hopefully at some point integrate into my math classroom. Thank-you.
Thank you for your post. It is a great story of learning, leadership and hope.
Can you reflect on the implications for middle school and high school? If we wanted to improve schooling for our students, what would you recommend to make it significant in the lives of all students?
So many times I have listened and considered the words of those that have found meaning and purpose in life through serving others. Through serving they have not only helped heal the land, save the whales, etc., they have also saved themselves by their serving. I’ve heard countless stories of those who were homeless now providing shelter for others that would be homeless except for the refuge they provide.
Many have the gift of serving, know that is their gift and find joy in their purpose - serving others where ever there is a need. And there are many needs.
The best part of your article for me is that you are aware of the need to help others and are searching out ways to be of help to others - whether it is your gift or not. You are not all about you. You are reaching outside of the box (your school, your self, whatever the box might be). I loved the “telescope” comment - how insightful!
The joy that you receive from serving I think is many times even greater than the joy those you serve receive from your serving. It is not that they don’t appreciate your efforts, most do tremendously. Many though have diminished capacities, or mental illness which prevent them from even comprehending or realizing the sacrifices you are making on their behalf.
By the way, your picture is awesome. I am sitting in Colorado right now with about a foot of snow on the ground. It is beginning to look a lot like “winter” around here finally. The water and the beach was quite a contrast to the view out of my window of the snow capped mountains. Both having the views and being able to see them are special if you think about it.
Enjoy and relish in these moments and opportunities in front of you.
I have to disagree with what I believe to be your argument. Although you are a shining example of a student volunteer, this appears to be a shining example of idealism. I believe that people who want to do something, do. You can’t force people to be inspired. It is almost insulting when you say “tt takes teachers who are willing to inspire, and encourage education outside of the classrooms to help students find their own service passion.” It is not the teacher’s sole responsibility (yet most are still inspiring people every day). Some people know about their opportunities, yet still do nothing. And passions extend past service. In fact, one of my passions lies in these restricting, four-walled institutions that you bemoan. Why is sitting in a room learning and listening to intelligent minds speak any less valid than this hands-on, on-location experience that you speak of? Can you even define conventional teaching? I understand that you now feel enlightened, and this would make for a good, albeit cliché, college essay, but service is not necessarily the only way to get a good education.
I applaud your ambition.
You are well on your way toward turning frustration into action, as well you should. Unfortunately, your frustration will always be with you, if I gauge your character correctly. I encourage you to find your own anchor, from which you can stray and tug at for years to come. You will also discover that this anchor moves from time to time, driven by others and not yourself.
I’m 52, and relate to your anxiety and ambition. In my history, it took me a bit longer to realize that giving was more than having, and that doing far surpassed my expectation of what I ever thought I would become.
Indeed, it was a teacher who created the spark in me, but it took a bit longer to reflect and act. However, this great man passed along two quotations to me back then that still remain on my wall, visible when I contemplate my place in the world:
“What would life be
if we had not the courage
to attempt anything?”........Vincent Van Gogh
“Bright spirits
often encounter
violent opposition
from mediocre minds”.........Albert Einstein
I can really add nothing more except to encourage you to surround yourself with people and challenge that surpass your current abilities. I would wager this is the growth you seek, and you will be rewarded time and again by selfless gain. Making a difference, in some form you seek, will often manifest itself in ways you will never recognize - but you will make a difference!
First, thank you for your comment.
I am flattered by your comment, it’s nice to know that you think I am “a shining example of a student volunteer”. It’s true that I wanted to do something, and so I did it, but I honestly was not able to just “do”. Something that you said was so easy. To me, it seems more idealistic to believe that people who want to give back to the community will seek out service oppurtunities for themselves. I truly wish people were like that, I know that I wasn’t. Although I thought about doing something to give back to the community for a long time, it wasn’t until I experienced the “teachers who [were] willing to inspire, and encourage education outside the class room” that I actually began my journey as a student servant.
Let me clarify for you: that isn’t an insult. I agree with you that it isn’t possible to be forcefully inspired (it seems contradictory to the very definition). For me, I was inspired by the caring teachers that actually go out and do something, instead of just lecturing. Of course it’s not their sole responsibility (I mean, what about the parents, right?). But they are in the classroom with young adults everyday. As one of the most influencial people in student’s lives, they have a huge oppurtunity to be inspiring, and help institute passion for life in the next generation.
Another clarification: never do I bemoan the four walls of education. In fact, you might recall that I call them “beautiful”. I love school, and I plan to continue my learning in an institution higher education. What was trying to say is that quality education does not, and should not, end when class gets out. There are invaluable lessons to be learned outside of the precious cushion of school. “Listening to intelligent minds speak” is absolutely important, but it can’t end at just that. Where have they learned their lessons? From listening to other intelligent minds speak? Is there nothing to be gained from real life experience?
“We are shut up in schools and college recitation rooms for ten or fifteen years, and come out at last with a bellyfull of words and do not know a thing. The things taught in schools and colleges are not an education, but the means of education,” says Emerson. Service is not the only way to get a good education, nor is it nessicarily the best for everyone. But it is a way to use the knowledge that school gave us (”the means of an education”), and enroll in the school of life.
I tried in the summer to start something ( a club ) exactly as you were describing. Just somewhere for teens to gather around and talk about what changes they’d like to make in the world, and we’d all brainstorm together to find the perfect way to contribute. This would be esp good for people who don’t like to volunteer alone (i.e. without a group of friends with them). Maybe we could set something like this up. Let me know.
And the great thing is, you don’t need to be Oprah to make a change
That’s the most important thing that I learned from going out and volunteering. You can be an “Oprah” to people, even more than that, really.