What role does community play in your life?

I wish I can say that the community plays a very important role in my life, but I honestly do feel that I'm not in tune with it.  Growing up, I've had a sort of disconnect from the community, even though adults would constantly encourage the youth to participate in contibuting to the community.  Thing is, I've always was apathetic.  It's not that I didn't want to volunteer and help the community, but it was because I was very doubtful of what I could do.  I never really considered myself a bright student, but I did the work and did what was satisfactory.  It's a strange listless feeling that might be read as being lazy, but I beg to differ.  Because there are domineering personalities out there actively contributing to the community, the shy and introverted ones often get overshadowed and that feeling of uselessness starts to emerge.  Thus, the feeling of being disconnected with the community manifests.

Slowly, I've started to realize that even shy people, like myself, can help the community.  The contribution towards a community isn't just measured by having some big glitzy volunteering program.  When it comes down to it, by simply holding the door for someone is meaningful in and of itself or by just helping someone carry out their groceries to his/her car.  Another example is to simply throw away trash, even if it's not yours.  That's not to say that community programs aren't that great, but people should acknowledge the little things that others do.  And this is not just a measure of community service--it's also a measure of character.


Thinh Nguyen