Character and Service: Personal Values and Community Impact

“One of the deep secrets in life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.”-Lewis Carroll. A quote that was used in one my favorite shows, Criminal Minds. I don’t know why I’m so drawn to crime shows, or why I always have the need to help others. I find it mind boggling that some individuals don’t have this need. An urge to make someone’s day by the simplest of tasks. This quote resonates with me deep inside, and is how I feel about service and character put into one line. Who are we? what is our purpose then to create and leave behind footprints for others. To spread kindness and love, to make the world glow a bit brighter and see beyond destruction. We live in an age when many us are unattached, and simply don’t see the character and service around us.

What is character? It’s having grit and integrity in everything you do. Were taught from a young age, if you fall off a horse you get back on again. Personally, i’ve never ridden a horse (they scare me) so I never got this metaphor when I was younger. Though I still learned this lesson a different way. School has constantly been important to me, teaching me to work hard everyday in what I do. That’s how society teaches character, through school disciplining us and pushing to do great. The way I see it, that dreaded homework, those late nights and early mornings built my character. It’s lead me to have meaningful friendships, and be apart of something bigger than myself.

I try to encourage others to pay it forward by joining service clubs. Doing selfless things and being content with the reward of feeling accomplished. “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours” a quote from Wayne Dyer. Whatever life has dealt you with, its ultimately your choice to give up or keep going. 

“One of the deep secrets in life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.”-Lewis Carroll. A quote that was used in one my favorite shows, Criminal Minds. I don’t know why I’m so drawn to crime shows, or why I always have the need to help others. I find it mind boggling that some individuals don’t have this need. An urge to make someone’s day by the simplest of tasks. This quote resonates with me deep inside, and is how I feel about service & character put into one line. Who are we? what is our purpose then to create and leave behind footprints for others. To spread kindness and love, to make the world glow a bit brighter and see beyond destruction. We live in an age when many us are unattached, and simply don’t see the character and service around us.

What is character? It’s having grit and integrity in everything you do. Were taught from a young age, if you fall off a horse you get back on again. Personally, i’ve never ridden a horse (they scare me) so I never got this metaphor when I was younger. Though I still learned this lesson a different way. School has constantly been important to me, teaching me to work hard everyday in what I do. That’s how society teaches character, through school disciplining us and pushing to do great. The way I see it, that dreaded homework, those late nights and early mornings built my character. It’s lead me to have meaningful friendships, and be apart of something bigger than myself.

I try to encourage others to pay it forward by joining service clubs. Doing selfless things and being content with the reward of feeling accomplished. “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” a quote from Wayne Dyer. whatever life has dealt you with, its ultimately your choice to give up or keep going. I have to thank my parents for giving me the mindset to choose the latter. Growing up, all of my neighbors have been elderly, in need for my family to help them clean their yards and such. I always went to help clean the kitchen, windows, and sometimes just keep company. That’s where I got the exposure to serving others. It made sense to join the Interact Club and NHS. I’d essentially be doing what I already do, on a wider spectrum. Helping people who don’t have neighbors like me and my family.

To sum up, character and service is greatly need to give a distraction, and inspire. It gives a sense of purpose to those who feel like they don’t have any. We all need some positive people in our lives, so why not become that person?