By David Wang
Contributor
Some of us wake up each day, shower, drink coffee, and leave for work or school, letting the world pass by and being content with the status quo.
Others get up and see themselves as the new tomorrow and actively help to make their communities a better place.
While those two examples are at opposite ends of an ideological spectrum, I’m certain we’ve all, during some time in our lives, experienced what both sides are like.
We’ve continuously heard people say how community involvement is an important aspect of good citizenship.
But there should be more purpose in being connected with the community than simply obligation.
Community involvement is a way of better understanding and getting to know the people and groups around us; this also allows us to discover our communal niche, the roles we play and how they help to contribute to our community.
The late Sydney J. Harris, an American journalist and columnist, once said that “time is the most precious commodity in the world,” and as a person who lives according to this idea, I strongly believe that time should never be wasted doing frivolous things.
Instead, it ought to be invested into more crucial matters.
Volunteering, for instance, can be an exceptional way to not only meet new and fantastic people, but also to offer our time for a greater cause.
Why spend hours playing video games such as League of Legends or Candy Crush when you can be out helping organize events for others’ enjoyment, or to serve hot food to people in need?
There are so many ways we can make our time worthwhile; community service is only a start.
Spare time can be an opportunity for us to learn something new and exciting. Regardless of what people may say, it is never too late to discover your artistic capabilities. Love music? Try picking up the guitar. Love dance? Try out a few moves yourself. Interested in other cultures? Try learning a new language.
My philosophy is that we should always be working towards an achievement. Whether to improve the life of others or your own skills, our investments must always give back purposeful gain.
I myself am involved with many groups and activities around my community; over time they have helped me develop as not only an individual, but also as a member of society.
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets, for example, was one of the places where I first learned of the importance of citizenship and community involvement.
During my cadet summer camp trainings, I was able to meet numerous people from all over Canada.
I shared my experience and my summer with people of varying personalities and backgrounds and made countless new friends.
I cherish such moments.
It now seems ironic to me how various forms of social media are having an opposite effect on the population; some people are more inclined to scroll through their Facebook feed for hours rather than taking that time to head out with friends and family.
It is pivotal for every person to realize that electronics are only tools to make our lives easier, but by no means a way to pass away all our time.
So stay away from screens and dark rooms and step outside for a moment. Stop and break away from your daily routine for just a second and ask yourself: Am I spending my time or am I investing it? Do my actions work towards a certain and meaningful goal? Have I made a difference in somebody’s life? Am I making a difference in somebody’s life?
If for some reason you haven’t thought about these before, I urge you go and find a type of volunteering that works for you.
Maybe join a few school clubs or teams.
Uncover your artistic passion.
If there’s one thing that should never be done, it has to be sitting around doing nothing.
David Wang is a student at Garibaldi secondary.
