Service: Where is it?

Children, teenagers, parents and grandparents, teachers and bosses, mentors and other influential people in our lives' support us each and every day. Somehow, we are approached by a new task, a new challenge, or a new gathering of these people when we least expect it. Quite simply, it could be parallel to what happened almost 45 years ago to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whom promoted his ideas and supporting the Civil Rights Movement, assassinated in the instance.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character," famously said by Dr. King, Jr. himself. 

Throughout the efforts of Dr. King Jr. and his team, the ultimate goal was to achieve in what you believe. Whether it be Civil Rights, or simply getting out of your 'shell' to help another neighbor, we all store an urge to help another person out. Simply put, we call this 'service' and we need a re-surgence for this action.

With the progression of time, along with the closeness we have grown with technology, I believe we have lost the component of awareness and service towards the world we aren't "friend-ed" with, "followed" by, "linked" with, or "+1'ed" with.

The 'dream' of Dr. King Jr., regarding Civil Rights, lived out in a prosperous way because of the strong connectivity with those who cared about the goal - without a computer, iPhone, or some other device with a glowing touchpad. With social media and other improvements to our technology, it seems our neglect has grown for the care of others in our modern community that we don't connect with on a personal level by the click of a mouse.

The increasing need for us to realize again that our goal--our dream--to become a humble yet active human race, starts with one key element that lives strong in each one of our lives'. That element - service - needs to be reborn in the heart and soul of the nation, and it starts...with you.

Personally-speaking, my school community has improved the effort for each student to become active in our ever-evolving larger community. Ranging from the various student activist groups such as Key Club, National Honor Society, etc., we are easily given the opportunity to become a part of a community that helps with an even bigger community - Shelby and Utica.

This week and this year, consider the opportunities to get out and help another person you don't see pop up on your screen or your digital device. Then step back and consider the trend you can start, all because of your simple service that you didn't know you could have an effect towards and continue the trend in a lifestyle that is driven by you.