While I don't go out and volunteer
my time to help people, I do make an impact, albeit a small one, on this
campus, and perhaps in this huge world of ours. I always try to smile
when I see someone coming my way. I actually feel almost betrayed
when I pass one of those people who just pretend to not see me, but instead
just stare at their feet. I wonder why they can't look up from the
ground to accept the smile I'm trying to give them.
I didn't always smile at people
who I passed. I actually used to be a ground-starer. But when
I went to Germany a few years ago, I noticed that the people there just
weren't as friendly as many of the people I would pass walking around in
Okemos. Complete strangers in Okemos would say hi, but in Germany,
everyone seemed to be a ground-starer. That was when I decided to
smile, or even say hi (sometimes to complete strangers) when I pass people.
I know how good it can feel to recieve a smile, so now I just try to pass
the joy on. (wow, I am feeling really cheesey here...)
My next point of social responsibility
is due to the grand invention of the Internet. I try to go to www.thehungersite.com
every day, but usually I end up going a few times a week. At this
site when you click on a button, anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 cups of food
is donated by big companies to this organization. The organization
then distributes the food to hungry people around the world. I stumbled
across this site one day, and I really feel like it is a good cause.
It takes literally 10 seconds of my time, and I feel like I'm at least
doing something to help.
Updated: May 21, 2000
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