Many people talk about the future in terms of doing something one day. “I will buy a car one day,” or “one day, I’ll start a new hobby,” are common phrases that are timeless. Rather than measuring your life through upcoming things, why not take action, even through a small change? There are many simple things in life that someone can help with by starting at day one. Helping my dad through gardening, walking people’s dogs, volunteering as a counselor at a summer camp, and helping people who are less fortunate by raising money, are all acts of service that helped me realize that a community forms an unbreakable bond amongst people.
A place where I have found belonging is in my religious community. From a young age, I never delved deep into my religion, which limited my understanding of the world surrounding me. I learned about a Hindu religious camp and decided to venture onward and see where it took me. I went through an interview process which allowed me to become a counselor where I cared for young kids. I was able to learn patience, understanding, and communication skills. Being a part of this community allowed me to dive deeper into a world that was unfamiliar to me, and although that was scary, it opened my eyes to vast possibilities. For example, this year in camp we had a goal to raise money for an orphanage in India called Happy Homes. We raised over $72,000 for children who did not have simple, everyday things we have access to, such as playground equipment, clothes, and much more. These children are now able to have proper resources, and as a camp, we video called them, and they smiled with the utmost of joy etched across their faces. Creating a small difference in others’ lives is what I believe a community should do. Through seeing these children everyday at camp, I created life-long connections through simple acts of service like teaching kids prayers or helping them journal about their day. Looking back, I’m forever grateful to have taken that step to reach out and try something new. I was determined to set aspirations for myself when it came to this camp that I would engage with my peers and learn what a sense of unity can feel and look like. I was able to help build an atmosphere where kids were excited to learn about ways to help our community.
I’ve come to learn that a community does not only include the people who surround you but is determined by how those people make you feel. My dad loves to garden as it gives him peace, and he enjoys it. He’s learned as much as he can about lawn care and gardening by understanding how certain fertilizers affect a plant or how to maintain a clean-cut lawn. I have tried to help him throughout this process, and he helps people in our community by spreading his knowledge. I’ve met people that he’s helped out, and through this, I gained customers when I started up a dog walking business. Our lives became more enriched because of the happiness we were able to spread upon others. Experiencing this is how I learned to build a sense of community and friendship.
Community can be formed by not only bonds, but by blood as well. Family is one of the most trusted communities in our lives. I loved giving back to my community by assisting with food drives. I took the initiative, and my family and I went to a charity organization called Meals on Wheels where we donated PB&J sandwiches and canned goods for the less fortunate. We delivered them to people’s homes, and I realized that some people’s communities consisted of the family they held dearest to them. When we think of the word, “community,” we think of a giant group of people working together to reach a common goal, but in reality it’s just a congregation of people striving to make a deeper impact on those around them.
Community can be seen in many different aspects, whether that’s in family or through friendship bonds you make in life. Our acts of service to our community could be seen through the actions we take to help others. A community is formed through trust, good-will, and taking action when needed. By starting from day one like me with small acts like walking dogs and learning about the basics of my religion, to helping others, we can refuse to let one day pass us by.
