The best of times and the worst of times

Purpose

As my first post ever on this blog i am fully convinced that this post will not be read , this idea is discouraging but at the very same time humbling. However it is my full intention to use this post as an introduction to the things that i am passionate about and what they have to do with this blog. I hope to interest folks who have a passion for community and loving others enough to cast aside our prejudices and build relationships that will strengthen our communal efforts at making a better world.

Ideology: Community, I am completely convinced that when one moves into an urban community they inherently accept their neighbors, their neighbors neighbors and so on as a loose family tie. All of their actions and efforts should in same way support the community at large. These things could be very simple such as recycling or keeping your sidewalk clean or your bushes trimmed. However for those of us who are not happy with just good enough these actions must be larger such as volunteer work, tutoring children, community gardens, and a host of other great things. It is important for us to serve our communities and participate in our areas in order for them to progress and be fruitful. Self, Each individual has the ability to do one positive thing to benefit their community and it is a responsibility of us city dwellers to acknowledge this capability taking responsibility for our own duties in helping the community we choose to be apart of. Independence, With the federal debt rising it is very important for us as a country to put more emphasis on the ways we can help the people in our communities and lessen the burden on the Fed. With an increased focus on the type of help a community can provide for itself we can free our towns from the reliance that many have developed on federal aid which gives us as a community more freedom.

College Culture

For the purposes of my current location( Shippensburg University of PA) most of this blog will be dedicated to my interpretation of community in the college culture and the work i am doing to engage the community around me, to unite this community on issues and to work towards progression on social issues here. In my first month i have been nominated to the Hall Council as a Public Relationships representative in my Residence hall( my immediate community) and in my extended community i am a member of the Kappa Delta Phi fraternity. I have been fortunate to hold status in two important places and through these positions i will begin to work towards my goal of bringing a stronger sense of community to my campus.

The college culture seems to be completely centered around the idea that the best times of their lives are right now, with partying,drinking and sexual encounters being a social norm. The irony of this is that with the emphasis my peers place on partying which is an extremely social concept i continue to see a lack of relationships being formed(that can last more than one night). This leads me to the conclusion that the lack of community felt on a college campus is the result of social interaction in a negative context, revealing the need for more positive social interactions to take place and encouragement for this positive interaction by peers.

College is supposed to be a place of exponential intellectual and social growth, and in my first month here i can honestly say that i haven't felt very encouraged to venture out socially or academically. I need the motivation and the know how to help build a positive community here with a common goal and this blog is my helper, my thoughts, my ideas, and my experiences along this journey will be shared here with you all.