You Make the World a Different Place

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Volunteer Appreciation luncheon at the school where my sister teaches a bunch of third-grade hooligans.  Having spent some time in her classroom, I know that teachers deserve a lot more appreciation than they typically receive.  So the fact that they took time out of their busy schedules to do something special for those of us who only work with the little terrors for an hour or two at a time was truly lovely.  In addition to a great lunch (which included the best orzo salad I've ever tasted), each volunteer received a card with a pen that stated, "I can make a difference!"

I'm a pretty big fan of affirmation.  While I know that I'm kind of awesome, it's nice to know that other people recognize that as well.  Unfortunately, "I can make a difference!" isn't so much an affirmation as it is a potentially troubling fact.  It is to encouragement what "my bad" is to apology--using a statement to cover up the fact that you don't have anything nicer to say.  Saying "my bad" only admits error, but does not convey any sort of remorse or effort to improve.  In the same way, telling someone that she can make a difference only acknowledges that her existence alters the world in a butterfly/tsunami kind of way.  You might as well say, "The world's food supply is marginally smaller because you eat," or "You contribute to the greenhouse effect." 

Here are some candidates I've come up with for next year's pens:

     I have five senses (and I know what they are!)

     I can read and write!

     I can stand children in small doses!

     

I'm going to be serious for a moment, so please skip this paragraph if you're in the mood to keep things light.  The ability to make a difference can be either a positive or a negative thing.  I may be naive, but I don't think that most people set out with the intention to make the world a terrible place.  What concerns me is those of us who throw ourselves into projects and situations without first examining our ability to do good and our motives for participating.  While writing this blog, I was reminded of the movie The Last King of Scotland.  In one of the early scenes of the movie, Nicholas Garrigan lays on his bed about to explode with the need to escape his life.  He then spins a globe, promising that he will go wherever his finger lands.  As a result, he travels to Uganda with the aim of working in a local hospital desperately in need of assistance.  It seems like such a noble work that it's hard to comprehend how this young volunteer could end up assisting a dictator in a brutal reign of terror before nearly being consumed by it.  It seems that his desire for self-fulfillment outweighed his desire to make a positive difference, and so he fell prey to the promises of power and privilege.  Now, I doubt many of us would ever be in the position to work for an evil dictator, but I do think that it is very important to take a good look at ourselves before setting out to "do good."  Are we getting involved because we want help others or because we want to feel better about ourselves/impress someone/relieve boredom?  Volunteering has so many benefits for the volunteer, but it's important that the needs of whomever we're helping come first.  If we're in it for self-fulfillment, what happens when it stops being fun or we're tired or busy?  Most likely we'll drop out.  While it may not kill anyone, our abandonment is sure to have a negative impact on those we set out to help. Thus ends my Serious Thought.

In conclusion, I'd like to restate that I really did appreciate the appreciation luncheon, and I love volunteering.  I'm even getting to the point where children don't scare me, although I'm still wouldn't call myself a kid person.  And to you, dear readers, I'd just like to say, "You can read my blog!"