How Volunteering Changed Me

I hope your Family Day weekend was as restful as mine was. This month Think Tank is really taking off, and the students are exploring their options for volunteering. Check out their blogs to watch their progress. In the meanwhile, we're talking about Volunteering here at Little Mountain.

Volunteering is frankly a strange thing. You're offering your time for free, hopefully for a cause you can care for. There's a certain pressure with the choice: it's your time, and the organization that benefits from you is a reflection of your values. For a long time I had no idea where to volunteer because I didn't know what causes I really cared about. On top of that, I wanted to enjoy myself. Thankfully, I found two organizations that have had a profound impact on me, years later.

The first success story with volunteering that I had was with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. To sign up, you need to give a years' commitment, and then you're matched with a child to spend time with once a week. I was matched with a boy named Meshach, and ours was such a success that we extended the commitment, meeting up regularly for more than two years. Even now, I go out for lunch with his family once or twice a year.

He is now significantly taller than I, and I am significantly more handsome than I used to be.

I gained so much more from that relationship than I had anticipated. It started as a desire to volunteer my time somewhere, anywhere, and what I gained was a long-term friendship, as well as some remarkable insight into the importance of role models. When we started, I tried to impress him by playing sports or going to cool events. After a few months, though, we both realized that we had two awesome things in common: we both loved making cookies and playing video games. So once a week we would do that. He would show me the newer games (Playstation 2), and I would show him the older games (N64), and between taking turns playing, we would check on the oven. It was simple and honest. We were enjoying each others' time, and the effect we had on each other has been subtle but lasting.

The second success story I had was when I was, ironically, pressured into joining a peer support network, named Speakeasy. Our job was to spend 3 hours a week at a very visible desk, and university students could come to vent to us whenever they wanted about whatever they wanted. We were there to listen, and give them resources for more help, if needed. If I hadn't agreed to join, it is not an exaggeration to say that my life would be dramatically different.

The organization taught me the difference between sympathy and empathy. If someone's having a rough time, and you sympathize with them, it is often counter-productive. It's like saying "I feel sorry for you." It doesn't help. Empathy, however, is learning to validate what the other person is feeling. It's like saying "What you're feeling makes sense, that's a totally justified reaction." Giving people your empathy rather than sympathy was a game-changer for me, and has greatly influenced the way I teach.

Of course, I would be remiss to mention the most important part of my volunteering there: I met my wife. We met during training. She didn't like me at all, and I found her charming. After a while, I tricked her into marrying me, and now I've got myself an awesome wife.

See? Much more handsome. She also looks pretty good.

Choosing a place to volunteer can be overwhelming. I've definitely started volunteering at places, and found that the culture did not suit me, so it was short lived. When it sticks, though, volunteering with a cause you love, whether you knew it or not, can have profound impacts on the rest of your life.

So give it a try. Who knows how it will change you.

Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment

by Harry Chae

As of January 1, 2013, 1320 murderers have been executed in the united states (http://www.clark.prosecutor.org). Capital punishment is the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime. Although capital punishment still exists, capital punishment should be banned because people make mistakes, two wrongs do not make a right, and the executions are very painful.

A lot of people kill by mistakes. It would not be wise to just execute murderers without hearing the details. Taking someone’s life is very serious. For example, long time ago people did a small mistakes and people killed them. Also, sometimes they killed just because of their looks. Even  because people fear the person. Just executing someone because they did something wrong is not a choice of wisdom.Capital punishment must be banned because people make mistakes.

Two wrongs do not make aright. Even though they execute murderers that does not make the victim come to life again. Gandhi said an eye to an eye just leaves the whole world blind. Just because someone killed a person does not mean we must kill him back. If we execute them, then we are as bad as the killer. Capital punishment must be banned because two wrongs never make a right.

The methods are very painful and violent. In olden days, they used to all kinds of tools to execute including animals. Almost all of them tortured these convicted to the suffered a short and very painful death.If we execute painfully, that makes us the worse ones because the killer might not have killed as painfully as we did. Capital punishment must be banned because the methods of executions are very painful.

Capital punishment is stopping the development of the world and everybody and also bad for people who consider human rights very important. Capital punishment must be banned because people make mistakes, two wrong never make a right, and the methods of execution is very painful.

Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery

by Olivia Kim

One in five women in South Korea have had plastic surgery. That’s a lot of people in a world with the population of 7 billion. Around you, you’ll see many people who have improved their body parts by plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is a special surgery that improves or corrects body parts  by going under the knife. The word “plastic” comes from Greek, plastikos, meaning “mold or shape”. Although plastic surgery is believed to boost confidence and make one more attractive, plastic surgery should be limited to correcting natural defects, because it is elitist, addictive, and causes physical damage.

Many have troubles affording to do plastic surgery, because it is very expensive. It is elitist, meaning meaning “only for the rich”. The average cost of abdomen liposuction (surgical procedure that suctions fat from specific areas of body) ranges from approximately  $3000 to $7500. You will have to pay this unreasonable amount of money just to fix your appearance. Also, the surgeons do not give as good quality as you think. The result may not be what you were willing for, and might cause physical damage as well. Plastic surgery is a wasteful and a bad thing to spend your money on.

Not only the cost, but addiction is just as serious. When you see positive results from plastic surgery, you want to fix all and every part of your body, and when you do, you just won’t be you. You should be proud within. For example, Jocelyn Wildenstein was addicted to getting plastic surgery because her husband didn’t think she was attractive anymore, so she spent US$ 4 million on plastic surgery, and at the end, her appearance turned disgusting.

Also, plastic surgery can cause physical damage, which is one of the worst things that could happen during a plastic surgery. Since plastic surgeries are basically cutting, suctioning, or sewing, this can obviously cause blood loss, infection, and swelling. There are possibilities of death in these surgeries also. There are sensitive nerves all over your body, especially your face, so during the surgery, your organs, such as your nose or eyes, might lose it’s function, too. You will be taking a risk.

Plastic surgery is a wasteful, addictive and elitist practice. Those who are able to afford to get plastic surgery will become beautiful; on the outside. Beauty should be recognized in all its forms. Plastic surgery will remove our identity as everyone will look the same. Stop plastic surgery now before we live in a plastic world.

More People Should Be Vegetarian

More People Should be Vegetarian
by Nick Li

Imagine if people looked at you and said you are so strong and healthy! Well a vegetarian can make you like that! Although people believe that vegetarianism is unhealthy, and it is a difficult lifestyle, it actually benefits you because it is healthier, it can save the planet, and it is inexpensive.

Being a vegetarian is always healthy if you eat the right things. It is lower on the trans and the saturated, cholesterol, and BMI. Most vegetarians can live longer since they minimize their risk of their heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Another reason is that vegetables, fruits, and dairy contains vitamins such as vitamin D and B-12, proteins, calcium, and iron.
       
       The most important thing that is being a vegetarian can actually save the planet. Why is it important ? Well, because you are part of this planet. We need 78 calories of fossil to make only 1 calorie of beef, but only 1 calorie equals 1 calorie of soybean. As for our water, it takes 3-15 times the amount of water to produce animal proteins more than plants. The topsoil of Earth is really precious to us. When legumes are used more, the topsoil will become more efficient.

        If you lack money, being a vegetarian will save a lot of your money. Even though it is easy to prepare and there aren't many ingredients to add, you can do all sorts of fancy tricks if you learn about cooking  vegetarian meals. If you get a cookbook, watch TV shows, or even ask a real vegetarian what to eat, you will find yourself with high energies ar a cheap rate. Normally, a meat eater eats $14.65 a day, but a vegetarian eat $12.45 a day. It would be cheap when you buy food at a farm or grocery store.

        Being a vegetarian benefits you and the other living and non-living things around you. Although people believe vegetarianism damages your body and that one must eat plain things, but it actually helps you because it is more nutritious, it is good for the Earth and it is cheap and easy to prepare. Have you decided to be a vegetarian now?