HERE YOU are, a student at one of the greatest universities in the country, in a town steeped in tradition and Southern charm. Some of you are beginning your first year -- some of you have one year left. By virtue of your acceptance to this school, one can assume you have not only brains but the ambition to actually capitalize on your intelligence and talents. Before students begin plotting world domination, or at least joining a club or two, they should make a commitment to help foster a more benevolent community.
If students think this is a pipe dream, the Pay it Forward Foundation begs to differ. Created in 2000 by the author of the book with the same title, this organization encourages young people to pursue their dreams and tackle what they see as community problems. This organization has already provided grants to hundreds of student activists around the world, from the United States to Australia.
Too often young people doggedly chase after the dangling carrot of success that they forget to give back. "Paying it forward" does something desperately needed in this complex, bureaucratic world. It reinforces the idea that an individual can have a real impact. University students who head major student organizations are often already disillusioned about making a difference. They grow cynical and steadily compromise with their dreams, making them a little more realistic, a little more practical.
"Paying it forward" challenges young people to declare their belief in an idea by actively pursuing its realization. If you have a problem with seeing so many homeless people in Charlottesville, do something about it. If you worry about the environment, organize a recycling system for your dorm or apartment. Find like-minded students and work with the local government to raise environment awareness.
Many organizations at the University coordinate hundreds of students to do volunteer work for Charlottesville. Madison House offers interested University students a conduit for "paying it forward," whether it be by adopting a grandparent, coaching a local soccer team, volunteering at a free clinic, or mentoring at-risk kids. If every student at the University pledged an hour or two to one of these programs, Charlottesville would be blown away.
Making one person's load a little lighter is a noble endeavor, but students can catalyze even greater change. The Living Wage Campaign, after years of failed negotiations with University administrators, brought national attention to their issue by having 17 students sit in Madison Hall. The Washington Post even wrote articles about the controversy this created at Mr. Jefferson's University. On the other side of the political spectrum, a group of conservative University women decided they felt unrepresented on Grounds, so they founded the Network of Enlightened Women (NeW) for young women with traditional beliefs. This club has inspired women at other universities around the country to found their own chapters. Regardless of one's opinion on issues, a certain respect is due to those who put their beliefs into action.
The problem for many civic minded first years is that they don't even know where to start or they don't want to venture into the unknown territories of Charlottesville. But there are great philanthropic opportunities beyond the Corner. The new First Year Council should work with the presidents of each first year dorm to coordinate volunteer activities, such as bus rides to elderly communities to do yard work. Not only would this be a great relief to those homebound, but first years would have a chance to make friends outside of their halls.
Older University students mock the new first years, specifically, the ones who proudly proclaim their plans to become president of Student Council, join a sorority, mentor, double major, start a protest. Perhaps we cynical older students should be a little more like these wide-eyed freshmen. As Margaret Mead once reflected, "a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Marta Cook is a Cavalier Daily Opinion columnist. She can be reached at mcook@cavalierdaily.com.
column appears Fridays in The Cavalier Daily.)
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