"THISJUSTIN"

Community- Citizenship

"But ‘citizenship,’ in the context of the model, means much more than mere membership; rather it implies active engagement of the individual (and the leadership group) in an effort to serve that community, as well as a ‘citizen’s mind’ – a set of values and beliefs that connects an individual in a responsible manner to others."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was in high school, many students referred to my town as the "bubble."  We weren't exposed to much of the complexity and dangers of the world around us and we were limited to the family, friends, and community that we were seeing.  I never realized that I could make a mark in this huge world we live in and didn't know that I had the power to change people's lives.  Coming to Virginia Tech has allowed me to see that citizenship is so much more than just being part of a community.  It is being active in the community, being present and helping others that need your assistance, and understanding the fundamentals characteristics of how your community works.  Our school motto in itself shows that Virginia Tech is devoated and dedicated to serving the community and connecting our individual beliefs and values to the entire univeristy as a whole.  My first semester here I saw how much of a difference that I can make to our community by being dedicated and empathetic towards the community and students around me.  Since that semester, I have started a Penny Jar with the quote, "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."  This bucket has allowed me to put pennies in the jar whenever I do something that makes a difference to an individual, the community, or the world.  I have also put pennies in the jar when somebody changed my life, I went to a life altering event, or I saw the impact that Virginia Tech has on me.  With four years passing, I have $25.46 in my jar.  Although in the grand scheme that does not seem like a ton of money, it represents 2,546 memories and experiences that have allowed me to see what citizenship really means.  I have been able to empathize with my surrounding community members and professors to see that events aren't always what they appear on the outside.  I have been able to help people connect themselves to the community and make a difference in ways they never thought they could.  This jar has shown me my passion for serving others and my desire to make this world a better place.  When I graduate, this $25.46 will be my first donation to Virginia Tech as an alumni for the April 16th memorial.  All of these memories and changes that I have been able to make here at Virginia Tech have been made in honor of the 32 victims whose lives were lost on April 16th.  Although that was an horrific and heart breaking day, it has brought Virginia Tech together in ways I could never imagine.  Over the years, Blacksburg has remained a strong unit and we band together to remember and live for the lives lost and affected on that day.  I am unbelievably proud to be part of the Hokie Nation and a community that always gives back, bands together, and prevails.  

 

 

In the future, I can use the vast power I hve of being a Virginia Tech graduate to change the world and invent the future.  I can strive to live out our school motto, Ut Prosim, in every aspect of my life and have the courage and boldness to find potential solutions to social issues in my communities. 

 

 

"The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved."