miércoles, 5 de agosto de 2009

ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY FINAL ESSAY

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY?

Before starting this semester, when I went to pick up my schedule and saw the academic curriculum, I realized I had a subject called "Society and the role of the individual", it caught my attention especially because it was a subject in English and that language is difficult for me, but besides that I was curious, I didn’t know what we going to learn in that subject and supposed to be different concepts about social problems or something like this.

After our first class I realized more or less what it was approaching the subject. I think the goal was that we can see the reality of society where we live, what are the problems that afflict and what are the factors that influence to make that better or worse, etc. We saw also the characteristics of a society based on different stages (1. - Early childhood, 2.- Late childhood, 3.- Adolescence, 4.- Adulthood, 5.- Maturity), to locate in our part to work from there and continue to develop.

This subject encourages us to do social work, as this is the first step to make a change in society, they also gave us some tools (books, video, and speech) that provided us with some concepts and points of view that helped us to think and find meaning in the social work.

When the teacher told me to do social work, I felt worried and bothered me a bit, because I work and sometimes feel that time is very short, but despite that I looked for a place to do the job. I joined a friend and we went together to SOLCA, our main task was to share with children and be a kind of support for them, we did various activities to encourage them and make them smile. I feel good sharing with these children because they are children who need support from those around them also with his smile, his spontaneity and his affection cheer me on.

After taking this course, and do social work, I can better understand what is the role of the individual in society and I am able to live according to the role that falls to me. Many people have ideas of how society should be (peaceful, just, prosperous, and that there is equality), but few people turn their ideals into action for change. My role and the role of each person should be this, that is, working together, supporting each other and find ways to contribute for positive change. I know people my age who believe that for being young and inexperienced you can not change anything, however, I realized that you can start with small things, just need the will to do it and be aware that anything that you do or not do not only apply to you, it also affects others.

As our teacher said, at least in my case and for my friends, we have a great opportunity; we have a cognitive surplus that we must seize. Some people waste their free time on things that benefit no one and don’t bring anything good, such as watching television, sleeping, chatting, playing video games (in this group I was included before the class), but now I realize that instead of doing this kind of non-productive things we can take our time to help people who need us or in developing projects that benefit the progress of the community.

I also realized that no one should settle after making a few good actions, we must commit ourselves and be in a constant struggle to achieve real change and to be living examples that motivate others to act and be part of this progress. The goal is to achieve a more mature society.