Contributing To The Community...
Call me lazy but I have never been one to volunteer for work besides the minimum of what was expected of me. During school days, I would be either studying or attending tuition (Nerd Gila!) instead of participating in extra-curricular activities in an office-bearer position like my more 'sociable' friends.
During my undergraduate college days, I would be among those who only came to college for classes and assignments not sticking around for any college organized activities. The cycle is repeating itself at my present postgraduate college life where I find myself avoiding invitations for college organized trips and formal dinners.
I guess the simplest reason behind my hesitance to undertake more responsibility is I felt that I had already enough responsibilities both at work and at home. I certainly did not need anymore 'unnecessary' stress in the form of actively organizing events as would be required if I held any position on the committee.
Looking back at my life, I wonder what exactly I missed out on...
My dad is the Vice-President of the local Residents Association. On top of that he is also the chief editor of the newsletter published by the Residents Association 3-4 times a year and has been in that position for almost 10 years already.
During the few weeks leading to the publication of each issue, he would stay up to the wee hours of the morning painstakingly compiling all the articles and advertorials for the newsletter. He also is personally responsible for printing of the newsletter as well as distribution to all the households in my local neighborhood.
More often that not, its a thankless job. Due to the non-profit nature of the Residents Association, financial reward should not be expected. Never mind that, the actual percentage of readership among the local residents is also extremely low. Most of the time, the newsletter would get thrown into the rubbish together with the junk mail.
Nevertheless, my dad still insists on upholding this responsibility of maintaining the newsletter. I have often found it peculiar that he would still persevere given the relatively low amount of positive feedback he has received.
Perhaps the reasoning behind him continuing to sacrifice his time and energy into this is the satisfaction of being able to contribute to the local community that my family has called home for the last 20 years. Or it could be pride in his desktop publishing skills believing that no one else could ever do the job as well as him. (No one else has ever volunteered, apparently)
Regardless, his involvement in the Residents Association does have its own share of perks. Due to his communication with the local businesses for advertising as well as his participation in the event organization, he is quite familiar with most of the local residents as well as the local authorities.
I wonder whether I'll ever be in a position where the local police officer greets me when I'm passing by or a shopkeeper waving at me upon seeing my car drive by.
Perhaps I too should start to make a contribution back to the community...
During my undergraduate college days, I would be among those who only came to college for classes and assignments not sticking around for any college organized activities. The cycle is repeating itself at my present postgraduate college life where I find myself avoiding invitations for college organized trips and formal dinners.
I guess the simplest reason behind my hesitance to undertake more responsibility is I felt that I had already enough responsibilities both at work and at home. I certainly did not need anymore 'unnecessary' stress in the form of actively organizing events as would be required if I held any position on the committee.
Looking back at my life, I wonder what exactly I missed out on...
My dad is the Vice-President of the local Residents Association. On top of that he is also the chief editor of the newsletter published by the Residents Association 3-4 times a year and has been in that position for almost 10 years already.
During the few weeks leading to the publication of each issue, he would stay up to the wee hours of the morning painstakingly compiling all the articles and advertorials for the newsletter. He also is personally responsible for printing of the newsletter as well as distribution to all the households in my local neighborhood.
More often that not, its a thankless job. Due to the non-profit nature of the Residents Association, financial reward should not be expected. Never mind that, the actual percentage of readership among the local residents is also extremely low. Most of the time, the newsletter would get thrown into the rubbish together with the junk mail.
Nevertheless, my dad still insists on upholding this responsibility of maintaining the newsletter. I have often found it peculiar that he would still persevere given the relatively low amount of positive feedback he has received.
Perhaps the reasoning behind him continuing to sacrifice his time and energy into this is the satisfaction of being able to contribute to the local community that my family has called home for the last 20 years. Or it could be pride in his desktop publishing skills believing that no one else could ever do the job as well as him. (No one else has ever volunteered, apparently)
Regardless, his involvement in the Residents Association does have its own share of perks. Due to his communication with the local businesses for advertising as well as his participation in the event organization, he is quite familiar with most of the local residents as well as the local authorities.
I wonder whether I'll ever be in a position where the local police officer greets me when I'm passing by or a shopkeeper waving at me upon seeing my car drive by.
Perhaps I too should start to make a contribution back to the community...
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