Sage Hill School Stories: Service Learning

I thought this video was perfect in describing something that we could even implement at St. Joe. This high school basically set aside a Wednesday every month where they would go out and perform some act of community service. This fits in perfectly with my argument about spreading the dignity towards others. Setting aside one day here a whole school goes out and performs an act of service makes a paramount difference in the world. I believe that what this school is doing could be a potential starting point for achieving dignity for everyone.

Mount Saint Joe already has a quite expansive community service program, but if Catholic schools around the country began to do this it could make a huge difference. The amount of dignity and respect we could spread could be quite expansive and have a significant effect. Sage Hill has done this in a variety of ways already such as educating young children. And I believe if schools do this on a wider and even more productive scale, it has the potential to change the world.

Service: Why it is important as a life experience?

 

Community service is one of the most humbling things one can do in their life. Performing selfless acts of mercy for a people less fortunate than you is truly rewarding. Furthermore, it makes the people that are less fortunate feel respected and dignified.It is good for our own human dignity because it gives us the feeling that we are trusted enough to do this work for others. It enhances one's character and personal experiences when doing this community service. The exposure to such work is an unforgettable action. 

The real benefit of performing community service is for the dignity of others. Making someone feel as if they matter is an invaluable gift. And in turn, maybe that person will begin to treat others with more dignity too. It is a huge chain reaction, and it all starts with one person: you. If you begin to treat others with more dignity, they will, hopefully, do the same. And ultimately, the world could potentially be a much better place, where people are respected for who they are, not what they have done.

My service and the effect on the Common Good

There are sacrifices that must be made in order to ensure dignity for all. Although the goal to treat everyone with dignity is slightly outrageous, there is no harm in trying to. In order to work towards dignity for all, we must stay united. We must attempt to make everyone feel just as important and respected as the next guy. That is the key component  for achieving dignity: making everyone feel like they are important and respected as such.  Respect is a trait that is difficult to give. That is the sacrifice, attempting to give people that maybe do not even deserve it, respect. That is the first of many steps to a more dignified world.

This may sound all good in theory, but it has to be put into action. This can be done through everyday activities performed at Mount Saint Joeseph. Holding the door for someone, complimenting them, and other simple things all work toward a society where everyone is treated with the dignity they deserve. And hopefully, this society can eventually be achieved through sacrifice and hard work. And remember, let all the actions you put towards this cause revolve around respect, and the fact that everyone deserves it.

                                         

 

Human Dignity at My Brothers Keeper

 

Human Dignity in in its most simple form: MBK

My agency, My Brothers Keeper, not only exemplifies this concept of human dignity, but take pride in doing so. Many people that come into My Brothers Keeper have messed up in their life and maybe got involved with some bad things. But that does not at all affect how we treat them at the agency. They are given just as much respect as they would to anyone else. I felt blessed being able to experience this firsthand. The people working at My Brothers Keeper are some of the most caring people I have ever met.

What I found to be Human Dignity was displayed in its simplest form: genuine conversation. Just talking with people and discussing everyday things I believe represents human dignity. Having conversation with someone implies that one respects them enough to hear what they have to say. I have had numerous conversations with guests at My Brothers Keeper and all have been enjoyable. And I am not the only one doing this, everyone at MBK does it. It is something that makes that agency unique, that they connect with their guest through conversation. And overall, My Brothers Keeper promoted human dignity through the respect they gave to their guests, and everyday conversation.