Iola High School
Iola, Kansas
Teacher:  Loretta Arnold

Community in Our Lives
By Christy Cheung
12^th Grade
 

Being able to laugh with friends.  Cheering for a team with a crowd of strangers.  Making a new friend.  On days we think our lives cannot get any worse, these are some of the things that keep us going.  Learning and caring are the essential elements that make our world or, better yet, our community.

At the age of ten, I experienced a new country.  I got to see the Great Wall of China, taste the most exotic foods, and truly grasp a sense of my heritage.  My experience was full of great memories, but just like any country, China has its downfalls.  I was exposed to a degree of poverty that I’ve never seen: I saw a “beggar” for the first time.  Being young and naïve, the image fit perfectly to what I saw crouching on the side-street: an old lady, possessing nothing of greater value than the small bowl of hope she held each day. 

Last summer, I had the privilege to return.  I was still intrigued by this beautiful country.  Of course, I saw my share of homeless begging for money, but I felt much more bothered by the sight of it.  I gave money to many, but it seemed never enough. 

In a busy shopping-strip, I was amazed by the crowds.  It seemed as though the town was more awake than in the morning.  I remember standing at the sidewalk waiting for the crosswalk light to change.  While waiting, I noticed an old lady, who seemed to be quite content, sitting on the corner begging for money.  I caught her eyes when she saw me digging in my pockets for some spare money.  Unable to find some spare coins, before the light changed, she just nodded and smiled at me.  I gave a quick grin back and crossed the street.

Arriving back [at] our hotel, I remembered the old lady.  It suddenly hit me: maybe the lady just wanted a little attention.  The smile she showed was just as kind and gratifying, if not more, as all the other people I gave money to.  I wondered how many people walked past that lady and never as so much give her a quick glance.  These “beggars” wanted something much more than money.  Something we often take for granted—affection. 

Seeing those living on the side-street opened my mind to the true meaning of “beggars can not be choosers.”  I know the world oftentimes seems cruel, but underneath there is hope.  That street lady taught me that people need people.   People need community.  We all have things we wish for, a new car or new clothes, but without others to share with, there would be no point in having any of it.  The compassion and connection – the community – between people is what keeps our world spinning.

Whether a person is born into a country or chooses to move, he takes pride in where he lives.  A person’s country is just like his home, except filled with more people.   There is a bond that exists, a bond that can never be broken.  Although, conflicts and hostile situations arise, the chain of a country never fully breaks.  After September 11^th, our country really started to understand national community.  People showed sympathy, gave a hand in need, and truly took pride in saying, “I am an American.”

Local community is when connections become personal.  For a majority, our local community is where we experience first friendships and first moments of happiness and sorrow—it’s our beginning world.  When I think about home, the images are the meaningful moments shared with friends and family.  The deep sense of belonging when we drive back into town, the delight in bumping into old friends or the warm feeling from seeing close friends -- these are the experiences of a community. 

Friendship is much like the love we show families.  There are times of frustration but underneath, there is love and happiness.   The feeling of security that one receives from a community is noticed through friendship.  A friend accepts us and is willing to help through the toughest times.  The companionship we build is what brings joy and excitement into our lives.  It is what makes waking up worthwhile.

Friends and family have much in common, except for one thing— family is first friends.  The moment a child is born, he has no best friend; no knowledge of the world, all he knows is mother and father.  Parents understand their children better than [anyone else], because they are connected to the child.  Parents accept their children for who they are.  Parents give motivation to respect others, to find love and friendship, and to seek happiness. 

Even though the relationship between extended family is usually not as intimate, [these family members] still play a part.  Family is family.  [Families] are there when you need them and they show sympathy and care.  I remember the first time I met one of my cousins from a different country.  Even though we knew nothing about each other, it did not take more than a couple of hours for us to open up.  Within a day, we had created an unbreakable bond. 

In the end, the deepest and most personal type of community is ancestral.  People [today] would not exist if [they] weren’t…descendents.  Ancestors are the roots — the identity in people.  It’s amazing to wonder how much our own lives will affect our [descendents].  We’re [the ancestors] – the roots of the future!

Communities can be found in almost everything.  Being involved with sports is a type of community that has played a significant part in my life.  My sport teams remind me of family and friends; every athlete shows support and care.  Although we are different, people thrive for the same purpose, the same goal.

Without communities [the] world [as I know it] would not exist.  Love, companionship, happiness—these are…the basics.  As long as people keep caring, communities will grow.  It never ends, until we end.

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