Kinsley Jr./Sr. High School

Kinsley, Kansas

Teacher: Dr. Galen Boehme
 

The Construction of My Community

By: Bryon D. Brown

12^th grade

In order for me to be an active and constructive member of my community I must balance my spirit of individualism with serving others through worthy institutions.

The critical balance of individualism in my community is crucial for the community to prosper. Individualism is putting our own interests over the interests of others in the community. As shown in a video called “The Man Made Society,” a community cannot thrive if the members of the community are not willing to help the others in the community in a time of need. If a person needs help, the members of the community must rally together to help raise money and help for the individual or the family members. Whether the member is in their nuclear community, extended family, local community, or in the world as a community, members of the community must be willing to offer help to the person in need. For this job to be accomplished the members of the community must have a balance between individualism and the sense of commitment to their community. If an individual has too much individualism then he will only think of himself and think that he achieved where he is now without help so others should be able to help themselves. These kinds of individuals will be detrimental to a community and will become rugged individualists, likely offering no help or ways to better the community as a whole. In order for me to be a crucial part of a community I must feel involved in a community and be out among the people. I have witnessed many rugged individualists that do not care for others in any way and in reality are detrimental to themselves and society. A person cannot only focus on himself. He has to care for another individual to function in a community.

The most critical aspect of the balance of individualism and community is socialization. Without an opportunity for the members of the community to converse, the community will fall apart. These opportunities must be offered through local attractions and places of meeting for groups.  

Helping others in the community is also a critical aspect in the survival of a community. Helping others comes in many different ways. One of the most critical ways to keep the local community clean is by keeping local property clean and maintaining a respectable looking residence. In a community, a house that looks like an eyesore will be detrimental to the overall picture of a community. I help my community by cleaning and mowing my own lawn and picking up the trash around the house. I take pride that I help my community through my work. For a community to function, its members must also obey the laws of their local and national community. This function of a community member is a critical aspect because the smooth function of a community relies on the behavior of its members. The work of the members is also critical for the prospering of a community. Members of the local and nuclear community must hold down a steady job in order for them to support their families and remain a vital part of the community. It is critical that the members maintain steady employment to provide for their families’ well-being and education. Working on friendships is another way to help people within a community. The bond of friendship among members of a community is a major aspect of its survival. Without the development of friendship the community members will become [a number of] individuals [rather] than a bonded group of people.

A person must also help his or her community to survive by working in the community’s institutions. This goal can be achieved by volunteering in a community service. Whether that community is national or local, help is always needed.  Helping the local community by picking up trash or just recycling can be a critical aspect in its survival. A clean community will attract more people to it and allow the community to prosper. I have made my commitment to my local and world community by cleaning up road ditches in the summer. I have volunteered in my local church, serving for mass for the last five years. I have also contributed to the community by shoveling the sidewalks of the elderly or non-mobile people in the winter. Helping to mow the cemetery and lawns of the elderly in the local community is also one of my volunteering duties. Another way of making the local or peer community better is by being involved. I am involved in my local and peer community through attending school. I take pride in that I have only missed a total of five days of school within the past four years of my high school career. The school activities that I am involved in include basketball, football, and National Honor Society. These activities have helped me to become more involved with my peer community. I have made new friends by being involved with them. Social activities are also a critical aspect of my community. Even the local coffee shop goers are contributing to their community. They are using their local restaurants and contributing back to their community by spending their money there. Those who attend the town meetings are helping in the making of the critical decisions for their own community.

In conclusion, with the traits of balanced individualism, the service to others, and volunteering in various institutions, I aim to help my nuclear, local, national, and world community to grow and prosper.

Back