I Also Have Dreams

The beginning of each year, when gym memberships skyrocket and there are resolutions aplenty, can be a perfect time for any person to make positive changes for themselves and others — if the talk is followed by the walk, that is. After a tumultuous couple of years filled with violence, injustice, and, of course, a still-lingering pandemic, now is as good a time as any for widespread compassion to shine at its brightest. And it can be as simple as holding a door for someone or saying “bless you” when someone sneezes. I try to do these things on a daily basis, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because you might have made someone’s day just a little bit better. Maybe the person was having a horrible day. Maybe the person has arthritis and had trouble opening doors. Whatever the case may be, the amount of humaneness and inclusivity are two crucial components of life that have been dwindling for quite some time now. This is where I come in.

First, I would like to take the necessary steps toward getting involved in a local charity. Eventually, I would like to start one of my own. I am a big supporter of education, especially early education, and while I am aware that this is a problem almost everywhere, there are several areas (poor areas, if you will) in the state I reside in that are lucky to receive donations or hand-me-downs of school supplies occasionally. This, in turn, causes lower test scores, attendance, and overall lack of motivation amongst the students. When compared to “higher class” schools around the state, these others are barely on the map.

I understand how large of a task this is, and that it is something that cannot be fixed overnight, however, given the few charities that already exist and focus primarily on education, my goal is to get my foot in the door, learn, and see what I can do to help. And maybe one day I’ll be able to start one of my own. The fact that test scores are well below where they should be, and that a decent percentage of kids are reading at grade levels that they’ve already completed is a problem. Don’t get me wrong, the pandemic, quarantine, and classrooms going primarily online (and most remaining that way) have made it extremely difficult for education to get back on track. While it will probably never be entirely the same again, there are still steps that can be taken to ensure that kids have the proper academic resources — and I’d like to be a part of that solution. I have taken one step toward this category by linking my Amazon account to make donations to Worldreader, which is a nonprofit organization that provides people in developing countries free access to digital and e-books. Small, I know, but you must start somewhere.

Another affair I’d wish to tackle this year is helping people struggling with addiction — even if it’s just one person. I have struggled with alcoholism for years and it has been arguably the most difficult thing that I’ve ever dealt with. This one is a bit tricky since there are multiple requirements to speak at recovery centers and such — you must have an extensive amount of time sober, which I do not have yet. However, between speaking at meetings and telling my story, or reaching out to some of the people that I’m acquainted with, and that I know are struggling but don’t know where to start, I believe that I could at least provide some insight. Maybe even someone something to consider. The steps here would be significantly smaller than the ones in my previous goal but, like I said, if I could help just one person by sharing my story, then the next time it could be two, then three, and so on. But to know that I was able to help one person in need, would mean that I’ve helped push society one step in the right direction. And by getting involved in this particular category, there is so much potential to reach more and more people as time goes on.

These goals are large, but they are feasible. They are comparable to starting at the bottom of a company and working your way up; the only difference is that I would be doing my part to reinstate kindness and inclusivity into some part of a community. Some part of the world. And I think Dr. King would admire that.