Well, this whole blogging thing lasted a long time...

We went to our neighbor's house for dinner tonight (the ones who moved into the house where I grew up with my best friends in) and I think I came close to dying of boredom.  Topics such as tearing down our old pool and what were going to do with that empty space, and the oil and gas business, and wheelchairs (yes wheelchairs), and numerous other things were discussed.  All of which are just topics that neighbors talk about even though they don't have the slightest care in the world if business is good or if our deck is going to stick out like a sore thumb.  Seriously, though, there were my parents and the two people who live in the house there..oh and me.  I think I spoke three sentences the entire time I was there.  I guess my parents still believe I should accompany to our neighborly visits and be the perfect kid : "seen and not heard". 

I can't wait to drive...

Community Service. Why do high school students do community service? Is it actually because they want to give back to their community or help those who are needy? The truth: No.  High school students do community service for those either few or plentiful sentences stamped onto their college resume that states that they volunteered their time for the betterment of the world (whether it was for the betterment of the world or not).  These days college is so hard to get into and anything and everything that sets you apart and says "I'm going to make your school better" helps to get you in.  Do I believe this is right? Absolutely not! Every person should want to give back and to help others not just do it for their own personal gain.

The truth of the matter is, however, that community service has been degraded lately, or at least the mentality behind it all.  There are probably a lot more students helping out, and the work may even be quality work, but the mentality has changed for the worse.  After all wasn't the reward for doing community service just the satisfaction that you helped someone who needed it?  Not college or moving yourself ahead of the rest of the college hungry pack. 

I hope to change this, at least for myself.  I want to do community service because I want to help others, because I want to do something for the betterment of the world, not because it will make me look like a better person.  I don't want to *look* like a better person - I want to be one.