Chain Reactions: A Reflection on my Community Outreach Program Experience

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There were ten apples and five persons. One out of the five persons got eight apples, leaving only two for the remaining four to eke out. Later, the one who got eight apples found out that five of the apples are already rotting. Needless to say, the apples were wasted, and have not been put to their proper use.

The story above is what I have recalled during the Basic Orientation Seminar. I got this very meaningful story from my high school Economics teacher. It may have been several years already but it stayed with me. Unequal distribution of resources in this world is an undeniable truth. Majority of the portions of these resources are in the hands of the rich ones. Sadly, majority of it is not utilized as well. That is, the fewest of the few have more than they need, while the residual majority is scraping and sharing the little that is left. It is such an unfair situation. Given the chance to have a super power that could change the world, I will definitely focus on this issue.

Then the chance came, but on a different scope and level. I went to Punta Tarawal to clean shores. It was indeed a very enriching experience. As I picked different kinds of garbage, I found myself imagining the story behind each of them. Thoughts of, “maybe the owner has accidentally dropped this shoe in the ocean and he was very upset after” or “maybe this trash came from a ship that sank many years ago” or “maybe this one came from Alaska” or “maybe this one was thrown deliberately to the ocean.” It was entertaining in a way. But my last assumption made me very sad, if not annoyed. Here I am picking other peoples’ trash when I’m not even throwing anything at the ocean or elsewhere except the garbage bins. 

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That is when I realized that what I do or what I will do has ripple effects. Be it a good one, say proper waste disposal; or, a bad one, say throwing garbage in the ocean. Ultimately, it would still feel good and right if the chain reaction is positively leading to another. So, I must ideally always choose to do the good one, and not choose to do those that would be on the expense of others.

Perhaps I am very fortunate to have been oriented with this kind of thinking. Spending college years in the Ateneo has made me realize things that are of value, not just for me but for others as well. I honestly do not have regrets as to my involvement with community development and outreaches. I believe I have had my fair share of them. But what I wish I had more is exposure to the ills of the society particularly of poverty, be it through seminars, talks and even through immersions. I mean, I wish I had been more participative with the ones being made available by the different formation offices of the university. I hope I could be more knowledgeable with this kind of stuff. As they say, being informed is the first step to being transformed.

Now as I’m near to leaving the confines of the university, I would definitely be carrying with me the thrust, “Men and Women for and with Others.” I am an aspiring Certifying Public Accountant and am intending to practice my profession as an Auditor. By means of that, I could be an agent of correct statement of taxable income. Consequently, the government could collect the right revenue that is due. Hopefully, they may use this revenue to for the development of social services that the constituents deserve. Hence, it’s their turn to play their roles in continuing on the positive chain reaction. No one can change the world alone.