MIAD Bridge by Ryan Travers

MIAD

BRIDGE

the human connection

Every Separation is a Link Time 2 Define What We Value MIAD BRIDGE

Letter from the Editor To be something and contribute to something greater than yourself. That’s what I hope while reading through this magazine you are inspired to be and do; at least that’s what the people who only glance at the first few words of this letter from the editor will think. What I really want this magazine to do is make you think and if lucky enough maybe it will make you act as well. This magazine is based around service, to be more specific, the service that others have experienced while taking a Service Learning course at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. This magazine looks into what some students have defined service as and also encourages you, the reader, to experience some of these as well. So back to my original statement, I hope this magazine and it’s articles make you think; not only about what service is but what value if any does it hold, why is it so important and what pushes us to commit so many hours and efforts into helping others. It’s been defined in this magazine as a human connection, empathy towards your fellow man. It’s kind of a wonderful thing to think that no matter the junk and greed that fills up our world we all share a common experience of needing each other and follow through by helping each other out when that need arises. It may be a bit of a cliché but the song Lean on Me by Bill Withers holds some great truths and really supports the emphasis of this magazine. We all are humans and struggle to get through this life by as little resistance as possible, and this knowledge and experience of going through the same struggles allows us to put ourselves in other’s shoes and react in such a way that makes their journey a bit more bearable. Like a team helping each other out and working together to reach the same goal, we humans help each other out to make others life’s better. Enjoy.

Ryan S. Travers

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T.O.C. Table of Contents 5

Every Separation is a Link

This article, by Isabel Kent, highlights the theme of the magazine, talking about how humans are connected on a scale deeper than just being human. What connects us on that deeper scale and how we all utilize our own experiences to connect with others around us.

Time 2 Define

Time 2 Define features a varying array of the definitions of service. She explains what it means to herself, her mother, and younger brother, each view is slightly different and adds to the complexity of what it means to connect to another human.

What We Value

Values seem to change thourghout generations, and others seem to passed down through them. Where does service fit into our world today and how are people keeping their connections with other humans in a world growing technology and fewer human interactions.

Team Effort

Self-Reflection

Interview

Find out the great things that your team can do to help out your communtiy, hear about others experience in service, and how service has benefitted the team as a whole.

Take a closer look at yourself, who are you, what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re made of; and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; re not talking just skin, bones and muscle. Learn about ways to better yourself and your community.

A personal interview with Dane Travers, a highschool student getting ready to jump into the college world. Read about his views on service, community, and values.

11 22

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Team Effort Winning on and off the field There are a lot of ways out there to serve others, and with so many people being out there to serve it just makes sense to have a good amount of people to serve them. So why go it alone? Who said service canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be fun? If hanging out with your friends and teammates is your idea of a fun time why not get them all together and help change the world while you do it, chances are your friends are going to have as much fun as you will.

photograph courtesy of www.ryanchaffin.com

Need some service Ideas? Here are a few that will make a difference and be fun.

Organize a Home Run Derby or Slam Dunk Contest: Plan to spend one afternoon to gather the team and run your own Home Run Derby or Slam Dunk Contest. Decide what organization will be the recipient of the monies collected. Then let your team members solicit friends, family and neighbors to commit a certain monetary amount for each homerun hit or slam dunk made by your team members. Advertise your event in the local paper. Sell snacks and drinks that are donated by the booster families and donate those proceeds too. It is an easy event to plan and is fun for young and old alike. Make sure after the event that you publicize the amount donated to the organization.

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Run a Food, Toy or Coat Drive: These are great for that big game where you are assured a lot of fans. Publicize your drive and ask all the fans to donate the specified item at the door of the game. Then you and your teammates meet to sort, package and deliver the items to the specified charity.

Spend Time with Sick Children: Have your teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booster club donate small sized stuffed animals of your school or team mascot. Get all the players together and wrap, ribbon and tag the small gifts for a local childrens hospital ward. Then get the team together to go over and deliver the little mascots. The children will love the toys and enjoy spending some time with you an your teammates. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be shy about asking for donations, you may find a local business that is willing to be a corporate sponsor and donate the toys. Just make sure that you give the company credit in any press releases or publicity.

Set up a Team Car Wash: This is a fun and easy way to parttake in community service. These are sometimes done as team fundraisers; but organize one and donate the proceeds. Sell tickets in advance as well as at the event. Mark on the tickets who the charity recipient will be or see if you can get the car wash to be held on the site of the charity.

written and photographed by Ryan Travers

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‘‘Every separat Step back and look at the world. It’s such a strange thing, and incredible and beautiful, but rolling across that great sphere is also turmoil. Much of existence, perceived through the eyes of a human, is sorrow and violence, manifesting itself in multitudes of particular guises - war, poverty, famine, prejudice, crime, etc. But we’re stuck here. So, for the sake of being here, of living, how do we make it better? How do we go about diminishing these problems? Where can we possibly start? Underlying most of them, when the complications and differences are for the moment, stripped away, is something simple. For whatever reason, amidst the accumulated confusion of contemporary human life, we fall into the denial or hatred of another human being. We know that humans are at once imperfect and magnificent. What is difficult is accepting the imperfect as inevitable, and forgiving it in ourselves so that we can forgive it in others. There is so much sameness, if we decide to become aware of it. Our genetic code, which means our basic anatomical structure, which means our physiological functions, are fundamentally identical. We have the capacity to empathize with one another, and we need to use this.

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What I am saying is obviously nothing new. But the fact that it has survived thus far in the course of human civilization only serves to testify to its solidarity. It is simple, but I think it has profound implications. In all the world’s major religions, the basic tenet, the “Golden Rule,” is the same. We should “Do unto others what we would have done unto us.” Although this is drawn from religion and may seem idealistic, it’s tenets are at base, human, and extend to the nature of our experience in everyday life. For example, how can we expect others to have respect for our own views if we do not respect theirs? And how can we expect to get anything out of a conversation if we don’t try to understand what the other person is trying to get across? A sense of , as current research in neuroscience and psychology is finding, really does permeate our lives. Without having to will a conscious decision, we register the body language and facial expressions of those around us. We are able to base this in our own experience and realize the analogous intentions behind the behavior of others.

We have the capacity to empathize with one another, and we need to use this.

ion...

So what happens when empathy ceases to function? On an individual scale, this can be a major component of closed-mindedness, arguments, and physical fights. Cases in point are bullying, whether at school or over the internet, domestic violence, and gang violence. Among larger groups this is exhibited in similar ways, largely as prejudice against, and mistreatment and/or suppression of, another people. Extreme cases are genocide and war. Can’t these be seen as large-scale manifestations of the inability to take another’s perspective? I don’t mean to oversimplify these grand issues. There are certainly various other complications that come into play. Many of these complications, however, could be explained as themselves arising partially as a consequence of lack of understanding between people. Circumstances like these coalesce and build upon each other, eventually forming one mass conflict, which then leads to further atrocities.

is a link’’

Simone Weil

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A clash occurs when we see an individual or group as other than ourselves, that we disagree with so fervently that it appears foreign enough to be designated as wrong or even evil. To protect ourselves we often feel the need to do something to suppress that other. If these notions push further into action, physical harm is done. The thoughts themselves however, are already silently germinating this view of the world. In turn, this obviously impacts the deeds one carries out. If one continues this way unawares, the effects will only multiply. But the human brain is malleable (Boroditsky 6). Biases can be turned around if they are brought to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention. The problem is that maybe reminders are not prevalent in our everyday lives. We may see images of war on the news, but this is perhaps not specific enough. We still watch through our own tinted lenses, maybe as a proponent of one or the other of the conflicting sides. What should be emphasized is the nature of the core disagreement, how and why it exists, perhaps that it should not exist, and what the resolution may be. We also need to be made more aware of our own slant and the perspective we are missing in our repertoire. Once we can see all involved outlooks more holistically, we notice their inherent sameness, and the ensuing ridiculousness of antagonism. To illustrate a concrete example of a social issue involving the inability to take on another perspective, consider the rift between the wealthiest and poorest classes in the United States. My estimation is that much of the very wealthy are so adapted to their way of living that they are not aware of the vast struggles of the impoverished. They must know that the poor do in fact exist, but they cannot put themselves in that situation, because they have never been there and do not relate to it experientially, and they also probably feel no reason to make attempts to do so. They are so comfortable where they are. Whatever charities may be goading them to donate are just an annoyance. The thought of taking on the vantage of the poor does not cross their mind, at least not with any great urgency. And frankly, it would just be too much effort. But if something were to make them, imagine the impact it could have. If the wealthy were made to live like the poor, or to just experience a small part of such a life, perhaps they would realize how awful it can be. To know that they personally would not want to be in a position of poverty may be enough for them to conclude that since there are other humans that are in that place, they need to be helped. The prior example becomes an issue of human rights. Throughout the world, the poor lack many basic entitlements of life because they are bound by their circumstances. In extreme

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conditions, there is lack of adequate shelter and nourishment to even stay alive. When the pressure of mortality is so present, anything beyond the necessities of life must seem frivolous. Furthermore, although it varies depending on the specific location, opportunities in jobs, education, and all areas of life, are in scarce supply. Law and justice may be seen as concepts created for the purpose of treating all equally in discernment of right or wrong action, in protecting individuals from mistreatment, and overall, to keep human society as a whole in order and running smoothly. But they are also founded on an emotional groundwork. Humans are innately social, require contact with others for health and well-being, and have built society based on the ability to operate in a network. For this to function properly, cooperation between people is essential. And in order for this to occur, we need to at least have respect for the views of others. This is not to say that it will be perfect. Dilemmas will inevitably arise. The paradox is that once we acknowledge human

...the human brain is malleable. imperfection, the dilemmas are much less common. Throughout this entire process, empathy aids us. In 2009, President Obama propounded the qualifications he deemed necessary for successors to the Supreme Court. He included everything one might expect: extensive legal experience, a spotless ethical record, and dedication to the rule of law (Garrett 1). However, Obama also added empathy. He stated,

will seek someone who understands that justice isn’t about some ‘‘Iabstract legal theory or footnote in a casebook; it is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives, whether they can make a living and care for their families, whether they feel safe in their homes and welcome in their own nation. I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people’s hopes and struggles, as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes.

’’

When a predicament comes to the fore, empathy helps us determine a just solution. Yes, we do have to rely on written law as a solid standard, but we also must be considerate of the circumstances under which the individuals involved acted. Maybe someone acted wrongly, did something that is illegal, but maybe it was because they were facing such plight, that for them at that time, it was the best decision. We need to be understanding of this. A person who may endanger others cannot be dismissed, but they also cannot be punished for being human. In all cases, beyond categorization of wronged and wrong-doer, and because all of us are really both, we need to be able to see an individual’s suffering and act out of compassion in an effort to correct it. This in

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itself serves to connect. In it is a realization that we are all human and that we all share the same life. The nature of how we view and interact with others has directed culture, politics, economics, and human society as a whole, which also extends to our impact on the environment. All of these things provide us with a striking image of how we participate in and create our world. This web of interrelationships has biological foundations, into which current studies surrounding the nature of the human nervous system have brought new insights. A region toward the front of the brain called the medial prefrontal cortex, or MPFC, activates when we are pondering our own feelings, but also when we are thinking about or observing those same feelings in another (Boroditsky 5). More specifically, a class of cells called mirror neurons, which are located in various areas of the brain, have been found to direct our ability to read not only another person’s actions, but also the intentions and emotions behind them. In an interview with the New York Times, Dr. Giacomo Rizzolatti, a neuroscientist at the University of Parma credited with some of the first research of these structures in the 1990’s, was quoted in saying,

‘‘

Here is very real evidence of just how connected we are. In a sense we can simultaneously experience the thoughts and actions of another. This also poses the intimate connectivity of thought, action, and language. These cells fire when one performs an action, sees We are exquisitely social creatures. Our survival another carrying out that depends on understanding the actions, intentions, and action, hears it happening, emotions of others. Mirror neurons allow us to grasp the says the word for that action, minds of others not through conceptual reasoning but or hears that word (Blakeslee 1). Mirror neurons can be seen through direct simulation. as the meeting place of these different avenues, which all allow for understanding between people, and are essentially linked as a means of communication whose framework is emotional.

’’

It is also important to note that social emotions like shame, pride, embarrassment, and so on, are centered in a uniquely human mirror neuron system in a brain region called the insula. In a study conducted by Dr. Christian Keysers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, it was found that when people watched a hand go to caress someone and then saw another hand push it away, this region registered the pain of rejection. Moreover, he noted that humiliation appeared to be “mapped in the brain by the same mechanisms that encode real physical pain” (Blakeslee 3). This just goes to show us that when someone is suffering from emotional trauma, they are also really ailing from physical distress.

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Blakeslee, Sandra. “Cells That Read Minds.” The New York Times. The New York Times Co. 10 Jan. 2006. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. Boroditsky, Lera. “Empathy and Other Mysteries.” American Scholar. 80.1 (2011): 44-52. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 Apr. 2011. Garret, Major. “Obama Pushes for ‘Empathetic’ Supreme Court Justices.” FoxNews.com. Fox News Network, LLC. 1 May 2009. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

Medial Prefrontal Cortex:

An area of the brain that we use to control our cognitive behaviors, personality expression, and moderating correct social behavior.

Mirror Neurons:

A mechanism we humans have in our brains that we use to show and understand behavior.

Insula:

A part of the brain where social emotions are centered.

When mirror neurons malfunction, an emotional level of communication ceases to occur. It is now thought that this is a major cause of Autism and Aspberger’s disease. Autistic individuals are often cited as sort of living in their own world, or being highly antisocial. It could be that the neural basis of social abilities is lacking, and they therefore are significantly unable to relate to other people. Studies show that these individuals can identify an emotional facial expression, and even imitate it, but they do not feel its emotional significance (Blakeslee 2). A similar effect is seen in individuals with Aspberger’s, who are unable to read facial expressions and vocal inflections, recognize sarcasm, and also cannot understand figurative language. They interpret everything logically and literally. For individuals with either disorder, everyday life is made extremely difficult simply because they cannot adequately relate socially and emotionally to other people. The importance of empathy is apparent. It lends us the competence to recognize that other viewpoints must be just as valid as our own. Scientific research has provided us with more clues as to how and why this phenomenon operates, and has given us greater insight into how incredible this biological capacity truly is. The complexity and social grounding of our empathy is something uniquely human. It lies behind much of our daily decisions and behavior, and is one of the key components of how we have developed as a society. Truly, it needs to exist for us to exist. All of this serves to remind us of empathy’s profundity. But what teaches us most is the face-to-face encounter in which we share a real and fathomless humanness with another.

Isabel Kent

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Self-Reflection Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in a brain?

Motor Skills

Taste

Physical Speaking

Touch

Audiotory

Language

Anatomy of Human Science | Area Important In Brain Processes Emotion August 17th, 2011

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Infographic designed by: Ryan Travers

What it all means: Area of brain that is active during specific function. Text

Function that is occuring.

Your brain works hard to help understand your fellow person - no matter how different they may be.

Judgement & Behavior

According to a new study from the University of Southern California, even failing to possess a full complement of limbs will not stop your brain from understanding what it is like for someone else to experience pain in one of them. It may, however, change the way your brain does so. In a paper published online by Cerebral Cortex, USC researcher Lisa Aziz-Zadeh furthered her ongoing work in mapping out the way the brain generates empathy, even for those who differ physically from themselves.

Visual Recognition

According to Aziz-Zadehâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s findings, empathy for someone to whom you can directly relate - for example, because that person is experiencing pain in a limb that you possess - is mostly generated by the intuitive, sensory-motor parts of the brain. However, empathy for someone to whom you cannot directly relate relies more on the rationalizing part of the brain. Though they are engaged to differing degrees depending on the circumstance, it appears that both the intuitive and rationalizing parts of the brain work in tandem to create the sensation of empathy, said Aziz-Zadeh, assistant professor at the Brain and Creativity Institute and the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. USC News | USC Researchers Explore the Source of Empathy in the Brain - Robert Perkins July 18, 2011

Memory

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HELPING OTHERS CAN LEAD TO BETTER THINGS FOR YOURSELF Article by Isabel Kent | Illustrations by Josh Jensen

Life is not simply lived for one’s self. One is always aiming for something, propelled by one’s own inertia, but is also subject to force exerted from the outside. From another perspective, one may ask, are these two apparently disparate forces actually one and the same? In this sense, one’s entire life is comprised of service. One may do something to achieve one’s own ends, but it could also be of help to others. Or, helping others may in the end lead to a greater sense of wellbeing in one’s self. Put more simply, service involves helping people, or acting to benefit something other than only one’s self. This is crucial to life because we are not autonomous beings, but rather are connected to everything around us. If our surroundings are in an ill state, it affects us, and the cycle continues. More specifically, there are those who truly cannot support themselves, and so service to them is crucial to life. Karma- what goes around comes around. Also, having emotional, engaging relationships with others is crucial to human happiness. The description I have given of service does not differ significantly from those I’ve come across elsewhere, including those of the individuals I’ve interviewed. Each stated that essentially, service is another word for helping, or that its result is the betterment of something else. If interpreted in more conven-

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tional terms, however, the word’s use has a more specific connotation. One who volunteers time and effort, that is, without pay/reciprocation, at an organization, is a familiar example. According to this definition and even so, just barely making it in, the only service in which I have participated has involved playing my violin at fairs, festivals, and organizations. People listened to the music I produced and most likely derived pleasure from it, which I think is enough. But at the end of the day, these events did not deal with what are considered society’s most pressing, life-or-death issues. Turning it around, service I have received from others, on a broad scale, could include areas such as medical aid. This, however, is a service-based job, and therefore the providers of service are receiving pay. By some standards, this fact would exclude such situations from falling under the category of service. But I would say that if it is done well, and if the individual providing the aid cares about what he or she is doing, it should still be considered. It might also be said that holding open a door for someone is a sort of service. But on the other hand, what is the difference between this and being a “good Samaritan?” It really depends upon how the term is being used, but ultimately I think it is safe to say that when it comes down to it, any act that is meant to be of help can be considered a service.

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The service I have given, then, can only really be described as such within the latter classification of the term. I have held doors open for people, among other small acts of kindness. I also have played music for people, which is equally as satisfying, but perhaps in a different way. One circumstance I remember as being particularly meaningful was when I performed with a pianist at Joyce Parker Studio Productions in Bay View my sophomore year of high school. I was nervous, but after practicing a few times I fell into the mode of just playing the music. The theater was very small and old, and the crowd was almost entirely comprised of the elderly. When everything was silent in the dark beyond the stage, I began my performance of Nocturne by Aram Katchaturian. The listeners were pleased. Afterward, little old couples came up to me and told me how lovely they thought it was. And I can honestly say it made me feel good too. I connected with others via music, and bridged the gap between generations. I would like to think that I felt what they felt. I interviewed two other on their thoughts about service. The first was my mother, Christabel Kent, and as always, she had some very wise things to say. She defined service as a deed that involves helping, that is a means toward betterment, and that has an end result that is positive. To her, it is important because it is a means to learn “how the other half lives.” It can potentially make one more appreciative of what one already possesses, and amplify empathy. But she also states that these are lessons one really should know without having to be involved in conventional “volunteering/service.” They are values that should be taught from childhood onward, and moreover, are essentially common sense.

Humans are arguably more connected, over large expanses of time and space, than they ever have been. 15

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My mother does not proclaim to have served others through volunteer service, but her job is service-based and she helps others through small courtesies daily. She works as a medical technician, which involves testing patient samples in order to determine a diagnosis. Outside of work, a recent instance occurred during which she drove two little boys and their father from their stalled truck on the Hoan Bridge to a gas station. It really made her happy, in the truest sense of the word, not because these people had to go through with such an unpleasant circumstance, but that she was able to help others in a time of trouble. She saw that they were struggling and it made her feel good to relieve them of that, and it also gave her a personal boost to know that she had done something good. In terms of how she has been helped, on the other hand, she was unable to produce any other example than when she was pregnant and hospitalized and was brought some “awful chicken casserole” by a coworker. But despite some less than pleasing episodes, my mother does believe that service can encourage understanding, appreciation, and empathy. It is reciprocal – you give, and others give to you. And in the end, it just makes you feel better. Following this, I thought it would be interesting to see the viewpoint of someone of a different generation. I ended up have a discussion with my fifteen-year-old brother, Tristan Kent, who proved to be a good candidate, as he provided the outlook of an individual in the midst of growing and learning in today’s society. There were definitely differences between his responses and my mother’s, but there was also still and underlying sameness. Tristan defined service as, “the act or event of doing something to help somebody else.” Immediately a commonality can be seen. According to both interviewees, service is essentially an act of helping. The next response, however, is quite a bit different, but also very interesting. When asked how or why service may be important, Tristan replied that theoretically, it is not important at all. His argument was that each human could potentially be self-supporting. He even referenced medieval society, during which most people were quite isolated and did not usually rely on others to aid them in survival. Tristan acknowledged that in the contemporary world this just doesn’t happen. Humans are arguably more connected, over

larger expanses of time and space, than they ever have been. Nonetheless, looked at from a broad perspective, what he is saying does make some sense. A human could live out his or her life in such a way that did not require much interjection by others in terms of aid. What this does not mean, however, is living one’s life entirely alone. Beyond the fact that there truly are some who are in such a poor state that they cannot survive without significant aid, living all alone may not be possible at all because we are inherently social. It is arguable that humans need some form of interaction to survive. But obviously Tristan has posited an extreme scenario, and there is no need to get into the philosophical underpinnings of this issue at the moment. It will suffice enough to say that need of humans for other humans has significant implications for the role of “service,” or helping others, in our lives. After this heavy conversation, I asked Tristan to give some examples of when he had served others. Among his many responses were that he rinsed the orange juice residue from his cups so that his parents would have scrub slightly less when doing the dishes , and that he went to school every day so that others could enjoy his presence . Besides these, however, he also mentioned his position as a bassist in both his school orchestra and jazz band, participating in various non-profit concerts, at the uals such as parents, friends, and any who somehow catalyze another to learn, have an incredibly important role. They are responsible for passing on knowledge. Where would we be without that? In the end, Tristan’s thoughts on the impact of service on health and wellbeing were nearly identical to his mother’s. Whether or not this is simply a result of her teaching I do not know, but I am inclined to believe that it is a combination of things. Tristan most likely learned values that his mother passed on to him, but, especially at this rebellious stage in his life, these were also probably synthesized with beliefs he had derived from his own experience outside of the home. Both mother and son agreed that “service,” as defined as helping others or acting to benefit something outside of one’s self, also provides a reciprocating boost to the giver. I think it all comes down to empathy, and I also think we really all know this. Current research suggests that this impulse is innately human. Within our brains are structures called mirror

...empathy is somehow essential for human survival... neurons, for example, which are believed to be correlated with our ability to immediately understand what another is experiencing (Society for Neuroscience). Brains scans have shown that some of the same areas of the brain light up when one is experiencing an emotion as when one is viewing the facial expression of another who is feeling that same emotion (Society for Neuroscience). The fact that we possess such abilities at all insinuates that empathy is somehow essential for human survival, and in fact, it has been found that human connection is a fundamental necessity . We feel better just being around other people and we require closer, caring relationships for our own wellbeing (This Emotional Life). Altruism in particular has been shown to establish closer relationships and a greater sense of community. Giving to others involves positive emotions like generosity, compassion, and gratitude, all of which actually increase happiness (This Emotional Life). Even so, we do not need science to tell us this. We can just look around us, and within ourselves. Each human is distinct, but is also dependent upon the whole. If what surrounds us is in a poor state, we will be too. We truly know that being of help to something beyond ourselves is inherently good, because we also feel it.

Kent, Christabel. Personal Interview. 7 Feb. 2011. Kent, Tristan. Personal Interview. 7 Feb. 2011. PBS: This Emotional life. NOVA/WGBH Science Unit & Vulcan Productions, Inc. Copyright 2011. Online. 10 Feb. 2011. http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/. “November 2008: Brain Briefings.” Society for Neuroscience. Society for Neuroscience. Copyright 2011. Online. 10 Feb. 2011. http://www.sfn.org/index. aspx?pagename=brainBriefings_MirrorNeurons.

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What We Value What is the point of service in our society today?

Howie, Mary Kay. Personal Interview. February 10, 2010. Laur, Joseph. Personal Interview. February 8, 2010.

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Service could have many meanings, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a server at a restaurant, so for me there could be many definitions of service. For me a lot of what service deals with is beneficial to another, whether I be doing community service or serving food. Service is giving. Giving or offering help, in other words, a service. At a young age we are taught by our parents and our teachers that it is important to give back to those who are with less, service is part of that giving process. For me personally I find myself very kind hearted and willing to offer what I have in order for someone else to have, if even for a moment, the feeling of happiness and calm, that everything will be okay. I know from personal experience that that is all it takes to change a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day and hopefully their life. In many senses, the two people I interviewed, my mother and father, both responded similarly to their ideas of what service really means. Both stated that service has to deal with helping humans. Growing up with two very strong minded parents; I was taught that the basis of life was to be healthy, mentally, emotionally and physically. They instilled in me that helping other people and human contact are huge parts of healing, for ourselves and for those whom we assist. In high school I joined a group, and later became Vice President, of Kids4Kids. We raised money and got the opportunity to help foster kids of all ages. Many children, when they turn 18 and age out of the system are left with little help or introduction to the world. We would make hats and have coin competitions in order to raise as much money , through our school, for these foster children. Having two younger siblings, I really felt for these children, so young, yet dealing with so much. Helping them, even in a small way and watching their faces light up was priceless for me.

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Another experience I was lucky to partake in was a trip to Costa Rica. In the eleven days I spent there, I planted trees, guided baby sea turtles to the ocean and spent most of my time with the children of whatever small village we were currently staying in. Absorbing the new culture of Costa Rica and being able to improve the life down there was incredible. Living so simple was so easy for them and to be able to ground myself in that culture and open my eyes to how some people live and continually give to one another was once in a lifetime.

I was surprised to to find that in time of need people rise to the occasion to help.

In June, the summer of 2008, I was a senior in High school. I had lived on the river since I was born and knew that this time was flood season. We ended up getting tons of rain and everything melted around us. The water from the Milwaukee River started to get higher and higher and at some point came into our garage. My mom and I weren’t worried, as it had happened the spring before. We slowly watched the water rise higher and higher. I was surprised to find that in time of need people rise to the occasion to help. I had friends from school helping sand bag and neighbors and just random volunteers offering their time and their hand to help us save our house. The water rose over our five hundred sandbags and flooded our entire first floor, everything had changed. In a time of need people came out of the wood work and were there to help us in our time of need. The experience of losing so much, yet having the support, love and service of friends and complete strangers really made moving on that much easier. It is in times of need that people offer their hand to help another.

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I interviewed both parents, not only to compare the two, but also because both of my parents have histories either in health or mental health. Mary Kay, my mother is a psychotherapist and has been for 36 years and counting. She provides counseling so people’s emotional health is improved. The outcome of therapy is hopefully that when people are done with it they have improved mental health, less anxious, has learned coping skills and gained insight and understanding to emotions.

My father on the other hand has done everything under the sun. He was an EMT and volunteer firefighter. Most of his early life he worked as a Rolfer, rolfing is basic deep tissue body work, I say it’s painful but effective. He currently is Senior Manager of Community Engagement and Development for Greenopolis, which is a part of Waste Management. He also runs his own consultant business that works with bigger companies like Nike and Harley Davidson, to conceive ideas on how to make the products more “green”. You could say he is a man of many trades. I found it interesting interviewing both my mother and father because their lifestyles are so different; I knew their opinions would follow that pattern. I was surprised to discover that their responses to what service really meant to them, were surprisingly similar. My father had thoughts on how human

contact is a huge part of healing and that service is all about helping humans. My mother thought that service was assisting people with an action that will change the quality of their life. We all agree that service is helping, helping someone, or preforming an action that is beneficial for a cause. They also find the balance between individual rights and the rights of innocent citizens to be a tricky balance. My mother believes we can’t intrude on people’s rights but we also can’t let people hurt others. My father on the other side thinks that rights are only rights as far as they extend in his skin. Rights have to be limited; you have the right to bear arms, but not the right to hurt someone else with those guns. I agree with both, we can’t intrude, but how do we know when we cross the line, if we don’t even know where the line is?

...you can’t lock up creepy people, if you were to, congress would be behind bars.

In regards to mental health, my mother believes Jared Loughner should have been stopped. She stated that we don’t have a system that babysits anyone with severe psychological problems. She also believes it to be a tragedy that a crisis, such as the Tucson shooting, had to occur before anyone

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could step in. Although people did see warning signs, our system isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t set up so that we can scoop up anyone with disturbing behavior. If we could, my mother believes that our mental hospitals would be overflowing. On one hand, she states, people have individual rights, but on the other, the only way someone is admitted is if they are harming others. My father, with the sense of humor, thinks that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lock up creepy people, if you were to, congress would be behind bars. He says people need to look at things systematically, there is a disconnect between individuals. Society as a whole is lacking centeredness and soulfulness; he believes that as a culture we have lost our center. He references how churches and synagogues used to be the tallest buildings in cities, today the tallest buildings are insurance companies and other big businesses. It shows us what we value nowadays. I agree with my father, everyone gets so caught up and they lose focus on what is important in our society, taking care of our fellow citizens and offering ourselves, I know that if roles are reversed I would want the kindness and caring.

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In interviewing my parents and evaluating myself Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve discovered that we all have the same idea, give or take a few thoughts. Society as a whole has to come together and work together in order to be a successful nation. Service has many meaningful definitions and interpretations. Each definition is individual to each person depending their life experience and service experience. What it comes down to is service is all about giving, unconditionally and willingly. If everyone could understand the concept of service, this world would be a different place.

Article: Lauren Howie Laur Photography: Ryan Travers

Interview An Interview with Dane Travers a senior at West Allis Central High School in West Allis, WI. What service have you done recently? Last March I did a fish fry for St Florian’s. It was community service because we (Boy Scouts) volunteered to help. I would have helped out on my own too if I wasn’t busy or if I was asked to help out. What is your most memorable service experience? Last spring I went and helped clean up garbage from the Fox River for a class (central conservation club). We then went into the river and checked out the species living there and removed the invasive species. What community service have you done as part of a team or group? In Boy Scouts and church youth groups we do community service, but not as a team in any sports. At school they do breast cancer awareness month, they sell tickets, and you can buy items such as wrist bands and shirts. All the proceeds go to a breast cancer awareness foundation. Is there a community service that you particularly enjoy doing? I enjoy partaking in service that involves hands on stuff, like the river cleanup for my high school and the fish fry for St Florian’s. Should there be a community service class in high school? What are the pros and cons? Well a con would be that people wouldn’t do community service because of jobs, sports, and class work. Pros would be people would realize what is going on in the world and what and who needs help beyond themselves. Have you ever started a required community service and continued because you enjoy it? The fish fry for St. Florian’s is optional, we get to sleep over at the church so that is cool. But if I have time I’ll go over earlier to help out and work a whole shift from start to end. I think it’s cool, because you get to help out and talk to people and meet new people every time.

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