Sydney Schneider
The Informer
Laingsburg HS
1st Place
Division 4, News Writing
Feature Columnist
“Journey to the third world: Appreciating the small things”
A few weeks ago, I went to the Compassion Experience with some of the members of my church youth group. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical. Compassion International’s website claims that its program will allow you to experience the “sights and sounds of life in a poor, developing-world community.” The claim, though well-intended, seemed a little ridiculous to me considering my group was coming from a large dinner spread with smart phones and other first-world staples in our pockets.
Still, I was anxious to embark on the proposed adventure. Before we began, we were given headsets connected to iPhones (a little ironic considering we were supposed to be experiencing the third world). Then, we went into the small portables that contained recreated scenes from the life of Kiwi, a woman from the Philippines.
Her story was heartbreaking. Through our headsets, we listened as Kiwi told us about her life in a hut that often flooded. We observed the rags on the ground and heard the shattering of beer bottles as Kiwi explained that her father often spent the little money they had on alcohol. We all fought tears as Kiwi told of the loss of her brothers, and I cringed when she explained that in order to save her sister, doctors cut open her mother without any pain-killers.
Yet, one of the main things that stuck out to me was how thankful Kiwi was for the good things in her life. Kiwi spoke of a day when her family received an apple. A single apple. She said that each of her family members was so excited, even elated, to have a bite of the special treat. They each savored their single bite of the fruit that is so commonplace in our American kitchens.
Out of the entire experience, that is when a tear escaped my eye. How often do I eat an apple in one minute, without a second’s thought, and gripe about my schoolwork in the next? How often do I express my gratitude for the presents I receive from parents for my birthday, yet neglect to thank them for the care they give me each day?
As Thanksgiving approaches, Kiwi remains in the forefront of my mind, reminding me that there is so much more that I need to be thankful for. Sure, we all express gratitude during this national holiday. But are we thankful for all of the right things? Of course we are thankful for our family, our friends, our homes, our turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Yet, we are not always thankful for the small things: the apples of our lives.
This Thanksgiving, I hope to change that. I owe it to all of the children of the third world who would long for a bite of my grandmother’s cooking. I certainly owe it to Kiwi.
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“Saving Common Courtesy: An appeal for student action”
It was already a rough Monday morning. I woke up tired from the work of the day before, and I barely had time to grab a toaster waffle before running out the door to school.
I was absolutely loaded with baggage; in fact, one student jokingly asked if I was planning on moving in to the school. My backpack was slung over both shoulders, my right hand clutched my laptop case and clarinet, and my left hand clung to my lunch box and marching shoes. I was truly proud of my balancing act. That is, until I followed another student to the entrance of the school. My day became considerably worse as the student let the door slam on me, causing my open-topped lunch box to lose half its contents.
We often hear the new adage: chivalry is dead. I’m not sure I can agree completely, but it is certainly declining, and its decline coincides with the erosion of common courtesy. However, we generally don’t consider the implications of this erosion until we fall victim to its consequences.
As I picked up the contents of my lunch box that morning, the perpetrator of the “crime against courtesy” long gone, my initial thoughts centered around my frustration at the individual. But as the day progressed, my attitude changed. We all, I thought, are guilty parties to the decline in common courtesy. Don’t we all have instances when we neglect to hold the door, give directions, or perform other small gestures for others? We concoct numerous excuses. We are simply “too busy” or “too exhausted.” But, if we are honest with ourselves, are those excuses truly valid?
I haven’t given up hope. Fortunately, the actions of many people within our school have assured me that chivalry and common courtesy are very much alive. I often recall the classmate who gave up their seat for me when I entered the guidance office, and I have witnessed several students offer to carry the books of a classmate who was nursing several sports injuries.
These instances make me optimistic. I am a member of several interscholastic organizations, and often when I speak with students from other schools, I gain a greater appreciation for these actions from our student body. Based on their testimonies, the decline of common courtesy seems much dire elsewhere.
Still, after the door incident, I am making a conscientious effort to show more courtesy to others. I have seen first-hand how our actions can have unintended outcomes, whether positive or negative. Simple, kind actions may seem inconsequential, and often they are only rewarded with a short smile or a quick “thanks.” In reality, they can make all of the difference in a person’s day.
So please, join in the effort. Keep common courtesy alive. Just hold the door.