Session 1 Journal and Reflection: Choosing to Participate
For your first journal entry you responded to the following prompt:
Think about a time when you have been in a situation where you had a chance to participate either positively or negatively. What choice did you make? Thinking about it now, what would you have done differently?
Now that you have created your journal entry, copy and paste it here. Please review the other participants' posts and if someone else in the forum has posted about a moment that in some way resonates with you, feel free to respond to that person's post.
Please make sure you have checked the "mark as read" box at the top of this page. Then continue to the next page, Session 2: Background on Choosing to Participate.
One memory that comes to me about participation is about when I was in grade 6 in a new school. I was liked by all my classmates and I got along with everyone. There was a girl in the class who was always bullied. I remember one time the students broke her chair, so that when she went to sit on it she fell and everyone laughed at her. I was surprised at what happened and didn’t know what to do. If I helped her or befriend her, then I would get bullied as well. But at the same time I felt very bead for her because she was a very nice person who did not deserve such treatment. I would do everything differently if I could. I would befriend my classmate and stand up for her. I would talk to the teacher and any one at the school to make sure bulling was dealt with immediately not only in my class but in the entire school. Therefore, my participation of not stepping up and preventing such cruel acts done to my classmate has remained with me and has taught me an important lesson that I will not forget. And as a teacher I hope to always strive to be a good role model for my students.
As an educator at an urban community college I meet students in need every day. It took a while to realize you can't help everyone. But you can effect change to help them and give them some resources. Using the mantra of you can't change the whole world but you can change your small corner, I started working on creating programs and resources. With the help of my colleagues I started a Domestic Violence program at my institution. Once that was up and running, this same committee started a Women's Leadership program. We are now in our 6th year and the program is a smashing success. Our program provides an all day conference workshop that is free for the students to learn hands on tools to empower them in their lives, academically and career wise. It is amazing to see the ripple effect. But be forwarned, any program faces many setbacks and disappointments. Yet watching the ripple effect of your efforts is priceless.
Every four years, there is a Presidential election. Voting, what better way to show that you “participate” in the democracy? Although I have been eligible to vote since 1984, I have not always participated for a variety of reasons. Reflecting on the elections and the candidates, and my changing participation levels, it’s clear to me that participation in a democracy is work. My willingness to consistently work at participating has fluctuated more than I thought.
1984 – I didn’t vote. The first time I was eligible to vote – Ronald Regan and Walter Mondale. I recall being “engaged” in the presidential debates and campaigns, and feeling quite grown up at the thought of developing my own opinions and casting my vote on Election Day. But, I didn’t vote. You’d think the first time you are eligible to finally make your voice heard, you’d be the first in line. But that feeling never overtook me. Was I disappointed in the lack of emotion towards the candidates? Did I recoil to the darkness of my small apartment on Election Day because I was uneducated about the issues? Or was I just not interested? Honestly, I can answer “no” to each and every question. In fact, I was very emotional about my opinions regarding the candidates (I differed from my parents’ viewpoint); I knew exactly what I thought about the issues and prided myself in watching the debates; and I was very interested in what the candidate’s said and did, and how people around me thought. The fact that I didn’t vote had nothing to do with any of these. I just didn’t vote.
The 1988 - I voted. I remember voting for one candidate over the other because I really didn’t like one of them. No other reason, really. Actually, I was completely disengaged in the process, the issues or the candidates. I just had an opinion and voted with it.
1992 – I voted. That’s when I got really energized about the whole voting process. I liked the emotion of the people; I was enthused for the democratic process – how it came to be and how it worked or didn’t work for the people. It was really the catalyst for my increased participation. I just liked the idea of one voice being heard collectively as a nation of people. This is when I really began to vote. No longer was it about personality (or lack thereof). It definitely wasn’t about party affiliation. It was about whatever mattered to me and my family and my way of living. It was my right, my duty, my responsibility – and I wasn’t going to give that up. I was going to vote – for me.
1996 – I voted. Still some of the same opinions as the last election, but the duty to vote was beginning to be less about me, and more about the future – my kids. Even though that sometimes seemed less attainable by my vote, I wanted to have an effect on the decisions and pathways that the country was taking for our future. It seemed to be a more powerful and fulfilling reason to participate. Maybe the participation morphed from me to we?
2000 – I voted. Very interested, very involved; almost became an obsession to get more people involved and get them to vote. Participation was about us. “We the people” was really us – all of us. If one of us is not participating, then all of us get hurt and affected. “We” are not in this together if “you” and “me” don’t participate. It seemed like if I didn’t participate, the weight of the world would come down upon me and I’d have no one to blame but myself. Participate? You bet I did, but it was more like a mandate, really.
2004 – I didn’t vote. Completely disillusioned and disengaged; tired of the process which didn’t seem to amount to anything. Purposefully chose NOT to participate in the democratic society. Wanted to flee to the mountains and “get away” from everything having to do with society, democracy, and collectiveness.
2008 – I voted. Nothing will change if I don’t participate. Participation was work. Participation was not easy. Participation was a chore sometimes. Participation could be frustrating. Participation would be filled with disappointments. Participation could be mingled with lies and self-absorbing ideals. Participation and democracy was ugly and unfair sometimes. But, participation was being involved. Participation was being alive. Participation was being an individual while being a part of others. Participation was necessary.
2012 – I plan to vote. But above all, participation is being in the moment. That cannot be predicted with complete accuracy. Certain things are necessary to participate – willingness and forgiveness.
Because I hold a leadership position at our high school, I have frequent opportunities to participate. Whether my participation is to speak in, facilitate, or develop a meeting—whether it be with students, parents, teachers, or administrators—I advocate for the best interests of the students. I believe it is absolutely incumbent upon educators to do so. I suggest that effective participation in any domain requires a set of guiding principles, principles generated by character and integrity and rooted in the core values of empathy, service, and purpose.