People think of history as something in the past, but all around us, history is taking shape in the present and altering the future. Speaking of history, when the 2024 presidential election took place, there was a direness, an urgency that resonated across the country. Democracy was at stake, and a divided America made a choice that is unfolding on a world stage. Today, there are people thrilled by the officials in power and the policies they are pushing. Opposingly, many are fearful, reacting with unease and cynicism to the extreme changes being made in U.S. policies. I am one of the latter people; in a state of fear, exhaustion, and anger, disappointed by so many government employees who pledged themselves to the good of America and its people. But in the face of these uncertainties, it is crucial to find ways to move forward with hope. Hope is carried by each of us, and spread to others in what is known as the ripple effect. The question is how can people begin their role and start their own ripple of hope? There are things within our control where each of us can put our energy and make a difference, one small step at a time.
I could not vote in this election; I was not eligible. The question of ‘What can I even do?’ unravels inside me as a feeling of helplessness. The government, despite having a broad scale of impact, is not a solution to all of our problems. There are some things that even an organization as large as it can not fix. We all have the power to make the world better or worse. Every act of kindness, every movement for change, and every instance of open-mindedness, matters. For now, I am taking a step back from “politics” and choosing to focus my energy somewhere that it will make a difference, however small that may be. In the form of volunteering, activism, and being kind, we explore how members of the Berkley community make change within their control and how you can as well.
Average citizens don’t have the same control as the officials who represent this country. We don’t have the power to decide whether a woman’s body is her own. Issues about how to combat climate change on a world scale are left out of our control. These social and environmental concerns feel too daunting and large for one person to impact. However, while I may not have as much power as a congressman, I do have the power to be a decent human being. If the happenings of the world have felt out of your control, something that will always be in your control is kindness. Your actions do not have to be grand or historical in any way. It is often the roles we play on a smaller scale, within our communities, that can leave the biggest impressions on individuals.
Speaking with active community members inspired me. They all had a sense of hope. Junior Olivia Long spoke on her personal experiences with protests and actively making her voice heard. Long, who recently attended the People’s March in D.C., stated, “I go to a lot of protests and marches, and I think by spreading awareness, people can be educated and realize that something needs to change, so I believe it’s helpful.”
As a prominent member of the environmental club, Long also shared some of the ways we can give back to the Earth and our community. From small things like “riding a bike to school or carpooling” to simply recycling the plastic we use in our day-to-day lives, each of us can help limit our carbon footprint on the earth. Using less water when you shower, buying fewer things, shopping secondhand, and picking up trash in the community are all small changes and commitments we can make to help preserve our earth.
Aside from personal changes we can make, community outreach is also a great way to feel more connected and to have an impact on other people. Senior Emily Castone shared why she believes there is “something out there for everybody” when it comes to volunteering. She argues that despite being called service, volunteering can be just as enjoyable for the person providing a service as the person receiving it. “It’s fun– I feel like I’m making a difference, and I think people would love it if they gave it a chance,” Castone stated. Activities Castone participates in like the “blood drives we do here at school” and “packing boxes for underserved seniors and families who can’t leave their homes” are great options, but truly any space where you are providing a service can have positive impacts on communities and individuals.
Volunteering your time can be an opportunity to connect with people, both new acquaintances and old. My mom and a good friend volunteer at Forgotten Harvest once a month, and for them, it is not only time spent helping people, but time spent together catching up on life. Being an active community member doesn’t require you to volunteer every day. It can include things like helping to stock shelves and move inventory at a local library every other week or passing out food for the homeless and displaced once a month. However often you are volunteering, the important part is that you are giving back to the people around you. As Castone argued, once you find acts of service that you enjoy doing, the gratification you get out of servicing someone else can be just as impactful for you as the people you help.
This ongoing search for fulfillment and purpose that humans have can become amplified as people witness this transition of power within our government. Human connection does not have to be as complex a thing as everyone makes it. Volunteering, changing your habits to be more environmentally aware, and spending time with others in your community, are all great options for giving back. As expressed by Long, “If I have access to something that somebody else doesn’t, why not share it?” Helping people doesn’t need a reason, other than it is a decent thing to do. Even though these are small things that may not seem like they have an impact, for each act of kindness is someone on the receiving end, and to them, it matters.
It is hard to say what will come of the next four years; there will be repercussions to our earth, our society, and our lives. In many ways, progress that has been long fought for is being erased. Nevertheless, I believe that the people running our country, despite what some may want you to believe, are not the only ones to hold power. We, the people of Berkley, Michigan, hold more influence and potential for change than any one of us realizes. Within our control, there are adjustments we can make and energy to be preserved. I hope that you too will reflect on the impacts you can have; the small ripples of hope that are so subtle, that one may not realize their impact until a large wave is surging forward, and you discover that in all this time, you have never been alone.
