The M.A.D Principle....
This is the Make A Difference Principle which basically means that anyone can make a difference. When you hear this it should fire you up beyond belief and give you a new drive. It means that everything you touch can blossom and grow. It means that YOU can change the world. Not just in one way but in MANY!!!
A while back we were talking in classes about the POWERFUL WORD of the month, Generousity. In the concept of being Generous with our Talents, we thought of asking our students to come up with three ways that they could use their talents to help change the world we live in today.
Below is a list from some of our students. We would love to add to this list so please feel free to email us your ideas. Your ideas could be the log on someone's fire. The fire that gets them to realize that they too can make a difference.
Hector
1.) I am a very good listener and that I can help people by listening to things they need to tell someone and also listening to directions and instructions and doing what needs to be done.
2.) I am very good at visualizing things, I can brainstorm with people about ideas and concepts and then turn around and present them to other people in ways that I believe are interesting and get the points across that myself and any partners are trying to tell.
3.) I am a very good at writing. I always have been whether it's a script or a story or just notes to people. I am very good at saying important things in written ways and alot of times I have found that what I've written has had a great impact on people in their everyday lives.
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Jamie
1) i am very active - so willing to help the elderly, animals or children keep active
2) great reader - like to read - so am willing to assist others in learning or reading to others
3) time - i am willing to give up my time
for : cleaning trash in the world
spending time with people who dont have loved ones
search for lost members (kidnappd or passed) and console family
4) job
i have some money to spare
i would be willing to donate to a cause
that feeds others
saves children from abusive homes
improves learning and artistic improvement in schools and out
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Ed
I'm talking to the Austin Humane Society photographing the pets up for adoption at the Austin shelter.
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Bill
I have and can change the word through my writings
I have an eye for taking good pictures
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Naveena
Crochet a blanket
Team English (read & write) to spanish speaking adults
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Rocky
basketball
dancing
writing
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James B.
kick a thon
Ability to plan/schedule
Ability to comprehend and adapt in new situations
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Heidi
breast cancer walk
support other causes from students & family
organize fund raiser for safe place this year
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Samantha
I really enjoy helping people and feeling like I really made a difference in someone's life. A great way to do this is by volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
I like animals so I could donate my time to a German Shepard rescue organization
I been told several times I'm a good listener. We all need someone to listen every now and again, someone who is not going to judge us or feel the need to try to fix everything. So I can listen when people just need to talk.
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Crystal
I have a talent of making people feel good about themselves. I can help change the world by encouraging people with low self-esteem to go after their dreams. That they can do it. Plus, through Mary Kay I have been able to touch people's lives by showing them that they are beautiful, with or without makeup.
Another talent is honesty. This talent can change the world by letting people know that there are real people out there who love them and aren't scared to tell them the truth, even if they don't want to hear it. Sometimes you have to face a problem in order to fix it, instead of avoiding it and hoping it will go away.
Another talent is that I am open to new ideas. New ideas make me look at things in different ways and change my opinions on a variety of things, from ketchup, to war, etc. Being open to new ideas can help change the world by creating a melting pot of different experiences and opinions to make sure the best decisions are made when options are presented. (hopefully that made sense since it kinda reads weird, but it made sense in my head)
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Stacy
I have a positive attitude. It is amazing how contagious positivity seems to be. A smile really can work miracles. I see it everyday--just smiling and really showing some love seems to really give folks a boost.
I just lost 40 pounds. Although only a few folks that I have invited have actually showed up to Martial Way...people at work seem to be really inspired that big changes can happen after many little steps and many have started walking during breaks or have started doing a work out like yoga or swimming. But I haven't stopped telling them how awesome Martial Way is! I know you hear this often, but many think they have to lose weight before they start kickboxing. I am hoping to get a small handful--or at least ONE new person--to turn out to the Summer of Fun martial arts-a-thon. I will keep smiling at them and shaking my skinny a$$--just kidding!
I love organic gardening and healthy living. I volunteer with the Green Corn Project. We build organic gardens for schools, community centers and families who are typically underprivileged. I serve as a mentor to one site per season and help them with questions and management of the plot. The method is almost entirely sustainable in that we amend the existing soil rather than truck in soil that was taken from some other place. This demonstrates to people that there are alternatives to junk food and they get to take part in the miracle that is a seed turning into something miraculously beautiful and then...they get to pick a tasty treat from the wondrous creation and have a yummy in their tummy! It is also terrific to get folks involved in creating something TOGETHER!
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Matt
Patience - I can be incredibly patient with people, which can be valuable in circumstances such as teaching, mentoring an dealing with challenging situations.
Tech Savvy - I can use my web technology skills and internet design and application experience to aid non-profits and charities to improve their online presence an outreach.
Diving - Hey, can't leave this one out ;). Unfortunately I missed the Lake Travis underwater cleanup this year, but I can (and will continue to) use my underwater time to rid our lakes and oceans of dangerous and unsightly garbage.
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Jeb
I love to teach people ; be it martial arts or anything I just like sharing with others. So I enjoy helping and teaching class.
I am into photography as one of my hobbies/talents. I enjoy teaching others about it.
I would like to give back to the community by volunteering.
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Kevin
Personal fitness gives me the health and strength to work to the best of my abilities in whatever I do. As I improve personal health, this better equips me to contribute more energy to the important things in life, perhaps most notaby charitable organizations that will hopefully change the world one day.
Working with others and helping them to realize their fitness goals "pays forward" the help I received; hopefully, they in turn "pay it forward" to others who become fit and who change the world using their talents.
Hopefully it would never get to the point where I would need to exercise my talents in a real fight; but if it becomes necessary to defend someone who cannot defend themselves, my talents (once developed) could be used to fight for the weak in times of need.
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Roberto
Listening. Few people really listen to others anymore. Sometimes that's all people need.
Empathy. Not forgetting that one has normally been in the position the other person has at some point in their life.
Transparency. Few things are more disappointing than finding out that someone is not who they seem. Presenting yourself as who you are helps avoid this.
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Jennie
Organizing
Problem Solving
Teaching
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Chris
I work daily with 7yr olds. I not only teach them the information they need to know in order to do well academically, but I motivate them to be life long learners. I believe that we are all students, and that we never stop learning. I push them to do hold themselves to higher standards than what is expected. If you are not getting better, then we are only getting worse. I truly believe that if I never do anything else with my life, that at the very least I have changed the life of a few hundred students for the better.
I volunteer to help teach home bound children. That is, I teach those children who are bound to their beds or homes for medical reasons. Many times it breaks my heart to see how much these kids go through on a daily basis. However, it is immensely inspirational when you see that no matter how bad things get with them, they bounce right back and smile and laugh just as hard as they may have cried. Knowing this I am able to get back up and dust myself off anytime I think my troubles are too large for me to handle. So, do I make a difference in their lives…you bet! I’m their older brother, I’m their dad, I’m their role model, and I’m their friend. I am whatever void they need filled.
I volunteer at habitat for humanity any Saturday I have open. I haven’t been in awhile now, but after writing this montage, I will definitely get back into it.
I am in charge of our recycling program at school and am starting one up in my apartment complex.
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David C.
1. Donate to charities.( any that I can)
2. Teach kids martial arts ( kids that are less fortunate and cant afford or have trouble learning )
3. Help build houses (habitiat for humanity)
4. Help the elderly
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Adam H.
1) I could teach or tutor kids in either physics, math or computer science. I have planned for awhile to spend a few years teaching school either before I get another job, or before I retire.
2) I am studying robotics at UT, and I think that one way I could use this is in the field of rehabilitative robotics. While this could ultimately be a career, I think that it would afford me the opportunities to give back.
3) I know there are various clubs and service organizations at UT, I could give back by volunteering with one of these clubs.
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Sherman
1. I am a Chef for "Scare for the Cure". I will cook 2-3 times up until Halloween for 30 volunteers that are building a haunted house. The expense will be out of pocket. I have also applied and received a $300 grant from the project from my company.
2. I will supply 1 half of a doe during deer season to hunt for the hungry.
3. I will volunteer my time as an advisor to the science club at Manor High School.
4. I will volunteer my time as chaperone at my kids school.
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Bobby
1. Teaching math/computing to young people
2. Helping new graduate students
3. Vanquishing evildoers, with a knife maybe
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David J.
1) Build something of great value to the world at my job
2) Help keep my co-workers employed by doing an outstanding job at work
3) Be an example to my younger siblings.
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Andrew C.
1. Teach music. I play a variety of instruments, such as the guitar and drums. I would really like to use these skills to teach others (especially kids) to better appreciate music.
2. Conduct scientific research. I'm a scientist/engineer and I hope some of my research will have an impact on the rest of the world, if only slightly.
3. Volunteer my time to worthy charities. I've been very interested recently in volunteering with the red cross, especially to assist in disaster recovery efforts. I think I could put my science and engineering skills to good practical use in this way.
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Cynthia D.
-Recycle as much as possible
-Complain less about the things I can't change and work harder to change the things I can
-Be more patient when driving and control the road rage :)
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Steve L.
Technical know-how: Fix up Goodwill computers for Goodwill Computerworks
I currently do not, but should use my technical abilities to help make the world a better place. Goodwill takes used PCs and laptops as donations. The computers that can be salvaged have to be repaired to working order by skilled volunteers so that they can be sold as inexpensive workstations to people in need. Just by writing this, I have gone to Goodwill's Computerworks site and inquired as to how I can become a volunteer.
Eco-conscious @ Home:
I make a significant effort at home to curtail unnecessary waste, when it comes to electricity, water, recyclables, paper, and plastic goods. Not only does it add up to a significant cost-savings, it also helps reduce my "waste footprint" on the community, and to a far lesser extent, the world. Little things add up to big savings:
-Take showers just long enough to get clean. Save the water that normally goes down the drain as you wait for it to heat up, and filter it to use as drinking water.
-Changed all light bulbs in my house from incandescent to compact fluorescent. This reduces the amount of energy used by light bulbs by 80%!
-Keep all electronics off or in suspend/power-saving mode unless they are actively being used
-Keep the temperature in the house warm during the day to save on A/C costs
-Plan on installing an attic fan to further reduce temperature in the summertime at a very low energy cost.
-Buy and reuse durable paper towels. Those paper towels you get at the store that talk about how strong and durable they are....they're right! That enables you to use them multiple times. Obviously you need to be conscious of what you're re-using the towel for as to not be unsanitary, but you can reduce your paper waste by doing this.
"Paying it forward" attitude
I believe it really does contribute to a better world to maintain a perspective that includes paying it forward. By always making an effort to brighten someone's day whether it be praising someone for something they might not they they deserve praise for, or even recognized that they were doing. If you're at the cash register at the store, or being waited on at a restaurant and you see that the person is trying hard, but having a very bad day, it can make a big difference in their day if you compliment them on the work they're doing, and make an effort to show appreciation. Who knows, that person could go home that night and treat his family or friends better because you've helped put them in a better state of mind of recognizing their efforts when others would not.
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Mike P.
1. Ok, I'll use the one you gave us, the kick-a-thon. This is something that will help place needy pets with loving homes and spare them from euthanasia.
2. Patience. I have kids. Patience is something we exercise everyday we are on the floor, and we are there after all to help people enact a positive change in their lives.
3. A broad understanding of social constructs and social interactions. Through projects while in school and in seeing projects the city is undertaking, possessing a broad understanding of the social heirarchy we all live in enables me to listen, empathize and act to make the world (and our city in particular) a better place. I could also adopt a highway.
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Amy P.
1. Kickathon. Save the animals and contributing to a worthwhile cause.
2. Licensed Therapist. I'm a skilled listener and help people achieve insight into their own lives.
3. My career. I use the talents and knowledge I have to help children in ways other people cannot.
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