Reflection On Change

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Change is a necessary yet at times, an uncomfortable part of life. This is why thinking about change and sometimes enacting change can be difficult. When I started this internship, I didn’t really think about change to often. When I did, it always seemed to be on a very individual basis and simply how this act will affect me. However, as the internship progressed and I continued doing the reading, my ideas about education changed. I believe my ideas changed for the better because the readings, in particular Freire, broadened my way of thinking. The Freire reading really got me thinking about education and what it means to be educated. Something that hit me like a ton bricks was when Freire stated that education should be more then just subjects …show more content…

While reading this paper I both agreed and disagreed with some of the ideas. His paper “Forget Shorter Showers” emphasizes change on an industrial level while admirable, i’m not sure I really think is attainable. Of course if large corporations changed their habits and began practicing sustainability the world would be in a far better position environmentally then we are now. However, large corporations and industries producing massive amounts of waste whether we like it or not sadly seems to be necessary for this type of way of life. I agree that corporations should absolutely be more mindful and try to reduce their waste. A key issue with Jensen’s piece is that I believe he underestimates the power that individual change has when he states “I don’t pretend that not buying much (or not driving much, or not having kids) is a powerful political act, or that it’s deeply revolutionary. It’s not. Personal change doesn’t equal social change.” I think in order for the industrial change that Jensen is advocating to take place, individual change needs to occur first. I believe sustainability and waste reduction starts with individuals and has the potential to grow exponentially as more and more people begin practicing healthier habits. While reading Jensen’s article I immediately thought of the internship at Natural Bridges. The work being done at Natural Bridges such as restoration is a very good example of …show more content…

I would define community as a group of people working or living together and striving toward a common goal. An important aspect of my definition of community is that people must work together towards a common goal. Having an ultimate goal that everyone can strive towards creates a sense of togetherness and effectiveness. With this definition of community in mind, I believe Natural Bridges creates a strong sense of community. Every staff member was very nice and helpful and we often worked together and were encouraged to work in groups. Because of this, it never felt like I was on the outside and not good enough to help with anything because I was “just” an intern or volunteering. This was a huge reason why I felt connected and a part of the community. Being able to work along side Martha or Abby showed me that I am valued and made me want to work harder to help Natural bridges in any way I can. another reason I felt a part of the community was engaging in conversations with people while on the trails. Talking to people about what I am doing and how it benefits the environment and animals allowed me to realize that people care about issues of environment and sustainability. The fact that people would stop and ask what I was doing or how I liked volunteering at Natural Bridges, made me see that the community expands beyond the workers and volunteers. Being a part of a larger community of both workers and

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