Task 2

My Purpose, Commitment, and Action
The opportunity to participate in the Warriors without Weapons program will be invaluable experience in my personal development as an individual. I like to believe that goodness at heart exist inherently within everyone, and however quixotic, that that 'good' requires a specific type of nurturing to allow it grow and thrive. In that same vein, there exists a multitude of things in our lives that can obstruct that positive force. I believe that Warriors without Weapons is a program that not only nurtures such growth, but that also empowers us as people to see, be, and believe in positive change.
I exist in a society that thrived from slave labor, which in turn lead us towards lives of mass consumption (and waste). I look at my life thus far, and I am succumbed with a feeling of culpability, guiltiness. I have benefited from this society, and am so extremely priviledged to have gotten the opportunities that I have thus far; and yet, no matter how much I talk about the inherent inequality that exists, I have not challenged myself to think big, I have not been able to be the ideal in that I believe. I still have much to learn, and I think that an opportunity such as this one will push me to be more, and say less. However, simply relying on you shows lack of motivation in me. In writing this, I am forced to confront the reality of my inner-conflict. I am not resolved, and I need to revive the goodness that exists within me.
One thing that is very true of me, is that I need to learn how to manage my time. I want to change the way I treat the my world and the people in my community. When I get home, I plan to become more involved the student organization STAND, the student led division of the Genocide Intervention Network. I have been in the group for a year, but have never gotten involved in helping out. I also want to pursue teaching at the local elementary school in my college town. I need to follow through on these things. I want to be busy and occupied with various things when I get back. Otherwise, I think that I become apathetic towards things. I need to use my energy towards taking less and giving more. I know I can do it, I just need to get up and get going.
I think that participating in the Warriors without Weapons program will show me how to interact better with people, sharing ideas and working together to accomplish a common goal. This positive outcome will demonstrate the importance of developing relations and forming communities, and to ultimately share the positivity of the environment created. I want to learn how to be apart of something, and how to be a positive contributing member of that community or entity. I think that the program will make me realize the importance of these things, and therefore empower me to try and affect change on every place I go and in every community that I join.