Question
750 Word minimum. Spelling and grammar count. Analyze any act you have committed about which you have strong feelings (e.g., of regret or of pride), and argue to what extent you feel that this act was freely done by you or determined by forces working within or outside you. Be specific
Answer
Analysis of an Act Triggered By Strong Feelings
Over the years, I have witnessed first-hand the endless cycle of poverty that has continued to lurk not only in my area of residence but also in the neighboring states. The question that always lingers in my mind is why and when poverty has become a culture. This issue still continues to baffle me because it clearly paints poverty as a well-established problem that has become so severe as to be passed down from one generation to the next. However, the fact remains that poverty is a result of a highly competitive and stratified society whose typical economic trends seem to elevate it (Pilisuk & Pilisuk, 1971). In theory, cultural-based perceptions and attitudes as well as predispositions to views such as open-mindedness are the primary causes of economic deprivation and immobility among those considered poor(Pilisuk & Pilisuk, 1971).
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Over time, I have grown weary of seeing unemployed youths loitering the streets, with some of them remaining holed up in street corners engaging in drug abuse and crime. The level in my neighborhood has been at an all-time high, and has partly been because most people are struggling to make ends meet. In my view, this predicament is not solely due to financial constraints; it is also as a result of hopelessness. Lack of hope greatly discourages young people from striving to achieve their intended economic goals.
In light of this situation, I decided to take action by launching an initiative that was centered on youth empowerment and poverty eradication. I did not have top-notch skills in this field per se, but my mission was driven by the burning desire to see the residents rise from this pathetic situation and make something good out of their prevailing circumstances. My central focus was on the young people because they are the most neglected demographicparticularly when it comes to access to vital resources and policy-making processes. Excluding the youth in the developmental process and the areas of opportunity often becomes hazardous in the sense that their issues are cast aside, leading them with no voice in shaping the future of their country (Zeldin, Petrokubi & MacNeil, 2008).
I launched a campaign called Out of Poverty that essentially targeted increasing employment opportunities for self-sufficiency. In my view, creating job opportunities for the youth is an important element that will steer the economy towards a positive direction by ensuring a steady income for everyone. As such, basic needs will be met adequately and this, in turn, will reduce the crime rate in my locality. My initiative was not a large-scale undertaking, but it did play a crucial role in achieving some of the goals. For instance, I held a youth empowerment mentorship program whereby I managed to invite business leaders and prominent personalities to give motivational talks to the young people in my area. What came out strongly was that it was upto the youth to create opportunities for themselves if at all they are to excel in life. In this era, it is about being vigilant and aggressive in the pursuit of socioeconomic opportunities.
I am delighted to report in a span of one month, a good number of businesses had opened up in the area, most of which were being run by the youth. Some of the ventures included cupcake businesses, bracelet shops, and music stores. Consequently, following our appeal to the local government to increase job opportunities in the industrial sector, some of the people were hired as casual laborers while those with certified degrees managed to land jobs in some of the high-end firmswithin the state.
My actions were driven by both internal forces, which include compassion and selflessness, and external forces, the dominant one being the conditions of poverty in my neighborhood. To begin with, the failing state of our economy and the corresponding manifestation of poverty constitute the major external factor that pushed me to take action. The situation had negatively affected people’s mindset, propagating a strong wave of hopelessness and despair. With this in mind, I set out on a mission to try and change these beliefs and perceptions that life is just the way it is, that we have the capacity within ourselves to effect positive change in society in an attempt to improve our living standards. It gave me immense joy to see that indeed my efforts were not in vain.
In conclusion, it is quite evident that feelings hold the potential to redefine and restructure the course of one’s life. Unfortunately, many people who live in poverty are unable to exploit emerging economic opportunities, however, small, due to a negative mindset and lack of mentorship (Greven, 2009). All in all, the process of bringing about change begins when individuals start to feel strongly about the need to come up with initiatives aimed at fostering economic progress. In the end, every individual has the power to effect the kind of change that is needed in society. Bequeathing thesesame principles to future generationsis a major step ahead in the fight against the vicious cycle of poverty (Greven, 2009).
References
Pilisuk, M. & Pilisuk, P. (1971). Poor Americans: How the white poor live. London: Transaction Publishers.
Greven, D. (2009). The Power of Feelings. College Literature, 36(3), 212-220.
Zeldin, S., Petrokubi, J. & MacNeil, C. (2008). Youth‐Adult Partnerships in Decision Making: Disseminating and Implementing an Innovative Idea into Established Organizations and Communities. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41(3-4), 262-277.
