A Catalyst for Change

By John Ezekiel Tagorda

Change is the only absolute in the world and that fact remains. The youth of our generation today has come a long long way. Unfortunately, we are regressing. We lack the guts of working on behalf of others or a particular cause without anything in return. We are deficient in valor of pursuing careers. We need to reawaken our spirits; the spirit of volunteerism and heroism.

“Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless” (Sherry Anderson). The PSYSC or Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs is a duly recognized student organization which inculcates the importance of science, technology and environment (ST&E) to elementary and high school students all over the country. It has remained steadfast in its thrust and annually organizes several fun-filled ST&E activities for this nation’s young scientists to participate. Many volunteers are known to be members of this organization and they dedicate their time and effort without getting paid in return.

Volunteering needs causes and advocacies. In view of the fact that there are many groups or organizations like PSYSC that gives the youth opportunities for them to improve their skills, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be considered self-serving; awareness is a great factor. Awareness leads to ideas of how to revolutionize the world for the better. These elements may be catalysts to revive the volunteering fortitude of youth. Truly it takes a single spark to light up a fire.

"If you look inside yourself, and you believe, you can be your own hero" (Mariah Carey). Heroism may come in different forms and perspectives. It may be the characteristic of having or displaying qualities of heroes. It could also be behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope. In my PSYSC experience, many heroic deeds were made known to children who helped them a lot to be familiarized to our Mother Earth’s state. We are the hope for the future; we are the ones responsible and capable for saving our environment. Through this medium, intrepidness was implied.

Two years ago, I was one of the students aspiring to be one of the facilitators of The Children Science Interactive Workshop or CSIW. I was one of students hoping to gain knowledge during lectures, doing workshops, socializing with my co-sub campers, making friends and dreaming of becoming a facilitator. This all started with a phone call, a call which served as a great antecedent for the resurgence of my volunteering and heroic spirit. Just recently, the National Children’s Interactive Workshop 2010 fulfilled my dream by giving me the chance to be one of the 26 Facilitators of the sub camps. This CSIW event has triggered a fraction of what I am to do on my own volition and other gutty deeds.

“Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly” -President Bill Clinton. Volunteerism and heroism goes hand in hand in many ways. Volunteerism is a reflection of heroism. One of which is the aftermath of volunteering, if a person volunteers he can make a difference and take action to change the world around him. This is the main goal of heroism, to make a change, to help for the benefit of others and to work enthusiastically without anything in return. We can help even in our own little ways; maybe these ways can be our means to make a difference.

When you volunteer you become a hero. This was one of the lessons I’ve learned as I enjoyed my stay in Tagaytay for CSIW. I sacrificed my semestral break just for this event. I exerted effort and energy just to join this occasion thus showing the true character of volunteerism. Heroes inspire and amaze many people as facilitators like me do inspire and amazes students in Interactive workshops. Facilitators like me also save the environment as a part of the PSYSC thrust which is the public understanding of science technology and environment. We are heroes.

A hero may not be considered a hero if he doesn't willingly give himself for the service of others. Without a doubt, heroes can never be heroes unless they are volunteers. At the first place, heroes such as those in movies are really volunteers. It is their own will their own prerogative to do what they want to do. Volunteerism works because people willingly give their time and effort for a good cause or idea. These people dedicate their energies, may it be intellectual or physical, to further spread that cause. Heroism works in the same way, whereas the hero, albeit alone, gives everything of himself in defining and defending a nation, an idea, or people.

Now I know that I became a volunteer and a hero at the same time. It is a persona that will be a guide for my fellow youth; to set good example and help others reawaken their spirit; to revive others spirits as well in my volunteering and heroic ways. Our future depends on our own hands, especially to us who have early stages in life. At present is our formative years, we still have the prospect to change; let us not wait for us to be distorted when it’s already too late.

My stay in Tagaytay was very worthwhile; I learned in this place how greatly volunteerism is related to heroism. Due to this dynamic CSIW event I hope that more people would join such events and be able to truly understand volunteerism and heroism.

We can say we are heroes because we volunteer for a cause that goes to the greater good of the Filipino youth. With this I will end up my essay with “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt