Example Of Essay On How The Class Pushes Me Out Of My Comfort Zone

In the book, Paul Rogat Loeb describes various scenarios of individuals who go beyond their comfort zones to engage in productive activities within their communities as a means of fostering community development and well-being. One of these characters who go beyond her comfort zone to engage in activities that would benefit her community is a Maine housewife, who engages in a path-breaking campaign geared towards facilitating finance reform. Despite being a housewife, whose husband provides everything to support their family, the Maine housewife sees the need to ensure that children are not subjected to a cynical world, as such she engages in financial reform campaign that focus on creating financial reforms, hence securing the needs of the future generation.
Paul Loeb also describes a scenario of a 100 year old environmental activist, who celebrates her birthday, while believing that she can do more for her environment. The activist feels that, at her age, she can still work and ensure that the environment is sustainably used for purposes of environmental security and sustainable development. Additionally, Loeb narrates the story of an Island Teacher, who despite earning a decent salary and is protected by a Teachers’ Union, decides to fight for the rights of young workers who are mistreated with their employer, the Gap. The teacher’s decision was informed by a video indicating the despair of a young female worker at the Gap Cloth Company. Another scenario of a person that goes beyond his comfort zone to fight for the rights of his community as indicated in the book is an 8th Grade school dropout, who joins one of the community groups existing in San Antonio. The 8th grade dropout referred as Barrio decides to give a helping hand to the community group by assisting in the design of an innovative work program, followed by a testimony before the United States Senate. Consequently, in his book, Paul Loeb describes a scenario of an African-American man, who after spending 17 years in prison, decides to engage in drug rehabilitation activities. This man is driven by a passion to help people struggling to recover from addiction through provision of a language that they can understand.

This class has enhanced my understanding of community services and their important roles; it has also enhanced by understanding of the importance of participating in various community development oriented-services and why it should be a personal driven initiative. As such, I have decided to participate in a voluntary community service program, by assisting new students who enroll at the college and those who have just arrived in the United States to solve various challenges they may face at the initial years of enrolment for instance: Problems associated with adaptation to a new culture, getting acquainted with various programs within the University and other parts of the United States.

What Loeb means by Patchwork Activist

In the perspective of Paul Loeb, patchwork activist basically involves a scenario where one attempts to make his/her life count by engaging in community activism. However, Loeb asserts that such activism is based on a personal initiative or a personal idea and desire to engage in activities that would improve the well-being of the community.

My Patchwork Activism

After learning various issues ascribed to the importance of engaging in community service activities, my patchwork activism has involved provision of voluntary service to new students enrolling from in the University, especially foreign students to solve various challenges that they may encounter.