Active citizenship is when “community becomes a priority in values and life choice”, transitioning from a member to volunteer to conscious citizen to an active citizen (Davidson). Active citizens take initiative and have the desire to become involved, acting the part of a citizen. “Thus, active citizenship draws together ideas of participation, rights-based development, and recognition of the importance of good governance and the role of the state in responding to and supporting development programs and interventions. It emphasizes and seeks ways for citizens, especially poor and marginalized groups, to exercise their rights and engage with state and other agencies in doing development. Participation leads to active citizenship when communities begin to organize themselves out of the traditional 'development project' and look to influence local, national, or international policies or decision making” (Missingham).
Active citizens become “active”, by doing this: becoming involved and committed to the community and prioritizing community involvement. Active citizenship is done by engaging “in flexible decision making as characterized from influential citizen participation which contains activities like voting, joining public hearings, being part of citizen boards and participating in public opinion analyses”. (Seyedali) An active citizen feels an obligation to better the community and worry about the community, not only themselves. Active citizens live for others, and do their part in everything to make sure they are involved in the community and the events that take place. This means the citizen cannot sit back and wait to be “lead”, they need to take incentive themselves. Because “Avoiding responsibility, compliance, and caution on the part of employees and citizens is a bigger problem than control and self-centeredness on the part of “leaders.” The solution is not to keep trying to create better leaders, it is to explore how to become accountable citizens” (Block). When everyone waits for a leader, than nothing is accomplished because no one acts for themselves. It is not sufficient to follow because in order to be an active citizen, one needs to follow their values and stand up for their beliefs, being involved in the community.
When you start to follow your beliefs, and stand up for what you think is right then “individual anger, fear, and sorrow [turns] into something better and stronger. We had begun as a small group of people in my living room and ended up as a force to be reckoned with” (Pipher). One a few people stood up for their beliefs, then they were able to gather support, and fight for their cause, being a part of the community and succeeding. This is an act of leadership and active citizenship, however this is not the only way to be an active citizen. For example, other ways to be an active citizen are to vote, serve the community, and just be involved and committed. Also as Kouzes said, “At first, I was a bit overwhelmed with the discovery of how many opportunities I had in a single day to act as a better leader. But as I have gotten to put these ideas into practice I have been pleasantly surprised by how much improvement I have been able to make by being more conscientious and intentional about acting as a leader” (Kouzes).
Leadership is often mistaken as big, courageous acts, making people believe they are incapable of being a leader, and active citizen. However, there are ways everyone can display leadership on a daily basis, it is achievable and a display of active citizenship. Everyone has the capacity to be an active citizen. Overall, “there are three main features that active citizens have in common: safeguard of the rights to satisfy individual and community’s needs for the general interest; empowerment meant as acquisition of competences through which people, organizations and communities can change their social and political environment; care of the common goods according to a shared management so that everybody can participate to decisions related to the use and fruition of such goods” (D'Ambrosi). One way this can be achieved is by the 7 C’s, “Consciousness of Self, Congruence, Commitment, Collaboration, Common Purpose, Controversy with Civility, Citizenship” (Social Change Model). Following these “7 C’s”, one is able to create that social change needed to be considered an active citizen.
College students are able to live out the ideals of active citizenship by making their college a community. By viewing their college as a community, they have the opportunity to become involved and committed to bettering this community. Just by voting on issues that come up, putting input in areas of improvement, serving the community, and respecting all citizens. I believe that Virginia Tech passively encourages active citizenship, because knowing and understanding active citizenship gives me the ability to see the subtle encouragement. For example, encouragement to be respectful, represent the “Hokie nation”, and serve. However, the encouragement is not quite active because it does not educate the students on being an active citizen, so the efforts are often overlooked and the importance is not always understood.
Specifically at Virginia Tech, students can live out Ut Prosim, so that I may serve, by being involved in bettering and aiding the community. Students can put others first at times to help serve their needs, and improve the community, not only the Virginia Tech community, but the greater New River Valley area. Small ways, of picking up litter on campus, to bigger community wide projects of betterment are all ways in which we can live out Ut Prosim. Unfortunately, to many people Ut Prosim is just a motto, something they say, but do not mean. However, it easily can become a way of life if the students embrace the true meaning, deeply and completely to live their life to serve others, prioritizing the community and service.
Virginia Tech can do a better job of encouraging students to live out Ut Prosim and be an active citizen by not just saying the motto, but educating the students about active citizenship and Ut Prosim. By teaching and reflecting on service and ways we embraced Ut Prosim would better create an understanding how to truly be an active citizen. Inspiring students to take an interest in the community, or a specific issue, so they value this, and commit to being involved, an active citizen, developing those passions. Personally, I think I can encourage other students to be active citizens by living as an active citizen. I can also use my understanding of active citizenship to inform others how to become more involved, like voting, living out Ut Prosim by serving the Virginia Tech community and the greater New River Valley community, and fighting for your beliefs. Once students are committed and passionate about a cause, then this will help the transition to an active citizen because they care, so they want to fight for this cause and prioritize this issue.
Before learning about the roles in the community, I did not have a greater understanding of the places in the active citizen continuum. I was definitely lower on the spectrum, only a volunteer. Specifically, when, I was really “just a volunteer” was in high school when I did work with a soup kitchen. I was concerned with the issue, but not well educated. I just would show up and want to help, without really digging deeper to learn more about the specific people I was serving, the organization, or the real issue. I did not ask the “whys” or question what we were doing, or wanting to understand the impact. I just wanted to help, but now I understand that is not enough, and digging deeper is necessary.
Now I am transitioning from a volunteer to a conscious citizen. This year has really asked me to evaluate and question what I am doing, asking why. This semester really changed my views on volunteering because I discovered volunteering is not always good, and without being educated and researching before you volunteer damage can be done. I saw the importance of education and research before doing a service because being uneducated causes sometimes useless service, or negative. Just because someone has good intentions does not mean it is good, the issue needs to be evaluated deeper to fully understand the consequence, so it can be actually positive and beneficial. Also, I understand the importance on reflection and the need to do it in order to take away lessons from the type of service that was done.
I am definitely more interested and wanting to develop my knowledge, and questioning what I am doing to make sure it’s helpful. I want to continue with the paths of food insecurity. I have attended many of the campus kitchen Radford-Fairlawn Our Daily Bread events. I really enjoy these events, especially when I was able to hear a little a bit about the story behind some of the people and servers. When Joanne told me about the project and the overall future goal, and about the people who work at Our Daily Bread, and the hard work they put in, it gave me a deeper connection and appreciation for the work being done. This gives me opportunity to ask more questions, being curious, and expand my commitment and knowledge of this issue. I can move towards becoming an active citizen by putting the community/issue first before making decisions, not just thinking of myself. When the community becomes my first priority, and a value then I will be an active citizen. With every project I work on, I can think about the whys, and what this issue will affect, and how it can be improved. Valuing this issue, wanting to solve it and act on it, making it a priority and commitment, this is when I will be an active citizen.
References
Ahrari, Seyedali, et al. Journal of Applied Sciences (Asian Network for Scientific Information): Active Citizenship by Active Learning. 14 Vol. Asian Network for Scientific Information, 12/01/2014. Web. 31 Oct. 2015.
D'Ambrosi, Lucia. "RELATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP." European Scientific Journal 10.32 (2014)ProQuest. Web. 31 Oct. 2015.
Clarke, Matthew, and Bruce Missingham. “Active Citizenship and Social Accountability”. Development in Practice 19.8 (2009): 955–963. Web...
Davidson, Alastair. "The Active Citizen and Beyond." Australian Citizenship in the Twentieth Century From Subject to Citizen (1997): 217-22. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Mode, About The. The Social Change Model of Leadership Development (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Block, Peter. "From Leadership to Citizenship." From Insights of Leadership (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Kouzes, James M., and Barry Z. Posner. Leadership Is Everyone's Business. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer, 2007. Print.
Pipher, Mary. "Reluctant Activists." (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Active citizens become “active”, by doing this: becoming involved and committed to the community and prioritizing community involvement. Active citizenship is done by engaging “in flexible decision making as characterized from influential citizen participation which contains activities like voting, joining public hearings, being part of citizen boards and participating in public opinion analyses”. (Seyedali) An active citizen feels an obligation to better the community and worry about the community, not only themselves. Active citizens live for others, and do their part in everything to make sure they are involved in the community and the events that take place. This means the citizen cannot sit back and wait to be “lead”, they need to take incentive themselves. Because “Avoiding responsibility, compliance, and caution on the part of employees and citizens is a bigger problem than control and self-centeredness on the part of “leaders.” The solution is not to keep trying to create better leaders, it is to explore how to become accountable citizens” (Block). When everyone waits for a leader, than nothing is accomplished because no one acts for themselves. It is not sufficient to follow because in order to be an active citizen, one needs to follow their values and stand up for their beliefs, being involved in the community.
When you start to follow your beliefs, and stand up for what you think is right then “individual anger, fear, and sorrow [turns] into something better and stronger. We had begun as a small group of people in my living room and ended up as a force to be reckoned with” (Pipher). One a few people stood up for their beliefs, then they were able to gather support, and fight for their cause, being a part of the community and succeeding. This is an act of leadership and active citizenship, however this is not the only way to be an active citizen. For example, other ways to be an active citizen are to vote, serve the community, and just be involved and committed. Also as Kouzes said, “At first, I was a bit overwhelmed with the discovery of how many opportunities I had in a single day to act as a better leader. But as I have gotten to put these ideas into practice I have been pleasantly surprised by how much improvement I have been able to make by being more conscientious and intentional about acting as a leader” (Kouzes).
Leadership is often mistaken as big, courageous acts, making people believe they are incapable of being a leader, and active citizen. However, there are ways everyone can display leadership on a daily basis, it is achievable and a display of active citizenship. Everyone has the capacity to be an active citizen. Overall, “there are three main features that active citizens have in common: safeguard of the rights to satisfy individual and community’s needs for the general interest; empowerment meant as acquisition of competences through which people, organizations and communities can change their social and political environment; care of the common goods according to a shared management so that everybody can participate to decisions related to the use and fruition of such goods” (D'Ambrosi). One way this can be achieved is by the 7 C’s, “Consciousness of Self, Congruence, Commitment, Collaboration, Common Purpose, Controversy with Civility, Citizenship” (Social Change Model). Following these “7 C’s”, one is able to create that social change needed to be considered an active citizen.
College students are able to live out the ideals of active citizenship by making their college a community. By viewing their college as a community, they have the opportunity to become involved and committed to bettering this community. Just by voting on issues that come up, putting input in areas of improvement, serving the community, and respecting all citizens. I believe that Virginia Tech passively encourages active citizenship, because knowing and understanding active citizenship gives me the ability to see the subtle encouragement. For example, encouragement to be respectful, represent the “Hokie nation”, and serve. However, the encouragement is not quite active because it does not educate the students on being an active citizen, so the efforts are often overlooked and the importance is not always understood.
Specifically at Virginia Tech, students can live out Ut Prosim, so that I may serve, by being involved in bettering and aiding the community. Students can put others first at times to help serve their needs, and improve the community, not only the Virginia Tech community, but the greater New River Valley area. Small ways, of picking up litter on campus, to bigger community wide projects of betterment are all ways in which we can live out Ut Prosim. Unfortunately, to many people Ut Prosim is just a motto, something they say, but do not mean. However, it easily can become a way of life if the students embrace the true meaning, deeply and completely to live their life to serve others, prioritizing the community and service.
Virginia Tech can do a better job of encouraging students to live out Ut Prosim and be an active citizen by not just saying the motto, but educating the students about active citizenship and Ut Prosim. By teaching and reflecting on service and ways we embraced Ut Prosim would better create an understanding how to truly be an active citizen. Inspiring students to take an interest in the community, or a specific issue, so they value this, and commit to being involved, an active citizen, developing those passions. Personally, I think I can encourage other students to be active citizens by living as an active citizen. I can also use my understanding of active citizenship to inform others how to become more involved, like voting, living out Ut Prosim by serving the Virginia Tech community and the greater New River Valley community, and fighting for your beliefs. Once students are committed and passionate about a cause, then this will help the transition to an active citizen because they care, so they want to fight for this cause and prioritize this issue.
Before learning about the roles in the community, I did not have a greater understanding of the places in the active citizen continuum. I was definitely lower on the spectrum, only a volunteer. Specifically, when, I was really “just a volunteer” was in high school when I did work with a soup kitchen. I was concerned with the issue, but not well educated. I just would show up and want to help, without really digging deeper to learn more about the specific people I was serving, the organization, or the real issue. I did not ask the “whys” or question what we were doing, or wanting to understand the impact. I just wanted to help, but now I understand that is not enough, and digging deeper is necessary.
Now I am transitioning from a volunteer to a conscious citizen. This year has really asked me to evaluate and question what I am doing, asking why. This semester really changed my views on volunteering because I discovered volunteering is not always good, and without being educated and researching before you volunteer damage can be done. I saw the importance of education and research before doing a service because being uneducated causes sometimes useless service, or negative. Just because someone has good intentions does not mean it is good, the issue needs to be evaluated deeper to fully understand the consequence, so it can be actually positive and beneficial. Also, I understand the importance on reflection and the need to do it in order to take away lessons from the type of service that was done.
I am definitely more interested and wanting to develop my knowledge, and questioning what I am doing to make sure it’s helpful. I want to continue with the paths of food insecurity. I have attended many of the campus kitchen Radford-Fairlawn Our Daily Bread events. I really enjoy these events, especially when I was able to hear a little a bit about the story behind some of the people and servers. When Joanne told me about the project and the overall future goal, and about the people who work at Our Daily Bread, and the hard work they put in, it gave me a deeper connection and appreciation for the work being done. This gives me opportunity to ask more questions, being curious, and expand my commitment and knowledge of this issue. I can move towards becoming an active citizen by putting the community/issue first before making decisions, not just thinking of myself. When the community becomes my first priority, and a value then I will be an active citizen. With every project I work on, I can think about the whys, and what this issue will affect, and how it can be improved. Valuing this issue, wanting to solve it and act on it, making it a priority and commitment, this is when I will be an active citizen.
References
Ahrari, Seyedali, et al. Journal of Applied Sciences (Asian Network for Scientific Information): Active Citizenship by Active Learning. 14 Vol. Asian Network for Scientific Information, 12/01/2014. Web. 31 Oct. 2015.
D'Ambrosi, Lucia. "RELATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP." European Scientific Journal 10.32 (2014)ProQuest. Web. 31 Oct. 2015.
Clarke, Matthew, and Bruce Missingham. “Active Citizenship and Social Accountability”. Development in Practice 19.8 (2009): 955–963. Web...
Davidson, Alastair. "The Active Citizen and Beyond." Australian Citizenship in the Twentieth Century From Subject to Citizen (1997): 217-22. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Mode, About The. The Social Change Model of Leadership Development (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Block, Peter. "From Leadership to Citizenship." From Insights of Leadership (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.
Kouzes, James M., and Barry Z. Posner. Leadership Is Everyone's Business. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer, 2007. Print.
Pipher, Mary. "Reluctant Activists." (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.