For Goodness' Sake Do Something

 

 

 

I have a degree from a top-ranked university and work a white-collar job, live in a big coastal city, and hang out with and consume a lot of content from white-collar workers with degrees from top-ranked universities living in big coastal cities. All of us would say we are trying to use our privilege, knowledge, and influence to do good in the world. And what that looks like will necessarily look different for different people. But I think it's important that, at least for some part of your life, it means doing something really tangible that contributes to good. Both to achieve some small good in this world, and also to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the hard, boring, and sustained work that it takes to do good in this world.

Maybe this sounds obvious, but how often do we not think to get involved in these ways, even look down on those who do and consider our own involvement to be beneath us? I recall a recent grad who came to me for career advice a few years back, when I was on the school board in my city, and when they mentioned their interest in urban education, I suggested they attend an upcoming public meeting, to see how "the sausage is made," so to speak. They looked at me with such a confused look, as if to say "what does a mundane school board meeting have to do with my interest in urban education." Which, of course, was confusing to me; the meeting I was inviting them to was, after all, urban education in action.

We who are cocooned in our "lattes and laptops" lifestyle need to get out there and do something. Attend a city council or school board meeting, or better yet run to sit in those seats. Sit on a board of a non-profit that provides direct services and volunteer regularly. Even better, don't post about it on social media: just do it, and not just once but over and over again. It may not be your life's work, but if you're not even on the playing field itself, how can you credibly say you're about doing good?