Many great scholars have suggested that it is our duty and our responsibility to "do good" in life, to find genuine motivation from the heart, and to expecting nothing in return besides the satisfaction of the value of our accomplishments in their benefit to others. My Christian upbringing included concepts such as loving my neighbors as I love myself. In that regard, I often recall the story of the poor old woman who possessed nothing more than a handful of pennies but who gave all she had to the poor despite having little more than they did. I was taught that humbling one's self enough to give to others before doing for one's self, one honors the will of God.

I have tried to implement that principle in my life by enrolling in a community service organization called spell out the organization here (FTFT). In the FTFT, I volunteered at hospitals, took part in charity fundraisers, visited the elderly and helped renovate schools. My favorite initiative was the "midnight run" during which we collected all types of clothing, sanitary items, and prepared and distributed hot meals to the needy living on the streets of Denver. It was nothing short of a life-changing experience. Seeing people sleeping in subway stations and in boxes helped me appreciate the roof I have over my head as I never had before. Also, I was...

We found a jacket a size smaller but it fit him perfectly. He was already walking away with it when he took off the jacket and handed it back to me. I asked him if something was wrong with it, he said "Here, Man. I don't really need this that bad. I have one already; it's not much but it's OK for now and maybe someone else needs this one more than me." I was speechless even though I thought I already appreciated the story about the penniless old woman.
Seeing it in person at that level really had an impact on me emotionally. It greatly reinforced my commitment to community service. Community Service is an opportunity to share our blessings and good fortune with those who are less fortunate and in need of our help. My FTFT experience exposed me to the suffering of others in a way that really magnified my gratitude for all that I have and my aspiration to accomplish something meaningful in my life in a way that relates to helping others who are less fortunate.