The Role of Volunteering in Citizenship: Why you should give back to Wolfville
Nolan Turnbull
Sports and Wellness Editor
We are fortunate to attend this wonderful institution that is embedded in the amazing community of Wolfville. Wolfville is supportive of the university, its students, and its programs, and provides a plethora of opportunities that enhance your Acadia experience. Citizenship can be defined as the responsibilities that come with being a member of a community. Most people would think of these responsibilities as things such as recycling, voting and being a law-abiding citizen. However, being a good citizen goes far beyond that. Citizenship should mean lifting the bar to make your community a better place. Peter Druker once said that “the best way to predict the future is to create it”. So how can you accomplish this? In my opinion, the best way to do this is to volunteer. The smallest actions can help brighten everyone’s day and create a chain reaction of good deeds. You can’t expect your community to grow and flourish if you don’t contribute. I was once told the quote: “a society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they shall never see”. This quote shows that we may not reap the benefits of our actions, but it doesn’t mean that these actions go unnoticed. We are making a difference that will better the lives of those who follow us. Volunteering will allow you to say “I helped do that” when you drive back through the streets of Wolfville in twenty years. By making a difference you are a part of the puzzle that makes up our community. Small actions both through volunteering and on the street define us both as people, but also as committed and caring citizens. Volunteering allows us to give back and say thank you as well as help us continue the legacy of those who have shaped our society, and our time here at Acadia. Thank you Wolfville.
