This is my revision piece first you will see my original paper followed by my revised version in blue.
Communities are necessary for Survival
When individuals join a community, we are looking to fill a hole in our life. We could be looking for Social interaction, competition with others, a source of stability or possibly a family connection. Most people are looking for a place where they feel wanted and needed. Others may be looking for answer to questions about their past, their families and where they came from. Communities exist to offer support and a means of connection with others in our lives. As humans we desire to be told where we belong and what we are supposed to be doing, we tend to look for groups where the rules are laid out in front of us.
Communities give us access to a variety of resources and whether we choose to accept them or rebel against them is up to each individual. While we tend to seek out these groups to enrich our lives, the experiences we encounter are not always positive, but being able to handle what comes our way is a vital part of survival.
We want someone who shares our likes and dislikes, a friend who we can turn to in times of need and also share the joys in life with. Ultimately we want someone in this life that will accept us for who we are, this is one thing we are looking for when we reach out to communities.
Often the first introduction we have to community is through our own family. For many celebrating your familial background is very important, while others do not even know what their background is. In the essay “My Filipino Roots” Alex Espinoza talks about her family’s heritage which consist of Mexican, Italian and Filipino. Espinoza can connect with her Mexican and Italian roots however when it comes to the Filipino roots there is a missing link as she was never introduced this culture. “I think that growing up in such a homogenized community like mine, where at least 80 percent of the population is white, didn’t really allow me to delve into my cultural identity because people don’t celebrate their backgrounds” (131).
This is true for many people we, grow up knowing only bits and pieces about where our family came from and use that to build our community. I interviewed a close friend, and asked her if she knew what her cultural background is and if it was celebrated when she was growing up with any special traditions or holidays. She responded “I am a mixed breed, a little this and a little of that. It was not something we specifically celebrated or talked about growing up”. My family was identified as being Christian and we were a part of that community from day one.
This is true for many people we, grow up knowing only bits and pieces about where our family came from and use that to build our community. I interviewed a close friend, and asked her if she knew what her cultural background is and if it was celebrated when she was growing up with any special traditions or holidays. She responded “I am a mixed breed, a little this and a little of that. It was not something we specifically celebrated or talked about growing up”. My family was identified as being Christian and we were a part of that community from day one.
An abundant source of social interaction comes from taking part in worship or fellowship. When one joins a church we enter communities of people who are all there for a common purpose. There are many activities and opportunities to celebrate gain connections with others, from joining the choir, Sunday school classes, bible study, picnics and holiday celebrations. Having access to so many things can really fulfill the human need to be wanted and needed. Every person has the right to believe in who and what they choose. For some not following the teachings of the “leader” is unacceptable and can cause communities to separate.
Life style choices can lead us to seek out communities that will fill a need in our life. In the essay “A Secret Society of the Starving” Mim Udovitch takes into the world of eating disorders and we see how they draw someone in and fill the needs to be connected and with others who are just like us. “When young women get into the grips of this disease, their thoughts become very distorted, and part of it is they believe they’re unique and special” (152). If you are part of something that makes you feel that way you will continue with the action that gives the response you are seeking. “Women in eating disorders really thrive in a lot of ways on being very disconnected. At the same time, of course, they have a yearning to be connected”(Udovitch 152).
The communities we seek do not always have a positive benefit. While we believe that we will be accepted for who we are, it is not always the case. If the community is convincing in making us feel welcomed, we can be blinded to the damage we are actually inflicting on ourselves. In the essay “A Secret Society of the Starving” Mim Udovitch takes us into the world of eating disorders and we see how one is drawn in and there needs to be connected with others like them are filled, and the effects it has on a person. “When a young woman gets into the grips of this disease, their thoughts become distorted, and part of it is they believe they’re unique and special” (152). When someone is anorexic, there is certainly a self-esteem issue present, when someone suffering from negative self-esteem finds something that makes them happy, perhaps brings on feelings that they are unique and special, one would want to repeat whatever behaviors brought on the euphoric feelings, even if the actions are causing untold damage to our bodies.
There are all kinds of communities out there. These groups provide vast opportunities for social interaction, finding friends and building relationships to places for us to learn about whom we are and where we came from. Communities are there for support in good times and bad you just have to reach out and explore them to find the one that gives you what you need.
(Revision)
Communities are Necessary for Survival
When we join a community, we are looking to fill a hole in our life. One could be looking for social interaction, competition with others, a source of stability or possibly a family connection. Most people are looking for a place where they feel wanted and needed. Others may be looking for answer to questions about their past, their families and where they came from. As humans we desire to be told where we belong and what we are supposed to be doing, we tend to look for groups where the rules are laid out in front of us. Communities exist to offer support and a means of connection with others in our lives.
For many celebrating familial background is very important, while others do not even know what their background is. In the essay “My Filipino Roots” Alex Espinoza talks about her family’s heritage which consist of Mexican, Italian and Filipino. Espinoza can connect with her Mexican and Italian roots however when it comes to the Filipino roots there is a missing link as she was never introduced this culture. “I think that growing up in such a homogenized community like mine, where at least 80 percent of the population is white, didn’t really allow me to delve into my cultural identity because people don’t celebrate their backgrounds” (131). This is true for many people we, grow up knowing only bits and pieces about where our family came from and use that to build our community. I interviewed a close friend, and asked her if she knew what her cultural background is and if it was celebrated when she was growing up with any special traditions or holidays. She responded “I am a mixed breed, a little this and a little of that. It was not something we specifically celebrated or talked about growing up”. My family was identified as being Christian and we were a part of that community from day one.
While we tend to seek out groups to enrich our lives, the experiences we encounter are not always positive. Life style choices can lead us to seek out communities that will fill a hole in our life. In the essay “A Secret Society of the Starving” Mim Udovitch takes us into the world of eating disorders and we see how they draw someone in and fill the needs to be connected and with others who are just like us. “Women in eating disorders really thrive in a lot of ways on being very disconnected. At the same time, of course, they have a yearning to be connected” (Udovitch 152) No one wants to be seen in a negative light but there is still a desire to be a part of the group. I had a friend in high school that battled anorexic. I remember going out to dinner with her and she would order a bowl of plain white rice and a diet coke. Every time her drink would come she would always smell it then ask one of us to taste it to ensure it was diet. She mainly lived off of carrots, diet coke and sticks of gum. My friend did not want to miss out on the time with her friends so she did what she could to be with us while at the same time controlling what she put in her body, filling her need to be with friends and at the same time answering to the pulls of her anorexic community ties.
There are all kinds of communities out there. These groups provide vast opportunities for social interaction, finding friends and building relationships to places for us to learn about whom we are and where we came from. Communities are there for support in good times and bad you just have to reach out and explore them to find the one that gives you what you need.
Works Cited
Espinoza, Alex. “My Filipino Roots” 130-132
Udovitch, Mim “A Secret Society of the Starving” 149-157
Catherine Burchard “Interview subject”
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