Citizenship

Midterm Reflection
Looking at my experiences so far this semester, I have encountered many instances where my
idea of service and citizenships were expanded and developed. These included a mission trip to
Mexico, serving as UHPs President-elect, and the College of Engineering Leadership Academy.
After diving into the ideals and mechanics of citizenship, I was able to view these experiences
through are sharper-focused lens. John Rawls concepts of Equal Liberty and the Difference
Principle greatly impacted my perspective of service and the purpose it serves extrinsically and
intrinsically.
At the end of February, I was in a plane leaving Charlotte and heading to San Diego. Every
spring break, Impact travels on a mission trip to Mexico, and this year was my third time to
attend. While in Tijuana, Mexico, we partnered with Amor Ministries to construct a home for a
family. Its a simple 2-room structure, and the wood framing, stucco walls, and shingled roof
provide a much sturdier dwelling that what most families in the region live in. It was incredible
to interact with the family while constructing their house because we were giving them more
than a home, we were giving them hope. Each student found somewhere to fit into the process
whether sawing boards, assembling the structure, preparing concrete, or entertaining the familys
children. Every role was vital, important, and flowed from a place of authenticity. Looking back
at those interactions, I discovered many ideal concerning service.
From my mission trip in Mexico, I learned the importance of discovering ones unique purpose
and finding a place to serve which when combined culminate to the fulfilment of genuine
service. In Mexico, our team was reminded that each individual had unique abilities to contribute
to the project, and that no ones contribution was any less than the other. That Kait spending time
with the children was no less important than those building the roof. In college, its important
that each individual spend time exploring their passions, talents, and abilities. Once a student
develops this awareness, its important to seek avenues of expressing this passion. We are each
called to put passion into action. Many people are able to mesh passion with occupation and find
fulfilment of service through their jobs while others can find organizations and initiatives to
invest time and effort into. Either way, individuals are using their talents and passions to benefits
others in society.
These ideals of service I developed this semester flowed into my expression and driving vision
of service for the University Honors Program. At one of our general body meetings this semester,
I took a moment to share that vision with our members. I stressed that college is the best time to
discover our passions, talents, and capabilities. I reminded students that everyone has a purpose,
that we are all unique and empowered individuals. UHP is an opportunity for students to explore
various forms of service through which they can discover what forms best align with their
passions and abilities. I wanted to encourage students to take advantage of their time at UNC
Charlotte. This is an extremely transformative and impactful period in our lives, and my Junior
year has been challenging in these remarks.

The Leadership Academy played a crucial role in exposing an internal challenge and pushing me
into the next phase of my development as a student, individual, and citizen. In October of last
year, I attended the final weekend retreat with the Leadership Academy. One of the exercises
asked us to imagine ourselves at an award ceremony 50 years in the future. I am being presented
with a legacy award to commemorate years of dedication. The question was: what is the legacy
I want to be recognized for? I spent a lot of time considering the question and condensed my
response to two words: Impact and Influence. I related to this occupationally and personally. I
have a desire, through civil engineering, to impact the development of cities and neighborhoods.
I can influence regulations and decisions to benefit the welfare and prosperity of all
neighborhoods, affluent and marginalized. Personally, I want to pour into peoples lives. I want
to impact their lives in a way that changes them for the better and provide mentorship and build
relationships where I can provide counsel and influence an individual positively.
Combining all my observations with the conclusions of John Rawls provided intriguing insight
and developed my understanding of service and citizenship. The Difference Principle was the
most defining concept. It states that social and economic inequalities should be arranged so that
they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged person. This makes benefit for some
proportionate to their contribution toward benefiting the least advantaged persons. Building upon
this and critiquing it, I believe there is no inequality in the passions and talents each person is
gifted with. We are each uniquely gifted which can be perceived as unequal; however, not
innately unequal. Inequality can often be viewed as privilege, which I see as the situation an
individual finds themselves. These situations can provide opportunities to develop and expand
upon ones talents that others may not experience. When an individual is presented with that
opportunity they are called to use that privilege to benefit and improve the wellbeing of the
less advantaged or those unable to expand their talents and abilities. That is service. Genuine
service. When an individual becomes aware of the passions, talents, and abilities; utilizes
opportunities to develop those passions; and puts those passions into action to serve those that
are less fortunate. That act of service may be the opportunity which the less fortunate person
needs to develop their abilities, thus a cycle is created.