Something small but concerning I noticed during the first week of classes was the pileup of trash around overflowing trash cans. It’s common to find trash cans around campus that people fill up a foot or two above capacity.
This made me realize that someone chose to balance a bag of fast food on top of an overflowing trash can instead of taking a minute or two to find a can that wasn’t spilling trash all over the ground.
These kinds of actions are usually decided by what is convenient to the individual, and the argument is usually one like “if many other people do it, it’s fine if I do it. At least if someone takes action, I won’t be close to the only one accountable.”
All of us have done similar things and justified them with the idea that “someone else in my position will come along and take the time to do the dishes or take out the trash, even though I could just as easily be that person.”
Such a mindset is inherently selfish and individualistic, and I find it all too common in our everyday lives.
A selfish mentality can infect a workplace, a household or a classroom. Whether that’s litter on a sidewalk, dishes piling up in a kitchen or a classroom going quiet when a teacher asks for an answer. It just takes one person to break the ice, lead the way or make a difference.
Your one act of selfishness will most likely not bring someone great sorrow. However, a concentration of many absent-minded and selfish acts, such as litter building up in a community, can create an adverse environment that’s less healthy and enjoyable for its members.
A mindset that puts one’s well-being above the well-being of the community, knowing that the community will suffer as a result — no matter how small the effect — will inherently negatively affect the community.
You don’t have to go out of your way and make it your life mission; just be practical and within reason.
And if you don’t need to hear that message, I implore you to help others understand. If your friend happens to litter for no good reason, though there never really is one, encourage them not to do so.
Your one act of consideration does not immediately inspire 10 others to do the same. Still, it’s easy to chip away at a society that needs a less individualistic mentality. No action is too small to impact your community.
Cole Jersek is a junior world cinema major from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. Cole can be reached at [email protected].
