What do you do for a living, and do you feelwhat you do is a positive impact on other humans or the planet?

Answer 1

I tutor and test college students with disabilities. Yes, I do feel that what I do has a positive impact on their lives and the lives of others.

Answer 2

I am semi-retired now, but in my life I have worked for several years in a homeless shelter and volunteered in a variety of non-profit organizations. I think I have done some good during that time. My latest venture is working with Habitat for Humanity which will give me an opportunity to use the building trades skills I have learned.

One thing I have learned is sometimes just a simple smile will brighten up a another person's day and can affect their day for the better.

Answer 3

I am a CNA and sometimes a substitute teacher. I have a bachelor's degree, but the jobs it would get me were emotionally and spiritually draining. I love working at the nursing home, not because of the long hours, being constantly under-staffed and have all the **** roll down-hill, but because I get to make a difference in the lives of those who cannot help themselves.

When I sub, its the same thing. I know I wont change anyone's life after one day in their classroom, but it is work that matters. And that is very important to me.

I am actually trying to find an online degree program to turn my BS degree into a teaching degree, that my state would accept.

Answer 4

I work in a women's prison as a dentist. I try to help whenever possible. Most of my patients say that I'm doing a good job. I think that I'm making a positive impact on the women I treat.

Answer 5

I'm a professional magician. I know what you're thinking already...

One evening, I was performing at a restaurant (I used to run a staff of twelve magicians for a chain of restaurants.) at a table of about twelve people. We were having a good time and they really seemed to enjoy themselves. At the end of my performance, the gentleman at the head of the table, apparently the 'patriarch' of the group, motioned for me to come over. I leaned down and he said, "I just want you to know that we buried my youngest son today." Well, you can imagine what I was thinking. Here I was doing my shtick, going for the laughs and making their eyes pop and they had just come from a funeral. Then he said, " What we really needed to do was laugh. God bless you for giving us your talent." It was one of those moments where I knew that what I do counts, that I make a difference in people's lives, if only for a moment.

I've had others too. I've found ways to bring the wonder of magic to the blind. I've had children with special needs beam with pride after helping me with a magic trick, either on stage or at their seat in a restaurant. I've gotten big hugs at Special Olympics from athletes overcome with joy at being involved in my show. Yes, I think I can say that what I do makes a positive impact on other humans on the planet.

Answer 6

I work for a government agency that serves a wide range of humanitarian needs. We do our best to serve the public but we could do so much more with the appropriate financial backing - right now our "Line of Power" feels "our public" is not that important - Kind of a Republican vs Democrat thing! Cheer up, things will probably get worse before they get better.

Answer 7

I'm a Sociologist, a mother of 3, a Sunday School Teacher, and most of all a woman. Definitely!!!

Answer 8

I'm a teacher. This is a second career; my first career was as a reporter. I liked my first job and was good at it and had a lot of fun in it, but I like teaching better.

Every day, I help about 150 teenagers learn how to read, write, think and reason. I help them to access the language. I help grow their brains and give them words to think and talk with. Given that I've taught for 14 years now, I've probably had over 2,000 kids pass through all my classes.

I'm a department chair, so I lead my department and shield them from "administrivia" and tell them only the important stuff they need to know. I don't have to have a homeroom where I teach, but I volunteer to, because we have a 20-minute period of sustained silent reading. I know that if I have a homeroom, they will be reading and/or doing homework every day. I make sure they are building their brains with constant, consistent thought.

And once a year, I take 8th grade "graduates" on a reward field trip to a theme park along with other teacher chaperones. It makes for a LONG day, from 7am to 2am -- teaching from 7am to 3pm, then taking them to the theme park and getting back in the wee hours of the morning! But my students are always excited that I am coming along with them to party during their last few days of 8th grade. They know I care because I give my time.

I structure their learning so all I have to do is give directions, and they are able to accomplish the tasks on their own or in small groups. I don't hover over them, but let them discover on their own what they need to know.

I am tough on them when they are too soft on themselves, and I am compassionate with them when life or other kids are hard on them. All my students know I have their back, will go to bat for them, will feed them if they are hungry, give them a jacket if they are cold. I keep water in my classroom. I reward them for good behavior, good attitudes, good thinking, good scores, in fair, firm, appropriate, consistent ways.

From the quote often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have
lived:
This is to have succeeded."

Success isn't just about making money and "making it" in our capitalistic culture. I am happy to make good middle-class money and make a difference in the lives of other people as well as have significant time off, because I love to travel and I have a lot of other hobbies as well. When I am at work, my mind is focused on work, but I also leave work at work, and make sure I have a life outside of work.

I enjoyed and got a lot out of being a reporter, and getting a degree in journalism and working for a while in that industry did me a lot of good. But teaching really does mean touching a life forever. Another teacher once said to me, with some kids you just plant a seed; with other kids you water a seed that some one else already planted, and a few will bloom under your care. No matter what stage a kid is at, I work hard to be a positive influence on them, and to push them as far as they can go in the school year that I have them.

Cheers, K who feels like she's found her niche

Answer 9

I do what I can....where I can ....

What a wonderful bunch of posters we have here today I am much impressed.......thanks all .

To be able to be of help implies a great responsibility on us all .