"Making commitments"
Commitment. It's defined as a pledge, promise, or obligation; three different verbs that can change the meaning of the word almost completely. When I myself hear the word 'commitment', I tend to think more along the lines of a personal relationship with someone. Other people who are more professional may compare it to customer satisfaction. As for the obligatory meaning of it, people who are charged with saving lives feel this definition most. In a way, making a commitment, regardless of the reason behind it, is like taking a step to better oneself as a person. It teaches responsibility and sometimes even presents a lesson in sacrifice.
We as students are faced with the sometimes-burden-sometimes-blessing of going through at least 13 years of education. Many see it as a choice or a complete waste of time (hence why there are always a few empty seats in every class), but it's really more of a obligatory commitment. One thing's for sure, it makes us better people - and the same goes for the people who are teaching us. If students think they have it bad, they've obviously failed at looking at commitment and responsibility from a teacher's standpoint. As much as it's frowned upon, at least we can ditch class and come back some other time (usually before class is best, although it rarely works that way) and ask for the homework and anything else that was missed. The teachers, however, would get in a lot of trouble if they just didn't feel like going to work one day, as nice as it would be for their students to get their homework the next class. The minute they decide to take those university courses is when the commitment begins.
The most rewarding type of commitment, at least in my opinion, is the kind that comes from making a promise to one specific person. People find humor in that most men are commitment phobes, and it's often true. Even though men seem to enjoy their bachelor status, what they often don't realize is what they're missing out on. But sometimes girls are guilty of straying too. In the musical-made-movie Rent , Maureen just can't seem to commit to her girlfriend Joanne - everywhere she goes where there's another woman, she can't seem to help but flirt. She's hot, and she knows it. This conflict almost brings an end to their relationship, especially after the catfight they have at their own engagement party. Being in a serious relationship myself, I have to wonder what it is that makes people stray from their significant others. Is it the rush? The feeling that more people want you because you're in a relationship? I might never know, because to me, being in a relationship is pointless unless there's some level of commitment involved. One of the most common myths I keep hearing is how teenagers don't know what real love is, or shouldn't involve themselves in serious relationships because they'll never last. Yeah, alright. Maybe not in high school, they don't. But for a senior and a third year university student, it's really not that hard. Something in me just won't allow myself to get involved in any sort of fling. I believe it's because I know I'll end up falling for the person, which will only end in heartache considering the circumstances. After all, it's common knowledge and proven theory that girls link emotion with physical or even sexual contact.
It may seem like a strange example, but to be perfectly honest, it was the Power Rangers series that first came to my mind when thinking of obligatory commitment. I've recently been watching a few of the old episodes, and there was one where the leader of the team got really fed up because his secret identity was starting to affect his personal life, and his dream of becoming a professional soccer player was on the line. Spiderman is also another example. The thing about fictional super heros is that their storylines automatically call for some sort of conflict between their personal and secret lives. But it all comes down to the same thing - they feel they have to help the innocent because they have the power to do so. But more often than not, what some people may see as a "gift" ends up to be their greatest curse. A less-fictional example are firefighters, policemen, and even the soliders over in Iraq. Every second they're on the job, they know they run the risk of not coming back. Most of them are married and with kids, so if something happened to them it would be devastating. But still, it's a risk they knew they'd be taking, and they've chosen to make that specific commitment. This is probably one of the most unselfish kinds of commitments a person can ever make, because it's for the cause of saving lives, even if it means giving their own.
The bottom line is that not a whole lot of people really value true commitments anymore. Committed relationships seem to have become less popular due to one-night stands and physical relationships where it's all about the sex. So-called "customer satisfaction" has lost it's value to sheer greed and cranky salesmen. Those who put their lives on the line for us don't get the respect they deserve, either. People are just so preoccupied in their own lives that they forget about the small things. The importance of such responsibility has been overlooked because people have so much going on in their lives.
Commitment. It's defined as a pledge, promise, or obligation; three different verbs that can change the meaning of the word almost completely. When I myself hear the word 'commitment', I tend to think more along the lines of a personal relationship with someone. Other people who are more professional may compare it to customer satisfaction. As for the obligatory meaning of it, people who are charged with saving lives feel this definition most. In a way, making a commitment, regardless of the reason behind it, is like taking a step to better oneself as a person. It teaches responsibility and sometimes even presents a lesson in sacrifice.
We as students are faced with the sometimes-burden-sometimes-blessing of going through at least 13 years of education. Many see it as a choice or a complete waste of time (hence why there are always a few empty seats in every class), but it's really more of a obligatory commitment. One thing's for sure, it makes us better people - and the same goes for the people who are teaching us. If students think they have it bad, they've obviously failed at looking at commitment and responsibility from a teacher's standpoint. As much as it's frowned upon, at least we can ditch class and come back some other time (usually before class is best, although it rarely works that way) and ask for the homework and anything else that was missed. The teachers, however, would get in a lot of trouble if they just didn't feel like going to work one day, as nice as it would be for their students to get their homework the next class. The minute they decide to take those university courses is when the commitment begins.
The most rewarding type of commitment, at least in my opinion, is the kind that comes from making a promise to one specific person. People find humor in that most men are commitment phobes, and it's often true. Even though men seem to enjoy their bachelor status, what they often don't realize is what they're missing out on. But sometimes girls are guilty of straying too. In the musical-made-movie Rent , Maureen just can't seem to commit to her girlfriend Joanne - everywhere she goes where there's another woman, she can't seem to help but flirt. She's hot, and she knows it. This conflict almost brings an end to their relationship, especially after the catfight they have at their own engagement party. Being in a serious relationship myself, I have to wonder what it is that makes people stray from their significant others. Is it the rush? The feeling that more people want you because you're in a relationship? I might never know, because to me, being in a relationship is pointless unless there's some level of commitment involved. One of the most common myths I keep hearing is how teenagers don't know what real love is, or shouldn't involve themselves in serious relationships because they'll never last. Yeah, alright. Maybe not in high school, they don't. But for a senior and a third year university student, it's really not that hard. Something in me just won't allow myself to get involved in any sort of fling. I believe it's because I know I'll end up falling for the person, which will only end in heartache considering the circumstances. After all, it's common knowledge and proven theory that girls link emotion with physical or even sexual contact.
It may seem like a strange example, but to be perfectly honest, it was the Power Rangers series that first came to my mind when thinking of obligatory commitment. I've recently been watching a few of the old episodes, and there was one where the leader of the team got really fed up because his secret identity was starting to affect his personal life, and his dream of becoming a professional soccer player was on the line. Spiderman is also another example. The thing about fictional super heros is that their storylines automatically call for some sort of conflict between their personal and secret lives. But it all comes down to the same thing - they feel they have to help the innocent because they have the power to do so. But more often than not, what some people may see as a "gift" ends up to be their greatest curse. A less-fictional example are firefighters, policemen, and even the soliders over in Iraq. Every second they're on the job, they know they run the risk of not coming back. Most of them are married and with kids, so if something happened to them it would be devastating. But still, it's a risk they knew they'd be taking, and they've chosen to make that specific commitment. This is probably one of the most unselfish kinds of commitments a person can ever make, because it's for the cause of saving lives, even if it means giving their own.
The bottom line is that not a whole lot of people really value true commitments anymore. Committed relationships seem to have become less popular due to one-night stands and physical relationships where it's all about the sex. So-called "customer satisfaction" has lost it's value to sheer greed and cranky salesmen. Those who put their lives on the line for us don't get the respect they deserve, either. People are just so preoccupied in their own lives that they forget about the small things. The importance of such responsibility has been overlooked because people have so much going on in their lives.
