In today's "what can you do for me now" world, the good of the individual is almost always put first and foremost. However, for our society to continue to thrive and be prosperous, people need to think a little more about how their actions affect the lives of others — not just their own.

Even though personal needs are always important, they shouldn't be put above the needs of the entire community. While the purpose of civic engagement is the betterment of the community, to contribute, one must understand what they can bring to the table. Everybody has different abilities, economic situations and time constraints. The purpose of civic engagement is to give as much as you can to help others.

While a million-dollar donation can go a long way toward helping a charity, what good would it do if no one was on the front line helping the people directly? Civic engagement doesn't require money or expertise, just the willingness to sacrifice what you don't need for the betterment of others.

While I don't have the money to make a difference, I do have the time and desire, and in the future I will try to use that time for a purpose greater than just myself.

Finn Curran | Grade 12, Kaiser High School