Collaboration and Social Change

"Working together toward common goals by sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability in achieving these goals... capitalizing on the multiple talents and perspectives of each group member"

When I think of the collaborative efforts of my past, the one that sticks out the most is probably the most simple, close-to-home example of them all.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a very friendly, generous neighborhood. On my street, there was one man that everyone knew and admired as the sort of patriarch of the neighborhood - Vic. I can remember Vic vividly to this day (I've since moved from that neighborhood), a very kind, unselfish, and gentle man who if anything brought the entire street together and created an atmosphere of collaboration for everyone to take part in. It may sound strange, but without Vic, I'm not so sure my neighborhood would have interacted very much. His presence is very hard to describe in words, but he surely kept things together when issues came about (littering, noise, animals ... common neighborhood problems).

Nevertheless, the collaborative experience I am going to talk about wasn't initiated or led by Vic, but was done for him. Unfortunately, when I turned seven or eight, Vic's health took a turn for the worse, frequently keeping him inside for days at a time. In order to help the man who had done so much for us all, my family brought together everyone in the neighborhood to collaborate in helping Vic with his daily tasks. Parents and older kids would make runs to get him groceries, mow his lawn in the summer, and shovel his driveway in the winter while the younger kids would bring his newspaper inside everyday and visit with him. No matter their personal agenda, everyone made time to help out and support Vic. Everyone had unique talents, whether it be organization to keep his house clean and tidy or landscaping experience to keep his yard in good shape. Each of these abilities came together successfully in making the last months of Vic's life enjoyable.

Vic passed away when I was ten or so, but his imprint on my life and those of my old neighborhood will never die. He taught me the importance of collaboration and communication amongst others to achieve a common goal, and when he needed us to do the same for him, his message clearly stuck as everyone made a strong effort to support him in his final years. While this isolated occasion is not world-changing, it was significant nonetheless. I have now learned a lesson in the importance of collaboration, and as I strive to be a better leader at Ohio State, this lesson will prove very beneficial.