Social Capital Paper

Social Capital Paper

For my social capital paper, I picked the activity number 6, 30, 89, 97, and 99 from the list of 100 things that a person could do to build their social capital. I must admit that thinking of how to fulfil these activities was a daunting task for me. As an introvert, I always find that I enjoy my company more than that of others. This situation usually leads me to struggle with pleasantries, including something as simple as saying hello to a stranger. In this regard, I was at odds at just where to begin. I tried looking online for ideas of how to manoeuvre social engagements successfully. However, I discovered that the internet was a wrong place to start since the influx of ideas it embodied only served to disorient me further. Hence, I thought of giving myself a few days to contemplate. However, as I am prone to procrastinating, I knew I was stalling. And, no matter how much I tried to talk myself out, the assignment was inescapable. And so, I sat down and gave the list one final glance. Now, looking at it objectively, I was amazed to see that I already had completed several activities in the course of my lifetime. This realization led me to my aha moment in which I realized that I could do it. It was here that I thought to mark the activities closest to my heart and chose to begin before I could change my mind again.

I chose to begin by donating blood. I selected this first because I view donating blood as an intimate and selfless act that embodies a great willingness to help a fellow human. I got the opportunity to do this when I saw a friend’s post on Facebook denoting that he was looking for blood donors to aid his wife, who suffered from kidney failure. She was scheduled for surgery, but her haemoglobin count was too low at only 9gm/dL. As my blood group is O, I knew I would be eligible since I rank as a universal donor. Hence, without thinking about it much, I posted my response declaring that he counts me in among the list of donors.

On a material day, the appointment was slated to start at 9.00 am. I got there about fifteen minutes before the time. As an introvert, I felt it proper to familiarize myself with the place before the arrival of my friend to help reduce the draining effect that social gatherings always made me feel. My friend arrived in the company of three relatives, his two sisters and a cousin. After exchanging pleasantries, we proceeded into the facility where the doctor was expecting us. I chose to go first in my effort to get it over and done with quickly. I was so nervous since it was my first experience that it caught the attention of the doctor. Hence, she chose to take me slowly through the registration process, which further worked to my disadvantage. In my mind, I had approximated that the process would take no more than five minutes. It is what I prepared myself for anyways. However, Dr Barbara, as I later came to learn, opted to take her time filling my health data. I believed she wished I attain calm. However, I knew in my mind that such an outcome was impossible, especially since I had never donated blood before. Hence, it did not surprise me when she denoted that she was struggling to locate my veins. Luckily, I am not afraid of needles. Thus, I chose to exercise activity 99, which is to be humble and gave her the time and cooperation she needed until she finally succeeded in drawing out the blood. At this point, I breathed a sigh of relief since I had long been wishing to exit the social space and return to the comfort of my home.

Unlike the blood donation, donating food to my local bank was a breeze. I decided to do this the next day. The bank was open to receiving donation all days weekdays beginning 8 in the morning till 4 in the evening. Also, it accepted a wide range of produce in whichever quantities that one could afford. This situation made it easy for me to plan. Hence, as it was also my first time, I chose to do it big. I, therefore, went all out and bought as much grocery as my trolley could hold. After that, I drove to the bank with the supplies. I met so many people at the reception, who also had brought food supplies to donate. I attest that I had never been so proud to partake in the endeavour. I wondered why I had never thought of doing it before. After seeing the faces of gratitude expressed by the receptionists handling the process, I vowed to make food donations at least once each month to the facility.

A week after this incident, I got the opportunity to fulfil activity 89, which is to volunteer to drive someone. I extended this favour to a friend, who I have been hosting for quite some time. His name is Dave. He works at one of the local laundry shops in my area and had been struggling to see himself through driving school. His work enabled him to save for his classes. However, considering that he pays child support to his twin daughters from a severed relationship, he seldom kept that much most of the time. In spite of this, I admired his commitment to his family. At least, he gave me a reason to display activity 99, which is to acknowledge the self-worth of others. Dave wanted so much to learn how to drive. He wished he could borrow my car once in a while to travel and see his children. He often thought it burdensome to engage them in public transportation, especially since their mother owned a car. The children were thus not accustomed to public transport. Anyways, on that day, Dave approached me and requested that I loan him $60 so he could pay for his driving test. Although he felt embarrassed, I knew he could lack it, considering the demands of his family and the little earnings he made as an attendant in a laundry shop. He promised to pay it back once he got his pay. I not only gave Dave the money but also offered to drive him to his test since it was a weekend. I joked that I would be his chauffeur for the day and that he would have to return the favour by driving me as well once he got his licence. Dave never anticipated the gesture. I attest that the expression on his face in seeing me drive him was priceless. It made me feel so proud.

My last social activity was number 97, which is to volunteer to deliver meals on wheels in my community. I must say that it was the most challenging of all. However, as I had vowed to partake in activities I never experienced, I decided to do it. Hence, I went online to the Meals on Wheels website and called the number registered on the web. The recipient, Sarah, partnered me with a Meals on Wheels program near my residence. I arrived at the facility a few minutes before noon and was handed several meals packed in neatly folded trays and placed inside insulated bags. I went to every household I was asked, knocked on doors, and delivered the meals to the owners in person. I must say that this experience was humbling. It saddened me to know how lonely these seniors lived. Several of them even confessed that I had been the first person they had seen all day. Hearing this was heartbreaking. Although I am an introvert, I struggled to engage them in small talk to help them feel that I empathized with their situations. This endeavour led me to further make strides towards the attainment of activity 99, which denotes for one to aim to be real. After the experience, as I sat quietly in my reflection, I wondered how society would treat me when I age. I wished so much that I had company in those years to help discourage the onset of loneliness. In my mind, a voice told me that I could only expect such a reward if I aimed to give as well. In this regard, I made my second vow, to volunteer to deliver meals on wheels at least one weekend each month.

I believe that these experiences helped to transform my view of social capital. Before, I was terrified of the idea of challenging my normal. I seldom stepped out of my comfort zone and tried to get to know, engage, and help those around me. However, I now recognize the relevance of social connectedness in improving humanity.

Social connectedness is a prerequisite for the success of any civilization (Putman 66). Any society organized in a manner that promoted civic engagement and social welfare and is most likely to experience holistic growth in its governance, economic, and social realms. This situation arises because life becomes easier for the masses when they invest in social capital (Putman 67). It is no rocket science. When people come together, they enhance their ability to achieve much more compared to when they stand alone.

From Putnam’s instigation, I feel that I cannot afford to play a passive role in my society regardless of my personality and fears. I realize that the long-term benefits of a robust social network outweigh the pleasures of the things that pull us away from it. Take the instance when I helped to save a life by donating blood, or feed the hungry by donating food and transporting food, or taken a moment to give my service and company to the destitute. In each instance, I denoted joy both in myself and among the people I helped. Such an outcome would have been impossible had I chosen to lock myself into my world instead. In this regard, I vow to continue to share and experience happiness by taking on more opportunities to be of service to others.

Work Cited

Putnam, Robert D. “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital.” Journal of Democracy,

vol. 6.1, (1995): pp. 65–78.