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Julio Gabryel A. Roxas

Sem 3 Prof. Carlo Tinio,

M.A.L.

Midterm Paper

"The Values Needed to be Inculcated in Our Hearts and Minds"

Each and every one of us sees the world differently. We look at a particular thing and may
either see good in it, bad, or maybe even be totally apathetic towards it. I, personally, have been
apathetic towards most of the things I see on a daily basis. Nothing excites nor interests me. I have
almost completely lost my faith in humanity. In a world where ignorance and lack of discipline is a
norm, I think it's easy to understand my position. Where people walk under an overpass specifically
built for crossing the street, in a world where a candy wrapper cannot even be kept in a person's
pocket, in a world where a public utility vehicle driver will cause an absurd amount of traffic just for
that extra 9 pesos, one would easily see why my world views are a bit bleak. But in my own little
ways, I try to create changes and, though it may be a shot for the stars, try to inspire change in some
people I meet every day.

Discipline, as Kim Brenneman has defined it, is "being able to force yourself to do something,
in spite of how you feel, over and over until it becomes a habit." Lal Bahadur Shastri described it as
"the real source of strength for the nation." Sadly, it is one of the values where Filipinos are lacking
the most. Filipinos cannot seem to fathom the idea of following simple rules, of showing the most
common of courtesies, and of exhibiting elementary etiquettes. We have, for the most part, just
gone by what everyone else is doing and have just done what is easy and hassle-free without
thinking of the other people's well-being. I say that the Philippines and the Filipinos will never ever
taste development and growth and the sweet taste of a good and comfortable life until we learn this
simple value. Now you may ask how I create and inspire change, and what challenges do I face in my
everyday life to bring about social transformation. Well it starts, as all things do, simply. I don't
always commute from one place to another, but when I do, most of the time the jeepney driver
would stop somewhere nowhere near a pedestrian lane. As my own way of creating and inspiring
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change, I would walk that 30 to 50 meters just to go to that pedestrian lane to use it when crossing
the road. As I walk, I maybe would like to chew on something while walking. I might buy a candy or a
chewing gum from the vendor that is selling his goods near the sidewalk. I would eat the candy and
put the candy wrapper in my pocket instead of throwing it on the streets. I would greet the mall
security guard as I enter, and thank the waiters and waitresses for the meal that they have served
me. These things, these simple things, however elementary and simple they are, are my ways of
creating change in this world. And when I do these things, I hope beyond hope that someone will be
inspired to exhibit that same kind of behavior as I did. I must note, however, that I am not perfect.
On bad days I would forget to do these things, on bad days I may even go the opposite way and do
the things I said are the bad traits of our fellow countrymen. That is the challenge. The challenge of
staying disciplined. The challenge of staying true to my principles, to upholding my values, the
challenge of my every day.

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Empathy is the ability to understand and share the thoughts and feelings of another.
Empathy has a simple meaning but I would like to expand the meaning of the word to more than just
the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of another. Empathy should be the ability to
understand all of the world's problems: political, social, economical, environmental, criminal, etc.
People should be able to appreciate the glaring fact that the world is burning, both literally and
metaphorically. The world is spiralling down but the world at large has turned their backs on it and
instead focuses on pointless things driver by greed and pride. Though a few people are fighting and
waging wars against these problems, the thing is, they are only a few. If people would only have
more empathy towards even listening and recognizing these problems, change may be brought
about. And what more if empathy to bring about action is done. The challenge here is overcoming
one's apathy. That is my very challenge. I have looked at the world through black and white lenses
and couldn't see colors anymore. The challenge I face is to get rid of apathy and start to look at the
world with hope. The challenge I face is to take action and bring about the change I want.

I guess that is why I am in law school pursuing a law degree. I guess that is why I want to
become a lawyer. Because being equipped with my knowledge of the law, I can use it to effectuate
social transformations. I can use it to start a revolution. A revolution of thinking, a revolution led by
intellectual thinkers and active doers that will finally start to solve these problems that we face in

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https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/there-are-actually-3-types-of-empathy-heres-how-they-differ-and-how-you-
can-develop-them-all.html
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this world. A revolution principled on discipline and empathy. A revolution that will spread across the
far reaches of our planet, one that will have a good effect on every person on Earth, one that will
trample corrupt politicians and their dirty administrations, one that will clean our oceans and air, one
that will eradicate poverty and end starvation, one that will eliminate criminality and all the dark evils
in the world.

These are the two values I think are most important that we inculcate in our hearts and
minds. Discipline and Empathy. With these two values, all other values just come along with it. With
these two values, we can effect Social Transformation.