Lessons from Worth A Second Look

After a number of times volunteering at WASL, I've began to notice some important aspects of the project, as well as learn a couple things about myself.

1. In last term's course, we talked a lot about the economy. I really didn't understand at the time how the economy was coming into play in our ethics course, and to be honest, I didn't really take much from it out of the classroom. However, during my last shift at WASL, some things really started clicking for me.
   Scott discussed how in today's world, we go "out there" to do economics with people we don't know. We have these high-level, superficial relationships with the person working the till and at most, may learn their name from their name-tag. Moreover, businesses operate for one reason: to produce a commodity for the purpose of making a profit.
   This is not the way in which WASL works. Over 50% of the customers that walk through the store doors are known by name; they have built real relationships with the workers at WASL and there time spent in the store is equally divided between shopping and talking with the workers.
   Secondly, nothing in the store is priced to make a profit. They are priced to keep the store operating at bare minimum. They are not out to make big bucks - instead, one reason is to be an outlet for people in the community to feel a part of the rest of the world by providing them with purchasing power. In an earlier post, I wrote about a man buying a fish net. After much thought, time spent at WASL and a talk with Joanne, I think I finally get it. Many people have the luxury of being able to drive to the mall, browse through the shops and leave with $250 worth of clothes and items and not think much of it. We have the money to, with some restrictions, purchase more or less what we want when we want. But not everyone in the world is afforded such luxuries... so the ability for that man to walk into WASL and buy a fish net gave him the feeling of being able to casually walk into a store and buy something he wants. This action, which seemed so insignificant to me, was helping him feel like he had purchasing power and made him a part of the society that feels that on a regular basis.


2. The second thing I've learned is that I need to stop being so critical and instead, try to understand where others are coming from. The need for this has come up in class a number of times and it was a part of the website Jen showed us. Again, the man with the fish net is a perfect example... I was quick to piece together his clothing, his speech and his purchase choice to form a conclusion about his personality, habits, intellect, etc. This is a huge flaw of mine and I have to say, WASL is helping me with this more than I could imagine.
   I'm beginning to wonder, though, if I'll ever be able to fulfill the 'understand' part. Can I really imagine what it is like to live paycheck-to-paycheck?-or to not have a permanent house to sleep in? And if not, will this affect the amount of support and help I will be able to provide?
   
3. Lastly, after the first few shifts at WASL I was left without much to say, which frustrated me beyond belief. I have now learned that not everything I participate in has to have important significance or involve a life changing moment. I should be open to the idea that I am performing a service which helps the community and that's it! -Any lessons that I end up learning are extra. The things that will have lasting impressions on me are the things that came to me as I was casually going about my duties at WASL... not when I was sitting down telling myself "Come on Matt... you must have learned something today!"

Anyways, sorry as always for the long post! I just can never seem to get my thoughts together in a short amount of space.

Peace Out!