Sociological Mindfulness

During the past week in Sociology, we have discussed all of the larger forces that shape who we are and what we have come to be because of the sociological imagination and how it shapes our society socially.  Discussions have given us evidence that our society is shaped in a way that it is in a particular social way because of the large amounts of influence we observe on a day to day basis on Earth.  From the story we read, Outliers, it really helped me understand sociology more clearly and how it effects people in a community based on social groups and other higher forces present.  It's so crucial for people to not pass through life not contemplating about how the actions they are performing are completed based on influences in their surrondings and shaping some of the most simple actions they make.  Having a sociological open mind allows one to answer questions regarding their purpose for existence on God's green Earth and to conclude what one wants to achieve on this short quest called life.  We can all make a difference in the world we live in and it can all start with giving back to the community which is part of our assingment for Sociology.  Community service allows us scholars to be exposed to the sociological world and it gives us the opportunity to help citizens in need of a helping hand.  This service experience is an excercise in sociological mindfulness that allows us to understand ourselves and each other better living a more meaningful life from these experiences.  The actions that we take in our social society carve a huge impact on the individuals around us and it's important that we understand these elements.  It's similar to a dominoe effect that occurs when one person does something many other people join in to help attain the issue or event.  An example of the sociological imagination I can give is how when I make conversations with the people I work with after school, the impact regarding the advice toward an issue or topic can be life changing in many instances.  I am very inspiring and motivated to help underpaid workers the opportunity to move up in the work place in order to attain bigger and better dreams.  One doesn't realize the impact they make towards the person they give a hand to because they are so distracted from the larger forces shaping us individuals personallly.  The only question is what mark do you want to make before exiting God's green Earth?   

Who am I?

Hey everyone!  My name's Steven Kiley and I'm a senior at Stevenson this year.  I'm very excited for high school to be concluded and I can't wait to start a new chapter in my life.  I have many interests outside of school including aviation, cycling, kayaking, and swimming.  I love to be near the water anywhere in the world and I love to travel to new places.  My Dad, my sister and myself traveled to Antarctica in 2000 for the millennium and I loved seeing the south pole and what life survived in the deep south.  I love to bicycle around the country meeting new people and seeing how our country is shaped and formed to what it is today.  This past summer and the previous summer I traveled to the Pacific Northwest on a bicycle tour for 18 days traveling north of Seattle into Vancouver and ferrying the San Juan Islands.  Coming south we traveled to Victoria, BC and other mainland hotspots in Washington embracing the breathtaking scenery and amazing people along the way of my adventure.  This has made me realize what my purposes are in life and what I want to do in my future.  Exploring new land and endlessly changing horizons appeal to me in order to find my main purposes in life and to live with a variety of new experiences!