Give and Take
Citizenship, a concept that I had not considered before coming abroad, has taught me so much this semester and has governed my experience in Italy. I realized that I had not thought much about the subject because of my immobility. The theories behind citizenship have taught me how to be a “good citizen” in various societies. Citizenship and the rhetoric behind it are very important because citizenship fosters a community. It is the basis for which we are all similar. There were three major things that I took away from being an engaged citizen while living in Venice; those include: defining what membership means, what duties are necessary, and fostering an inclusive environment. Although living in Venice has been vastly different than my everyday life on campus, there are some examples of citizenship that I have taken on here and can take back to Wake Forest.
The first thing I must do when I return to Wake Forest is define what it means to be a student at this university. While there are some similarities that I share with others by being a college student, there is a certain uniqueness that comes with Wake. Defining what it means to be a temporary citizen of Venice helped me to first feel a part of the Venice community. In addition, it helped me to figure out my duties as a result. Being a temporary citizen means valuing a place that people don’t really want to get to know. In a previous entry I mentioned that living in Venice means having “pride in a place that many forget is home.” By defining what this meant, I was able to appreciate Venice and all that it had to offer, unlike those just passing through. If I had skipped this step, I believe I would have overlooked many valuable places in Venice because it is not the Rialto Bridge or Saint’s Mark Square.
Furthermore, after defining what it means to be a Wake student and my duties thereof, I must actively participate in the community in a positive way. Participating within your community in a positive way is one of the duties that goes along with membership. While one person’s contribution may look different than another, everyone must contribute. I have contributed positively by reading “the local” every week—a website for Italian news in English. By reading the various articles I am up to date on the issues going on. Contributing to the community is my responsibility. While at Wake, my contribution will look different as I am able to participate in service to better my environment.
Lastly, there must be an environment where everyone feels included. An inclusive environment allows everyone to fulfill their duties freely. When people feel like they are the “other” they become duty-bound citizens as opposed to purposely engaged citizens. Citizens should contribute to their community with a purpose—to see it flourish, not just participate because they have to. In addition, in order to create an inclusive space there must be an open dialogue that does not exclude people because of their differences. When people engage in purposeful rhetoric, stereotypes or weak arguments that negatively affect inclusiveness can be broken down. I remember one specific day, me and my roommates discussed all of our biases that we knowingly have. In this dialogue everyone was able to express their views and we got rid of those biases because we talked them out. Everyone can contribute to Casa Artom, more specifically to our room, in a positive manner, freely.
Overall, my time here in Venice has been remarkable because I understood my role as a citizen. Citizenship is a powerful tool that everyone must take part in. Through different citizenship models, we can learn about who we are, about others, and come together to build a community. I believe that by one defining the membership, understanding your responsibilities and including others one can understand the basis of citizenship.
The first thing I must do when I return to Wake Forest is define what it means to be a student at this university. While there are some similarities that I share with others by being a college student, there is a certain uniqueness that comes with Wake. Defining what it means to be a temporary citizen of Venice helped me to first feel a part of the Venice community. In addition, it helped me to figure out my duties as a result. Being a temporary citizen means valuing a place that people don’t really want to get to know. In a previous entry I mentioned that living in Venice means having “pride in a place that many forget is home.” By defining what this meant, I was able to appreciate Venice and all that it had to offer, unlike those just passing through. If I had skipped this step, I believe I would have overlooked many valuable places in Venice because it is not the Rialto Bridge or Saint’s Mark Square.
Furthermore, after defining what it means to be a Wake student and my duties thereof, I must actively participate in the community in a positive way. Participating within your community in a positive way is one of the duties that goes along with membership. While one person’s contribution may look different than another, everyone must contribute. I have contributed positively by reading “the local” every week—a website for Italian news in English. By reading the various articles I am up to date on the issues going on. Contributing to the community is my responsibility. While at Wake, my contribution will look different as I am able to participate in service to better my environment.
Lastly, there must be an environment where everyone feels included. An inclusive environment allows everyone to fulfill their duties freely. When people feel like they are the “other” they become duty-bound citizens as opposed to purposely engaged citizens. Citizens should contribute to their community with a purpose—to see it flourish, not just participate because they have to. In addition, in order to create an inclusive space there must be an open dialogue that does not exclude people because of their differences. When people engage in purposeful rhetoric, stereotypes or weak arguments that negatively affect inclusiveness can be broken down. I remember one specific day, me and my roommates discussed all of our biases that we knowingly have. In this dialogue everyone was able to express their views and we got rid of those biases because we talked them out. Everyone can contribute to Casa Artom, more specifically to our room, in a positive manner, freely.
Overall, my time here in Venice has been remarkable because I understood my role as a citizen. Citizenship is a powerful tool that everyone must take part in. Through different citizenship models, we can learn about who we are, about others, and come together to build a community. I believe that by one defining the membership, understanding your responsibilities and including others one can understand the basis of citizenship.