Selfless

Selflessness is defined as the act of sacrificing one’s own interest for the greater good. Selflessness is Doctor Paul Farmer. This is an educated man who could have done anything with his life. He could have worked for a hospital, maintained a steady job, and made a large amount of money. Instead, this man spends his days treating people who are less fortunate and tries to make a difference in people’s lives. This is the man who I mentioned in class discussions that “stepped up” and actually did make a difference rather than talk about it. The prompt asks what about him resonates with me, and I respond his legacy. Dr. Farmer spends only four months of the year with his family and spends the rest of the year helping patients in areas such as Haiti (23). He holds the health of others higher than he does his own family. His selflessness is beyond what most people can comprehend. He doesn’t even have a comfortable house as he travels, he just stays in a tent just like everyone else (51).

Farmer is the hero for this class as we are trying to make a difference with our work with service learning. If this man can bring so much positive change into the lives of many almost alone, imagine the possibilities we can do as communities. Just this past week as I looked at food banks for the food assessment project, I learned that local farmers donate excess to them in order to share with people around the community who are in need to food. Finding this our surprised me because I thought all the food was provided from the USDA but was also community driven. It was great to hear that the efforts that we have all been talking about in class have really been put to action in small communities around Marin County. These acts may not match the selflessness of Paul Farmer but it is what it is: selflessness.