Giving is… friendship.

by Jennifer Kim

Closing off yet another school year and watching new graduates leave, it’s hard to imagine where I would be without my friends. Their words, attitudes, and actions have aided in the becoming and molding of what is incessantly known as the ‘new me.’ In all my imperfections, they have continuously shown me love and understanding throughout the years, teaching me humility over pride, altruism over self-interest, giving instead of taking.

Through their sacrifices, they have revealed the measures they would take outside of their comfort zone to provide me with undeserving care. [Even if it means tolerating something as miniscule as my horrible storytelling skills.]

And by their unconditional acts of giving, they have demonstrated that humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking less about yourself and more about others.

So this is a cheers to our friends who have taught us the deeper meaning of what giving truly is.

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Giving Is… today.

by Eddo Kim

Today’s culture reeks of “to-become.” We gloss over the urgency of today and cling to the optimism of tomorrow. Giving is no exception.

Our implicit logic screams at us: “I don’t make six-figures yet, but when I do one day, I’m going to give. OR, I have this crazy idea that’s going to end global poverty one day, but I have to establish myself first, so for now I’ll keep it in my side pocket.”

What’s so profound about this “GIVING IS” campaign is the emphasis on the verb “IS.”

“IS” is the present verb form of “to be,” rejecting its nemesis “to become.” Further, it serves as a linking verb that modifies the predicate adjective or the predicate nominative. Under these definitions, “Giving IS” poses to us an incredible yet uncomfortable challenge. Will we continue to see giving as a scaffolding process in which we merely diminish it as a potential and possibility? Or do we see giving as a re-identification of who we are today, acting as a critical component of defining how we shape our world?

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Giving is… limitless.

by Alice Lee and Grace Baek

We were excited to finally move into our studio. We paid the deposit, signed the papers, scoured Craigslist for cheap furniture, and planned a trip to Ikea to decorate our new place with our limited college budgets. Green, we decided, was going to be our accent color, and the wall next to our heater was going to be covered with photos of our friends. We had a polaroid camera at the time, and we planned to take a picture of each friend who visited our place and have them personalize it. This was to be the added personal touch that would go into decorating our studio as we entered our third year of college, and we loved it.

Over time our photo wall grew, and we would gaze at the wall every so often and reminisce during our study breaks. The photos triggered memories that made us laugh and cringe and remember things that we would have otherwise forgotten. They served as reminders of our friendships and the memories we had with them.

When we lost our apartment in a fire at the end of our senior year, unfortunately these photos were one of the first things to go. But our friendships grew stronger during this time, and these photos were supplemented with the tremendous acts of love and grace that we received. Our friends came together—some who drove six hours across California—and helped us clean, offered to make Target runs to purchase towels and toothpaste and socks, gave us a place to crash and clothes to wear, lent us laptops to use, bought us cheese and tortillas (one of our favorite meals in college), spent time with us, entertained us, called us and wrote encouraging emails to check up on how we were doing, gifted us with money, and prayed for us. We were overwhelmed by their loving and giving hearts and felt so undeserving of this outpour of charity.

It was when we were in this humbling position that we were better able to understand not only what it meant to give, but also to receive. Our friends demonstrated so clearly to us, during this time of loss, a kind of giving that was limitless. And this left a lasting impression on us that has since reminded us of the people we’ve been blessed to have in our lives.

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Giving is… costly.

by Michelle Bang

My knowledge on economics boils down to the concept of opportunity cost. Each decision is accompanied by a choice that was not taken - when my sister chooses a hamburger over salad, she is missing out on better arterial blood flow but gains a muffin-top made of lard over her jeans. Or, in the case of this picture, when I chose to scream and cry in agony, I did not choose to beat the living crap out of my brother, and in turn, he gained sadistic enjoyment. The choices we make come at the price of gaining/losing comfort, convenience, time, finances, and/or services.

Similarly, my knowledge on the human condition amounts to the fact that we are all selfish beings. This may rub some of us the wrong way, but every choice we make over the other is based upon self-satisfaction – why I chose a cash-rewards credit card over a points-based credit card, why I choose to take a cab over saving 10 dollars and taking the subway, why I will choose one unfortunate male to be my boyfriend over another. The decisions we make are founded upon selfish ambition.

So, if the thousands of choices made everyday are chosen according to an individual’s happiness, then is charity possible?

When I visit home after being away for months at a time, my mom spends hours in the kitchen making me my favorite meal only to sit next to me and watch me eat her food. I always thought that was bizarre and thought it was something I would acquire when I became a mother. But, what I have come to realize is that my mom’s joy in giving comes from participating in my contentment. And that is the true essence of giving:

it is only when we realize that our pleasure, our enjoyment, our welfare is deeply contingent on the pleasure, the enjoyment, the welfare of another that selfish decisions can become a little selfless.

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Giving Is… sharing experiences.

by Clara Pyo

People are givers, whether we recognize it or not. If you really think about it, we’re always giving. Surely giving can be made up of the simple things—a hello, a hug, a random act of kindness—these are all part of things we give to others all the time. But what does giving really mean? And why is giving so important?

Giving to me, is ultimately the sharing of experiences. As a daughter or son, sister or brother, a friend, a coworker, a significant other and even as strangers—we celebrate moments together everyday. We give each other time, conversation and company—we’re really constantly giving.

I look back at the experiences of my past and the memories of great milestones, and in them, I see faces—faces of the people who I’ve shared so many great moments with, the faces of those who have helped shape me into who I am. So the greatest gift? It’s spending time, giving your time and sharing you, yourself with those around you.

When we receive a truly lasting gift, we feel grateful. When we give something truly meaningful, we feel content and fulfilled. We may not always realize it right away, but great gifts are memorable because it’s the people that make it possible.

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Giving Is Unexpectedly Reciprocal

Giving Is… unexpectedly reciprocal.

by Kyle Murakami

Processing my past year in Kenya is proving to be a difficult and daunting task. Though, there is one thing I know for sure. It was the best year of my life. I had never been more challenged, alone, inspired, thankful, and everything else that comes with giving a year of your life to something greater than yourself. I thought I was going into Kenya to give my time, (limited) skills and perspective, but I didn’t really know what to expect. As anyone who has taken part in something similar knows, you end up receiving back so much more than you ever gave. I see it as the universe’s way of creating this recycling loop of endless giving and receiving.

I love and really miss the people you see with me in the photo above (the ASH Wamuini staff). They’re pretty much on my mind all the time. I wish I could pop back in to see how things are going, though I know they’re doing just fine without me. Each of them have given me truly invaluable lessons on interacting with people completely different than myself, finding strength during the most difficult times and how to properly give selflessly.

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Giving Is… just the beginning

We all have a lot to give.

That’s why every Monday, we’ll be sharing someone’s story—whether it’s words, a picture, drawing, video, song, you name it—about what giving means to them.

Stories might be about a gift received or one given. It might be about a defining moment, lending hand, advice, or role model. It could be about how a gift changed their day-to-day routine, their relationships, or their life.

Whatever the story, we’re hoping that it gives you a new idea about the act of giving.

So enjoy the content, join the conversation, and keep giving!

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