Preview

Pay It Forward

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1139 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Pay It Forward
Pay It Forward University of Phoenix
PSY/490
August 27, 2012
Radha Shankar

Pay It Forward
The ability to give of one’s self is within every individual; it is an endless waterfall of giving and receiving. When an individual does something nice or caring for another, the individual receiving the kindness generally feels the need to give back; it moves recipients to share and increase the act of kindness they have received. Unfortunately, in some instances, an act of kindness can turn negative if the recipient is not open to receiving; the Good Samaritans law assists individuals with helping others without repercussions. A good Samaritan (in legal terms) “…refers to someone who renders aid in an emergency…” (UsLegal, 2012, p. 1). Being a good Samaritan in itself is an act of kindness; one is not obligated to stop and help in an emergency and in most cases, individuals walk away.
An Act of Kindness
The act of kindness that I preformed recently happened in early August; I was at the grocery store and saw a family of four shopping; I noticed their cart had very little food and the mother kept putting food back that the kids were asking for; I started a conversation with her about the economy and how tough it’s getting for everyone. As we talked I could see her stress levels rise; I made her aware of various government and state resources that I was certain she would qualify for. The mother began to tell me that she has applied for those resources but has never heard anything back from the agency; I gave her my number and told her to give me a call and I would do my best to advocate for her. I then bought her groceries and told her not to worry about it. Part of my job at Partners in Housing is to help advocate for individuals who need specific resources but are not certain how to go about applying for them; the woman called the next day and I began the process of advocating for her. When I checked up on her, I found out she had received food assistance,



References: UsLegal, (2012). Good Samaritans Law and Legal Definition. http://definitions.uslegal.com/g/good-samaritans/

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Near the holiday, we set up a Halloween party for the homeless at Morning Star and the neighborhood children. In this event, food was passed out to those people sitting there cold and alone. Some people even donated clothing to them, so by the end of the night, they were filled with warmth which came apparent from the smiles they flashed. I have learned to uphold a greater respect for others than I did four years ago. Some people may hold less respect for these people by the little that they are able to offer, but I gained even more because they’re there accepting help when in their position and some wouldn’t even show their faces. It wasn’t much that we were able to change, but our small deed made them happy even if it was just for a night which they expressed their bountiful…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A good Samaritan; Is the person who help others, without asking asking for something. They help because it touches the pain of others. The term comes from a Bible Parable. A good Samaritan risk his life to help others. The story talks about a man who was beaten and robbed in the roads of Jerusalem. And a good Samaritan had compassion of him and he help him.(source 1) In “ If Decency Doesn’t, Law Should Make Us Good Samaritans” (source 1) and “Good Samaritans U.S.A. Are Afraid to Act” (source 2) They have similarities and differences in their main ideas, Different arguments, and discussion of laws.…

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Countless people are familiar with the term Samaritan, but the amount of people who comprehend the actual meaning of the word is scarce. The term ‘Good Samaritan’ derives from a parable told by Jesus Christ and is mentioned in the bible. In the story, the ‘Good Samaritan’ witnesses a “half dead man”, so he “[takes] pity on him”, and offers him bandages along with shelter (Luke 10:30-35). This parable is evidence that assisting strangers is existent from the beginning of human history, excluding the minority who choose not to aid a soul in need. In order to prevent this from happening, force must be used to help the victims of injury. The United States of America…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Our first questions and issue discussed deals with the subject “Good Samaritan.” We as a team had to decide should jurisdictions have a “Good Samaritan” law requiring an individual to help another if he or she is able. Without thought or time wasted debating one another, we all agree (except Frank) that no there should not be “Good Samaritan” law. We believed that if individuals want to assist when someone is in distress he or she would do so no matter what. Also our team (except Frank) feels if it were a law that would promote vigilantism. Frank believes if individuals knew there was a law that allows them to help others in a time of need, perhaps more people would get involved when witnessing someone in need of help. Within our team, individually we have done numerous things that are considered acting as a Good Samaritan. Such as helping out car accident victims, helping mom change her tire and lending money to our friend to catch up on some bills.…

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Psy/490 Pay It Forward

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages

    I chose to perform an anonymous act of kindness in the drive thru at Starbucks Friday morning on the way to work in completion of this assignment when I paid for the customer’s order behind me. I thought about it for a little while wondering if they too would pay it forward. So last night I was looking at my Facebook page, and my Aunt Theresa posted “So I went to Starbucks this morning (long line!!) When I got to the window cashier said the car in front of me paid for my drink! I thought whoo hoo! and then I asked why.. she said the car in front of them paid for theirs and the car in front of them paid for theirs... so.. I paid for the car behind me.. Paying it Forward today...”…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In New Orleans, you can spot a homeless person at every corner. Some are overly dressed for the long cold nights. Others, can’t even afford any type of clothes. Many of these homeless people carry a piece of cardboard asking for money or food. Occasionally, someone will stop and give them money with the uncertainty that the money will be spent on drugs or alcohol. What people fail to realize is that one simple act of kindness can change a person's day.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In my arrogance, I underestimated how small actions such as cooking can unknowingly provide a touching effect on others. Internally, I complained about about how I felt that my actions were insignificant while people in the same building are living through moments of emotional pain and torment. I realized that my attitude was immature and inconsiderate. Due to the emotional distress that these families are currently enduring, they need relief from the additional stress of getting food or paying for electricity. By cooking and volunteering, we may have been able to momentarily alleviate some of the burden these families face and allow them more time to focus on the health of their…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin, a great novelist, poet, and author once said “At times we feel outnumbered in our attempts to improve the world—to brighten and beautify, to preserve and heal and do what’s best for humanity. Selfless efforts can start to feel beleaguering, discouraging, even pointless with so little support. It is at these times I remind myself that I would rather be the last Good Samaritan standing than to join the ranks of selfish multitudes creating misery.” which gives us an image of being a good samaritan, and how even sometimes, the best of people can fall into selfish hole but it's those that come back up and show the world positivity that are true heroes and meant to heroes. In the short informative news article, “Can the Law Make Us Be Decent”, “Jay Silver Sterling” leans toward the decision of there…

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” the man who was robbed and left for dead was shown no compassion by the people passing by, even by a priest. They show no interest to the man and looked the other way. That is until the Samaritan passed by and showed him compassion, and only then did then did the robbed man’s suffering stop. “[…] bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him“(34). This displays that only compassion can stop people from hurting. If no one had shown this man compassion as the Samaritan did, surely he would have…

    • 580 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Performing the act of kindness of providing money for food to someone in need helped to build moral character for both parties involved. The person in need, perhaps has gained knowledge he or she is not alone and others do care about what happens to him or her. The person receiving the gift may reciprocate the act by searching for jobs or applying for social support. The person giving the gift has become responsible to help others; this act can lead to bigger acts in the community of aid to others. Many people in the community practicing altruism can be beneficial in teaching social responsibility to others. In such efforts to promote altruism limits exist in persuading others to become responsible in the plight.…

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Pay It Forward” is a movement started by a 7th grader named Trevor McKinney. This idea of him was formed in his Social Studies class when his teacher, Mr. Simonet gave an assignment- think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor conjures the notion of paying favour not back, but forward. This means repaying good deeds not with payback, but with new good deeds done to three new people. His initial recipients are a drug addict, his badly scarred teacher, and a classmate who is constantly bullied at school.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the movie Pay It Forward, there are many great examples of good morals that we could and should use every day in our lives. More specifically, there are multiple themes of Catholic Social teaching displayed throughout the film. Though all of these are significant, the most prominent theme can be said to be the Call to Family, Community and Participation.…

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The random act of kindness that I completed this week was buying an old man a coffee in front of me at Starbucks. He ordered a Grande Pike with room. I heard the order and said “I’ll get that miss” and without even hesitating handed over my card to pay for the drink. The older man look at me with a cracked smile and confused kind of look before muttering the words “you didn’t have to do that young man, but thank you” I replied with a smile on my face “no problem Sir”.…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    lives of these children. As I read and play with them, I realize how simple…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This summer I took a trip with my church to the Appalachian mountains on a service project. The trip was through an organization called the ASP or Appalachian Service Project. The goal of this organization is to make homes dryer, safer and warmer for people in need of better living conditions. Durring my trip there we helped a family with four children all under the age of four. They had electricy but they did not have suffiecent running water. As the week progressed my team of people from my church helped fix the house. We helped this family close a hole in the side of their house made from the previous winter, we helped fix the stairs up the side of the mountain to their house and we gave their plumbing system back to them. All of the things we did made their house safer to live in. The hole that was fixed in the side of the house would cut down the amount of money the family would have to spend on keeping the house warm in the winter, The stairs we built gave them access to their house without the change of slipping down the side of the mountain. The plumbing was fixed and we were able…

    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics