This week (May 5-11) marks the official Public Service Recognition Week, a time to honor the people who serve at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

There's a song in Tagalog (Filipino) that my choir sang often, which
begins with the lyric, "There is no one who lives solely for
himself/herself" (English translation). My early awareness of the social injustice/justice issues facing my community, as well as my faith, have both led me to living a life as a servant-leader. Thus, rather than giving into the "only child syndrome", I realized early in life that there was more to my life than me. Nevermind that I grew up using a language that capitalizes "I" while leaving "us" in lowercase (unless of course, it comes at the beginning of a sentence).

Even with this lesson in English grammar, the desire, and need, to serve, does not necessarily conflict with the American spirit of individualism and choice. In fact, public service can be an expression, even a celebration, of this freedom. I serve not merely as a handout (which could actually be offensive), but to empower others so they too, may be able to share in the celebration.

As for living a life of service through government...I'll leave that possibility open. 

Below is an article from Monday's Washington Post about young people considering a career in public service.

Not Asked What They Can Do for Their Country

By Stephen Barr
Monday, May 5, 2008; D01

Asking makes a difference.

Roughly a third of young Americans would give a "great deal of
consideration" to entering government service if asked by their
parents, a teacher or -- surprisingly -- the next president of the
United States, according to a Gallup survey.

But, for the most part, no one is urging them to think about public
service. Sixty percent of the survey respondents under age 30 said they
had never been asked to consider working for Uncle Sam.

But 33 percent of them said they would give serious consideration if
it came from their parents, 27 percent if it came from a teacher and 29
percent if it came from "the newly elected president."

The survey was conducted on behalf of the nonprofit Council for
Excellence in Government and is scheduled for release tomorrow as part
of Public Service Recognition Week, a tribute to the contributions that
public employees make to the nation.

The data suggest that 18-to-29-year-olds, known as millennials, are
"more responsive to interactive communication and personal attention
than people have realized," said Patricia McGinnis, president and chief executive of the council.

The survey, she said, also shows "the potential for the new
president and administration, especially as we have the retirement wave
getting under way, to ask people, not just millennials but older people
as well, to serve. There's a sense that many would respond and step up,
as they did when John F. Kennedy asked."

Over the next five years, about a third of the federal government's
full-time employees will leave, mostly baby boomers who are retiring. A
2006 Gallup survey found that many young Americans do not see the
government as innovative and creative, reinforcing long-standing
concerns that federal agencies may find it difficult to compete with
the private sector in hiring talented young people.

Anthony Martinez, 28, of Los Angeles,
said he would pay attention to a presidential exhortation. A student
who works part time, Martinez participated in the survey, described
himself as "pro-government" and said federal employment appeals to him
because it provides job security and good benefits. He was interested
in joining the military but said a hearing impairment blocked his
enlistment.

Still, Martinez added, no one has suggested he seek a civilian job
in the federal government, and he said he's unsure about how to land
such a job. "You have to know somebody to get in," he said.

More than half of the respondents signaled that they might be
responsive to a presidential call to serve, including those older than
30.

For example, 30 percent of respondents over 30 said they would give
such a request "a great deal of consideration," and 33 percent said
"some consideration." Of those under 30, 29 percent said a "great deal"
and 25 percent said "some consideration."

But not Giorgia Shields, 20, of Auburn, Ala., who said she probably would not answer a call to serve by the next president.

"I kind of wouldn't want to do something I didn't want to do because
someone else thought I should," said Shields, a student majoring in
English who participated in the survey.

Participants were asked a series of questions, including what would
make them most interested in exploring a job in government. Roughly
half chose "opportunities for growth and advancement" as their top
reason. But 45 percent chose "having a flexible schedule and the
ability to telecommute" as a reason for seeking federal employment.

Respondents 18 to 29 said student loan forgiveness (27 percent) and
continuing education benefits (26 percent) would draw them to federal
service.

The survey will be discussed at a breakfast tomorrow by McGinnis and a panel that includes Linda Washington, an assistant secretary at the Transportation Department; Elizabeth B. Kolmstetter, deputy chief human capital officer for the director of national intelligence; Adam Lusin, a management analyst at the State Department, and F. Warren Wright, a managing partner at Gallup. The Washington Post is a co-sponsor of the breakfast.

The findings were drawn from an online survey conducted April 14 to 21 by the Gallup Panel,
a nationally representative group of households that have agreed to
participate in Gallup research. Gallup sought responses from 2,000
panel members, who are not paid or offered incentives to express their
opinions, and 895 responded.

While the Gallup Panel represents a random sample of the population,
this survey was conducted among households with Internet access, which
may not be fully representative of the nation's population. Gallup
estimated the survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3.3 percent.