Civic action score

                                 What Civic Action Taught Me About Power

                               Reflections After Watching Eric Liu’s TED Talk “Understanding Power”

A few days ago, I became deeply involved in a civic action project that left me enthusiastic, humbled, and—surprisingly—reflecting deeply on the nature of power. Not the dramatic and flashy power we associate with national politics, but the everyday power Eric Liu talks about in his TED Talk “Understanding Power”: the silent power, the hidden power, the power we underestimate because we perceive it as too subtle or slow to matter.

When I first stepped into my civic-action project, I thought I was simply trying to make a positive change in my community. I didn't realize that the real journey would be about understanding power—how it works, who has it, and how ordinary people like me can shape it. Eric Liu’s talk “How to Understand Power” gave me a vocabulary for something I was already beginning to feel, and it completely reframed how I saw my role in civic life.

Before this project, I assumed power was something distant—something held by officials, institutions, or people with big titles. But the more I worked with my community, the more I saw how many different forms power can take. I learned about six types of power that exist all around us: physical force, wealth, state action, social norms, ideas, and numbers. And once I started recognizing them, I could see how each one shaped our work.

This civic action project taught me that participating in community life is not just about having good intentions—it’s about recognizing the power you already have and learning how to use it. It’s about understanding that ordinary people are not powerless; we are simply unpracticed. And the more we engage, the more fluent we become in shaping the world around us.

I didn’t just learn how to advocate for a cause. I learned how to see power—how it behaves, how it shifts, and how much it depends on the willingness of everyday people to step forward. 

Exploring National and International Public Service: AmeriCorps and Peace Corps

Public service provides opportunities for individuals to make a meaningful difference in their communities and around the world. Two prominent programs that facilitate this type of service are AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, each offering unique ways for volunteers to contribute while developing personal and professional skills. AmeriCorps focuses on service within the United States, partnering with nonprofit organizations, schools, and community programs to address local needs. Volunteers work on projects related to education, disaster relief, environmental stewardship, and community development. In contrast, the Peace Corps offers international service opportunities, sending volunteers to more than 60 countries to support sustainable development in areas such as health, agriculture, education, and youth empowerment. Both programs aim to create lasting positive impacts, but they differ in geographic scope, duration, and the cultural experiences they provide.

Learning about AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps has made me feel inspired and motivated to think about how I can make a difference in my community and the world. I feel impressed by the dedication of volunteers who commit their time and energy to help others, often in challenging situations. This has also made me reflect on my own values and the ways I could contribute to causes I care about, whether through national service, international service, or smaller local efforts. Overall, I feel encouraged to take action and share what I’ve learned about public service with others.