I have a tendency to fixate on the term “community college.” The phrase offers the chance to learn with and from people with radically different backgrounds. De Anza College’s student body mirrors this sentiment as an incredibly rich vein from which to mine diversity.

With that in mind, it’s nice to take a look at what we do as part of this community. Community heroes get a lot of publicity, but the “local student provides books to homeless shelter” type headlines are too glorified and impractical.

When our schedules are contending with our daily commitments and collective group efforts, it’s pretty much unthinkable to go after personal heroic projects. This, however, doesn’t excuse us from cultivating a community mindset.

The “community mindset” is a way of living life. It encourages giving back as a matter of course, rather than coercion (through class requirements, as a resume booster, for brownie points). I acknowledge that we don’t all have time to put in, but it doesn’t take hundreds of community service hours or intensive fundraising to make a place a better learning environment. Those certainly help, but I think we can start with ourselves – by cultivating a political culture that supports a community.

Our political culture is full of ignorance and apathy. Many of us are afraid of the topic, daring not to look it in the eye – often afraid to be wrong. Sometimes we do care, but because newspapers are dry and broadcasts are sparse we are uneducated.

The result is a learning community that cannot take advantage of its most plentiful resource: itself. When we can’t learn from each other about diverse subjects, we stunt our own growth. In an environment where participation affects each and every one of us, ignorance decimates.

In essence, developing a community mindset means knowing the world and voicing opinions on it. Even if you lack political thought, don’t hesitate to join the fray. Watch ten minutes of local news. Set a (reputable) newspaper as your web browser’s homepage. Read flyers and posters. Eavesdrop on your friends when they debate key issues. Do whatever is most comfortable for you to clean up the ignorance and disinterest in your own life and at De Anza College.