"Be the change you wish to see" is the phrase first spoken by Mahatma Gandhi. But who is Mahatma Gandhi? "Mahatma" is a compound word consisting of "Mahan" and "Atma" meaning "A great soul". Today, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is aptly referred to as "Mahatma Gandhi" because of the changes he brought to the world. He led a civil disobedience movement against British rule in India and ended apartheid by treating the untouchables as equals. Gandhi's work inspired generations of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama. His beliefs of non-violence and being the change have inspired me as well.
I was born on August 17, 2001. Less than a month later, we saw the biggest terrorist attack in history on American soil. Not a single day passes when we do not hear or experience bullying, terrorism or wars. These actions broadly fall into the category of intimidation. This can range from peer pressure at school to cruel dictators around the world. What I want to see is world peace and a safer community.
I see peer pressure every day at middle school. Teasing, name-calling, and swearing are the first things we hear as soon as we walk into the school. As noted by famous author, Dr. Michele Borba, in her recent book, Building Moral Intelligence, that a repeat or chronic bully by age 8 has a 25% chance of having a criminal record by age 26, it is important to bring a change at every level.
Roughly a month ago, the Taliban, a terrorist group in northwestern Pakistan, shot a young teenage girl in the head. This girl, Malala Yousfazi, was only standing up for women's education. She was being the change she wanted to see. The Taliban attack on Malala was a form of religious and social intolerance.
Dictatorship is an extreme case of bullying. Dictators ruthlessly rule countries without caring for citizen's opinions. We are in the midst of Arab Spring Revolution where people of Syria, Libya, and Egypt are uprising against dictatorship and being the change they want to see.
I am a three year veteran of Project Cornerstone, a leadership program creating a positive atmosphere for all students. Leveraging my Cornerstone lessons, I have confronted bullies at school and made them own up to their mistakes, and resolved conflicts between students as a Yard Duty Helper. My idea of the "Bully Box," an anonymous complaint box, was appreciated by Cornerstone Mentors and is planned to get implemented soon. I am being the catalyst of change, so that every child feels safe and is focused on learning when he or she arrives at school.
I am an active Girl Scout for many years now, where we learn to be confident and stand up for ourselves. Recently, my Girl Scout Troop celebrated the Indian festival of Holi. This cross-pollination of different and unique cultures ignites gratitude, compassion and acceptance towards them. Just like Malala, I am being the agent of change for girl empowerment and social acceptance.
I am deeply involved in a Model United Nations League and regularly attend seminars and conferences. We learn about foreign policies, politics, history and ethics. We seek solutions for international conflicts through the use of logic, peace, dialogue, debate and negotiation. I plan to use these methods to bring a change for a better tomorrow.
In his last pre-election Iowa rally, President Obama said,"One voice can change a room.
And if it can change a room, it can change a city.
And if it can change a city, it can change a state.
And if it can change a state, it can change a nation.
And if it can change a nation, it can change a world."
Here I am; voicing my concerns and sharing concrete actions I am taking to promote peace at every level; from classroom to the entire world.
Think of a solution, you are a thinker.
Be a solution, and you are the Leader of Change.
- Amisha Wadhwa
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