As I am sure many can relate, I have been exposed to countless news stories and general discussions, both in class and in my free time, about the state of our current world. These topics include but are not limited to, climate change, gun control, the state of our prisons, international relations, etc. The list goes on and on. Ever since I was little, and now that I am even more aware of the plaguing issues in our world, I have always wanted to serve some purpose in bettering the world for those who can’t better the world for themselves.
The issues and problems present in our world today are massive and have multiple facets that are not easily explainable or solvable. Climate change, for example, requires many changes in how our current world functions and requires the entire world’s cooperation to handle. So, how is a nineteen-year-old girl from Maryland going to make a big enough impact to solve one of these pressing matters?
The truth is: I can’t. I can definitely try, but no massive developments are guaranteed. All of the major issues that plague our world are not solvable by one single person. That is a fact. It takes a large group of people, if not an entire society, to step forward and make a change. Despite this, I am going to do what I can. These issues matter to me and I can’t sit idly, hoping that someone with the power to make a difference will step forward and do so. It is up to the average American, the average global citizen, to step forward and do what they believe is right, and collectively make a difference.
For me, doing what is right means trying to buy from sustainable and ethical brands, limiting my meat consumption, working hard towards my aspirations of a career in prison reform, and voting during every election to elect people, on the school-wide level and the national level, that I believe best represent my values.
Just because I can’t directly make a change does not mean that I can’t work with people who have the same goals that I do. As we group together, we develop a bigger unit of people that can cause changes to make the world a better place. I have come to terms with the fact that there is no singular action I can take to instantly change the world, but as long as I am sure that I am doing everything I can to take steps towards those changes, I am happy with what I leave behind as my “legacy.”
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