Students look to reform world with new ideas, kindness

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world,” –Anne Frank

Teens often think they are incapable of making a difference or improvement. They think that it has to be something big, such as ending pollution or inventing something that can revolutionize how we live. However, anyone can make a difference and be a world changer.

Even sharing a smile with a stranger can encourage that stranger to go on and do something nice for someone else. Improving the world doesn’t just mean changing or helping the environment, it could be starting a movement, or even just being kind to someone.

High school students today are starting to tap into their potential and realize just how much they are capable of. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida have created a movement that has been spreading across the nation and getting students from everywhere involved.

After a mass school shooting at their school on Valentine’s day, Feb. 14, that killed 17 and left 17 more wounded, these students chose not to stay silent. They started the #NeverAgain Movement. The movement is pushing for nationwide gun control and to prevent any future school shootings. These students have pushed to make an impact by going to their state capitol and even marching in Washington D.C.

The students and any others who wanted to join marched on the capitol building on March 24. It was called “The March for Our Lives” to prevent future killings in school environments and improve gun laws. This movement is high school students joining together to push for something on a larger scale.

#NeverAgain never again will this happen in Parkland. Never again will it happen anywhere. Never again. Join the movement. Be the movement.

— #NeverAgain (@NeverAgainMSD) February 16, 2018

Margaret Mead was an anthropologist, author and speaker in mass media in the 1960s and ‘70s. She shared her opinions on social matters and injustice. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Emotions often fuel our decisions and the choices we make. Random acts of kindness are actually the utilization of emotional intelligence. Anabel Jensen, argues that random acts of kindness are actually careful choices, and that we should make kindness less random and that this is a way to change the world. Anthony Diaz, ‘19, believes that everyone has the opportunity to go out of their comfort zones and put in the effort to make a difference, but that random acts of kindness are a little different than making an actual difference.

“We all have the capability of going outside and getting out of our comfort zones,” Diaz said. “I feel like random acts of kindness are a little different, it’s not actually planned, it’s you using your emotions to guide your decision making. The world today, I feel like it’s really corrupt and people face everything they do off of emotion and when they don’t get their way they go to people who work their butts off for what they have and say, ‘Well, why can’t I have that too?’ It’s because they’re not actually getting off their butts, they’re just sitting there expecting things to come to them. I can make a difference by going out and doing what I just said.”

You can inspire people just by showing interest in their well being and showing them kindness and it takes nothing more than a friendly conversation. Sophia Kalugin, ‘19, thinks that by taking the time to help people, that will inspire others.

“I do believe that someone can make a difference in this world because when you spend your life helping people, it inspires them to do the same,” Kalugin said. “I think we can all make a difference in our everyday lives by taking time to talk to someone we don’t know very well or spending more time serving others.”

“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” Dolores Huerta was a labor and civil rights activist and worked specifically to improve economic and social situations for farmers.

Following the Parkland, FL. shooting, hundreds of students around the country have gone to their state legislatures or led protests to show their state leaders that they want to change.  Wyatt Koop, ‘18, thinks that teens can make a difference by sticking to what they believe.

“I think it is possible for teens to make a difference in everyday life, because other people in high school and teens have actually been doing it, with going to their governors, and going to the political officials and asking them hard questions and trying to get answers for what they want,” Koop said. “If you have a good work ethic and just stick to it I believe you can change anything. I think I can make a difference by just sticking to what I believe and never letting go of my ideals.”

Being kind is contagious and often videos of acts of kindness being displayed go viral.  McKensy Neal, ‘18, notices that just being kind to someone could make their entire day. She believes she personally could grow in that area.

“I believe anyone can make an impact because if you get lots of people to do something for others, the whole world will see it,” Neal said. “Just be nice to people. You might just make somebody’s day. I know that I need to watch my attitude towards people especially when I know I’m not going to like the outcome.”

Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian activist who led the Indian independence movement, he promoted a peaceful revolution and non-violent protest. In a famous quote from the leader, Gandhi encouraged his followers to keep a positive attitude.

“We but mirror the world,” Gandhi said. “All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.”

We have the opportunity to be the change we want to see occur in the world. When we choose to be kind, it could set off a chain reaction of others sharing kindness. Making an improvement in the world doesn’t have to be huge, it can be something simple even just improving one person’s day or situation. Anyone can make a difference.

For more articles, check out Singing in the Big Apple, Campus choirs take New York Part 2 and The Phantom of the Opera draws in audience. 

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