CHANGE MY WORLD
written and submitted November 2012
A ten year old boy sits in an auditorium with his mother as they watch a larger than life presentation about a program that could take him to Australia the next summer. That was me, six years ago. All I could think about was how cool it would be to see the kangaroos and koalas, but it was so much more. Now as a 16 year old, I wish I could go back and do it all again with a more mature perspective. Maybe someday, but there are so many more places to go. Since then I have travelled to Italy, Greece, England, France, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica and India. Just two more continents to go and I will have ‘hoisted my flag’ on all seven. After that first program, things changed for me. Now when I watch the news I pay attention to what is going on. I think more globally. I see places on the news and think,“I was there”. Two years later after having been on two more programs, I started to ask myself, “How can I make a difference?”
Through my People to People experiences, I started to explore ideas of what I wanted to do with my life. Of course, college, and my People to People Student Ambassador experience would certainly help me get there, but then what? Where do I want college to take me? I thought big; Foreign Ambassador, International Diplomat. That sounded exotic and adventurous, but as I got older and matured to my grand old age of 16, with six programs and five continents on my resume, I started to think that perhaps Political Science; maybe pre-law with some international studies would be where I might best be used. The ever-changing world we are in needs today’s youth to think about how they can affect the future.
I am not sure if I would have come to the same decision without my People to People Experiences, but I know that I would not be the person that I have become. Aside from becoming more responsible, confident and articulate, I believe that I have truly gained an appreciation for this giant globe. I delight in sitting and discussing world affairs, though seldom is it with people my own age. It seems that I find myself enjoying staying after school and visiting with my teachers about whatever is going on that day. I chose my foreign language study not by what would be easy to fill a requirement, but what could I use in my future. I chose Latin. I enjoy debate, and extemporaneous speaking. Both of these I think because I really have an appreciation of current and world affairs. I guess that just gives me another step up. Add all that to the fact that I will have travelled to seven continents by high school graduation and look out colleges, start your bidding. I plan to write my own ticket to Change The World.
Through my People to People experiences, I started to explore ideas of what I wanted to do with my life. Of course, college, and my People to People Student Ambassador experience would certainly help me get there, but then what? Where do I want college to take me? I thought big; Foreign Ambassador, International Diplomat. That sounded exotic and adventurous, but as I got older and matured to my grand old age of 16, with six programs and five continents on my resume, I started to think that perhaps Political Science; maybe pre-law with some international studies would be where I might best be used. The ever-changing world we are in needs today’s youth to think about how they can affect the future.
I am not sure if I would have come to the same decision without my People to People Experiences, but I know that I would not be the person that I have become. Aside from becoming more responsible, confident and articulate, I believe that I have truly gained an appreciation for this giant globe. I delight in sitting and discussing world affairs, though seldom is it with people my own age. It seems that I find myself enjoying staying after school and visiting with my teachers about whatever is going on that day. I chose my foreign language study not by what would be easy to fill a requirement, but what could I use in my future. I chose Latin. I enjoy debate, and extemporaneous speaking. Both of these I think because I really have an appreciation of current and world affairs. I guess that just gives me another step up. Add all that to the fact that I will have travelled to seven continents by high school graduation and look out colleges, start your bidding. I plan to write my own ticket to Change The World.
Dear Friends, Family and Fans!
I am down to the wire and need to make a payment on my ANTARCTICA Program Tuition!
I need to find 600 supporters that will give $20 each to Change My World!
Of course larger contributions would be great- but if many contribute a little that is how it starts!
Donations and contributions can be made on my behalf directly to
People to People Student Ambassador Programs
https://secureambassadors.org/Webpayments/CreditCardPayment.aspx?p=Student&dl=0010179626
I am down to the wire and need to make a payment on my ANTARCTICA Program Tuition!
I need to find 600 supporters that will give $20 each to Change My World!
Of course larger contributions would be great- but if many contribute a little that is how it starts!
Donations and contributions can be made on my behalf directly to
People to People Student Ambassador Programs
https://secureambassadors.org/Webpayments/CreditCardPayment.aspx?p=Student&dl=0010179626