Everyone sets an example
Living to Learn By Eric Morrison
What's the point of having a dream if you are only going to dream about it? And what's the point of having a goal if you're not willing to sacrifice everything to achieve that goal?
Recently I have felt an overwhelming message of complacency being passed down to me by my so-called leaders. A particular incident, which left me angst-ridden as I fought for a small slice of social justice, has made me reevaluate the importance of being willing to lay it all on the line to accomplish certain aspirations.
The incident, which deserves no glorification in print, inspired me to confront a variety of mentors and leaders for specific insight into the situation. Much to my surprise, a large percentage of the people I look up to and admire voiced their beliefs that some injustices just aren't worth fighting to correct. It quelled my heart to hear some of those whom I admire admit that I was not in the wrong, yet most did not encourage me to do what is right. A message had been conveyed, but I'm not sure that they realized the message they were sending.
There's a buzz out there that I am sure everybody has heard once, twice, or more: that one person can't make a difference in this world. I can't stress enough the fallacious reasoning behind this idea, because I believe one person truly can make a difference. From the smallest, most menial tasks of opening doors, offering smiles or a compliment, each person can make a difference. One can also help make this world a better place by building a foundation of goals into a respectable dream. Simply by setting an example one can make a difference.
Good and bad examples are being set everywhere, on a daily basis. I am of the opinion that by being complacent and not setting the goal of instilling fundamental decency, desire, hope and respect into the minds and hearts of the youth, we are only perpetuating the apathy and angst that riddles our society. It is more important now than ever to help the youth find passion for the future and I don't feel that this is the example our current leaders are setting.
Some of the best knowledge ever presented to me was being told that everyone has talent, but it's the people who are willing to work the hardest that will achieve success. To me, success isn't determined by financial or social accomplishments, but rather through the execution and fulfillment of achievable goals. If you can accomplish your goals then you are a success. A goal is a lot like knowledge. Knowledge alone doesn't necessarily make you intelligent; it's the application of that knowledge that will set you apart from others.
The point of having a dream is to live that dream, and the point of setting goals is to do whatever it takes to see that those goals become reality. By living our dreams and accomplishing our goals, we set examples and change the world everyday in our own small ways.
Eric Morrison is a full-time student at the University of Alaska Southeast, a freshman seminar teacher's assistant, and the editor of the UAS Whalesong.