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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
These are the wise words of a legendary leader, the first African-American man to hold Presidency in the United States, and notably, an individual who began as an ordinary boy- albeit valiant and determined. I’m sure you’ve all caught on! Yes, these are the views of Barack Obama. In his own words, “A change is brought about because ordinary people can do extraordinary things.”
Examples supporting this motion are all around us: whether it be the influential Rumi- a simple person with a vast vision of love, peace and beauty in everyday things, or the renowned Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg- known for her passionate dissents in her cases, reflecting paradigmatically liberal views. From Dr. B. R. Ambedkar to Edward Jenner, Abbe Pierre and Malala Yousafzai- all these individuals started from the same place we all do. So what was different about them? The answer lies in the spark of hope and optimism that these individuals had. To have the courage to stand out from the crowd, and truly be the change you wish to see in the world, enables one to make a difference in society.
Now, you might say that this is thoroughly idealistic. I beg to differ. Even if we assume one cannot do so alone, does it hurt to try? Only through repetitive failures and facing obstacles did inventors like Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla equip us with the many practical inventions that we use today!
Perhaps each of these people had assistance, or a support system that helped them succeed; that one person alone cannot achieve these feats. Well, as is often said, “If you believe in yourself, others will too!” The commencement of change by an individual is what truly matters- the sheer tenacity to take the first step alone that allows others to make bounds and leaps.
But what about influence on a smaller scale? We define society as the aggregate of people living together in an ordered community. This implies that we can make advancements ‘in society’ simply from where we are right now! Fighting for causes we believe in, random acts of kindness, contributing to charity, setting up workshops- the ways to make an impact, whether big or small, are endless. You don’t have to discover a new species just to make a change where it is needed!
In conclusion, I would like to quote the father of our nation, arguably the aptest testament to this debate, Mahatma Gandhi: “You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result. In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
With this, I rest my case.
