Take the time to imagine what I’m explaining, because this is what I was a part of on Friday night. Over 150 teenagers sitting in a brightly lit room, holding an electric candle, given 3 simple rules. One, to be silent and listen to the speakers, two to turn the candle on and off every time you heard something that also “ignites a flame” inside of you. , and three, to keep the light on after hearing five different things that ignite your light. As each person spoke the lights in the room got darker and darker till they were out, but as time went on more & more “flames were ignited” lighting the room up on its own. Here are the five things that were said that ignite my flame...:
“I ignite my light for the first responders that, at great personal risk, serve all of us every day”
“I ignite my light for those who don’t have a voice to speak their mind”
“I ignite my light for the underpaid and overworked bus drivers, janitors, and cafeteria workers at school”
“I ignite my light for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who dedicate their lives to improving ours”
“I ignite my light for teachers and educators who work tirelessly to ensure that we receive the best education possible”
Before hearing this my flame was starting to go out. I was stressed and I was upset. But, after being part of what you just imagined and I described, I remembered that my life is good and could be much worse. I could be one of the people living with no electricity or running water in Puerto Rico. I could be one of the people living with out a house because it burned down in California. I could be living in a country where girls do not have the privilege to have an education. But, I’m not... and the likelihood that if you’re reading this, means that your life is better than the people’s lives I just described. Which means you can make a difference. Which means you can help the world. And most importantly you can help OUR posterity. Remember, everything we do in this moment effects the future, it effects our kids, and it effects many generations to come. So, make today be the day you start doing something that will make their lives better than ours. I personally know what I’ll be doing to do so. Since sixth grade I knew I wanted to be a teacher because they are the people who make all other jobs possible. I look forward to being the reason that a student of mine will one day be able to give medical attention to someone who speaks Spanish because I taught them enough that they could communicate. I look forward to being the reason that one of my students can communicate with people at work because of my class. And one day when I do go into administration, I look forward to leading the school in the right direction, as ours is. But, more importantly, I look forward to changing, inspiring, and personally connecting with at least one student, like one of them has done for me. That person may or may have not been matching me at the pink out game, but, they know who they are (stay amazing!)...But, for those who do not know what they want to do for the rest of their lives start with something little. Just holding the door open will impact the future. When I hold the door for someone I can then see a chain reaction of everyone who goes through that door, holding it for the next person, teaching people to help one another. Support clubs when they sell things. Peer leadership sold pink ribbons for breast cancer research- that one dollar you put in can and will be the reason someone survives breast cancer and better yet will be the reason there is a cure for it one day. If you work at a camp then for 8 weeks make it your goal to teach them one thing or inspire them. I know that I set myself a goal to have one of my first grade boys learn how to put a shirt on properly. He could never figure out which way it goes- I taught him to look for the tag and that’s the side that goes on his back. The first few weeks he still asked me, but by week 8 he didn’t even have to ask me if he did it correctly and better yet, he helped other kids who had the same issue as he once did. Yet again, a chained reaction. Work on helping what’s better for everyone, not just yourself, because in the long run you’ll be a better person. As the infamous saying says “treat others like how you want to be treated...” Show them kindness and offer them a hand and they’ll do the same for you.As each one of us does that we will be making this world a brighter place.
The next set of directions we were given at the convention was to write a word or multiple words on your candle. Those words being things that you do that make the world a better place. Something that you do that brings light into a world that can and is so dark at sometimes. Some people wrote friendship, some people wrote kindness, and some people wrote love. I being the extra person I am, wrote 5 different things- but my 2 main ones were laughter and writing. As I write this I think of ways that I can some how make you laugh, while writing about such an important topic. But, in general I like to make people laugh. Nothing makes me happier than knowing I’m the reason someone’s laughing and happy. If I was being sarcastic, told a joke (which is not likely), or if I unintentionally did something to make me look stupid, I love seeing people laugh. I love being the reason that I shed light in a world that’s so dark.
As Ghandi said, “Be the change you wish to see...” Now that does not mean this week you have to go create a robot that does homework or put an end to world hunger. I know an issue this school has is the lack of school spirit. “No one goes to games” “no one went to this” “but we should” “but this school” ... Every sentence or should I say complaint starts with “No one” and also has a “but”. Yes, the number of supporters at the last game was small, but not none. I saw some of the people in my peer class who hear the same complaints I hear. But, instead of just waiting for others to go, they went. They are trying to make a change in the school, not just complain about it. And what they’re doing is working, every time I’d look around a few more of their friends showed up. And sooner or later people won’t be “forced” to go to events, it’ll be they want to go because it’s not what you’re doing, it’s who your with. Just like when you were little and played hide and seek. The game never changes, but the people do, which determines how much fun you would have. If you just walked to where you were going to hide next or if you were running there and feeling your heart beat race when you heard them coming closer. It’s the same thing as ANY school event. Bring people you enjoy and you’ll enjoy what you’re at, but at the same time impacting the future. By showing younger kids that these events are fun and “lit”. You’re bringing the school out of it’s dark whole of being known as the one with no school spirit, to the school that’s working on it and slowly their Stang Gang is growing, to the school that everyone wishes they went to because one day it’ll just have so much spirit.
Never let your flame go out. As I said, mine was very weak coming to the BBYO convention. But, l came home from the convention with my flame strongly ignited. And I look forward to spreading my light in a world that can be so dark, and I hope you join me.
Margo Greenbaum
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