SMALL is big: The great power of changing the world by little steps, by Razvan Raul Tanasie, 17 years old, student at Mircea cel Batran National College, Bunesti, Valcea
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” Robert Kennedy
Has anyone wondered whether one single bee could produce honey? It can. It produces a microscopic drop of honey. But if we multiply it by hundreds, we get enough honey for a healthy breakfast tomorrow morning.
It goes the same way for humans. Each person’s actions are important and have an impact on other people’s lives. Taken together, these actions could affect the whole world. So why not put this to good use? Why not help one another and join our hands to construct a better world?
Today’s world is standing on a moral ground that we, the young people, more than others, have to improve step by step. Volunteering empowers us to make a difference.
Unfortunately, many of us choose to do nothing and even make fun of those who make voluntary acts. Those people are dominated by ignorance and selfishness and are unable to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Last summer, my friends and I decided to clean all the trash on the football field in my village. Even if there were people laughing, I wasn’t intimidated and I continued to do what I believed in. Finally some of them stopped and were surprised of our devotion to a task that we had initiated and carried on by ourselves. If we were not instantly able to convince the others to change their behavior, at least we challenged them to think about it. Even though this was a small step, I felt very proud for what we did, since I realized that it’s only when we truly believe in a cause that we truly have the power to make a change, be it a small one.
Our perseverance and devotion towards other people are the tools we need to cherish the most in order to succeed. I strongly believe that there are things in our lives that all the money in the world cannot buy. For me, these are my grandmother’s eyes when I offer to make myself useful, the words of gratitude of a stranger when I volunteer to help without being asked, and every single act of altruism I am exposed to. It fulfills me and it makes me feel significant. Therefore, by helping other people, we are helping ourselves too.
Each day we have a choice. We can choose the easier road of ignorance, or we can dare to take a more diffi
cult path, the one of transformation and love. It’s really in our own power to change the world in positive ways. The day we’ll realize it, our lives will be as sweet as honey.
