Untitled

Student Participant
Wofford College
January 2013

I wonder what life God has chosen for me. I feel that I haven’t had to deal with the hardships most people have had to face. I have been through some difficult things but nothing worth complaining about when I compare myself to others. I wonder why I was made this way, and I also wonder what got me to where I am. Then I start to think about why I care so much about things that have never had any direct affect on me. I feel like I don’t deserve many of the things that I have and I realize I should count my blessings. I think a very important aspect of who I am today is how I was raised. I was raised to see the world with an open hart, an open mind and a great way to practice that way of life is to put myself in other people’s shoes. Frankly, I think that narrow minded people are not only ignorant to other people’s values, beliefs, and cultures but are also too stubborn to open their mind up to amazing things. I feel sorry for people who are unable and unwilling to view the world from other people’s perspectives. That being said I feel that there are many issues in our country today that could be resolved or at least acknowledged if people would open the heart and mind. Being born as a white, middle class person was pure change. It had nothing to do with what I earned or deserved and I think it is important to remember that when I view other people I think it’s important to not only to  be open minded to things that are “different", but you also have to be open minded to narrow minded people.  It sucks that people believe and act in a way that I don’t agree with but I think it’s important to understand and respect their opinion. I wish there was a way the world could view people as a human race instead of categorizing people by the color of their skin, religion, income, beliefs or behaviors. I think the world is full of unique individuals and instead of discriminating against people that are different, I think it’s important to embrace their uniqueness and make them aware of what they contribute to the world and that they are equally special. I couldn’t tell you why God or circumstances made me the way I am but I feel that the passion that is inside of my heart will hopefully make me a person I am proud to be.