Scholarship Essay Entry – Byron S.

We all want to make a mark on the world. Even more so, we all want to help make this world a little better. We hear constantly that other nations are suffering, whether it is due to famine, flooding, earth-quakes or any other disaster: human caused and natural. In a world in which we are so surrounded by adversary it is hard to believe that one individual has, or even would have the ability to make the smallest change.

It has been said that one person cannot change the world, but I choose to disagree. It is true that I am only one person, but I firmly believe that change starts with one dream, one wish and more so, one individual. In the words of Mahatma Ghandhi, "be the change you want to see in the world." To change the world, to make it even a little bit happier it only takes a single smile. If I smile at one person I walk by on the street, and they in turn smile at another person on the street, a chain reaction has been created that cannot be easily stopped. If one person causes two people to smile, and those two cause another two to smile, it won't be long before more people are smiling than any of us can easily count. If this can be done with only a smile, imagine what could be accomplished with only a little more effort.

I have been studying at the University of Calgary for the past five years and I have been lucky enough to start realizing my dreams. I am working towards becoming a teacher to work in Alberta. In my position I will be handed the opportunity to help mould the minds of our youth, and work with our future society on a daily basis. I will be able to, however small, influence the future by existing as a standing role-model today for tomorrow's society. I believe that to harbour and grow acceptance and ambitious minds, you have to display the same attitude. As the smiling can create a chain reaction, I hope to start a similar chain reaction by teaching caring and accepting attitudes of those I encounter and teach.  I don't believe, but I know, that creating a better tomorrow, even if a slightly happier and more accepting tomorrow, it must start today and most importantly with our youth. I am excited that I have been given the opportunity to be part of this change.