REFLECTION: Pay It Forward Maybe someday I'll have kids of my own. I hope so. If I do, they'll probably ask what part I played in the movement that changed the world. And because I'm not the person I once was, I'll tell them the truth. My part was nothing. I did nothing. I was just the guy in the corner doing my usual thing.. I found out that actions have consequences, and not everything is under my control. Until I found out that I couldn't change the world at all, but a seemingly extra-ordinary movie, and a twelve-year-old boy could change the world completely — for the better, and forever—working with nothing but his own altruism, one good idea, and a couple of years, and a big sacrifice. It started with a teacher who moved …show more content…
We can start with the most ordinary ingredients. A small kindness can go a long way. We can start with the world you've got. Mine, I'll start with my parents, those people close to me, and randomly give acts of kindness to those who needed it
Although the most prominent heroes are known for their incredible impacts on society, people who make small differences in others lives can still be considered heroic. In most cases, small acts of kindness can make significant differences in others lives, such as making their day or giving them hope during a difficult time. Even though these actions do not necessarily have a big initial impact, they can provoke others to act similarly, causing a chain reaction. Ultimately, small, heroic, acts can have a big impact on society and other individuals over
To change the world is an impossible goal, but to change the world around you is something anyone can do, ultimately leading to a ripple and changing the world further. My involvements in my community, family and job have taught me how to be an asset to society, making a difference in other’s lives.
1. When Trevor first presents his “Pay It Forward” plan—as a way to change the world for the better—many dismiss it. What does their rejection say about Trevor’s plan and what does it say about those who dismissed it? :
Malcolm Gladwell describes how the world may seem immovable and implacable, but with even the slightest push in just the right place, it can be tipped. This quote is extremely visual and accurate, it keeps the writing thinking, even questioning their own thoughts. Saying, Is this true? Can really one person make a big difference?. Even if you think you can’t change the world, you’re
“You don’t change the world with the ideas in your mind, but with the conviction in your heart.”
On the contrary, one might argue that an individual cannot have such a great effect on the human condition. Although this may seem reasonable, anyone can have an impact on humanity. Mahatma Gandhi encouraged individuals to “be the change you seek.” With that of mentality, anyone and everyone can change the world if they question, find a need for change, and become that change. One’s example can go a long way and have a huge impact.
One emotion I felt during the reading of Pay it Forward was sadness and anger. I felt upset or angry when Arlene slapped Trevor across the face, I felt this way because Trevor said “Dad is not coming back”.No where in this scene did I feel it was necessary to hit Trevor. Trevor had done nothing wrong it was Arlene’s fault that she can not accept the truth and is afraid of the future. During this time in the book I could tell that Arlene was emotionally unstable due to the leaving of the father Rick. I felt upset because the mother knew that what Trevor had said was true but she did not want to face the sad truth. The reason I reacted how I did was because the fact that the mother would hit her son because she a had a tragic event and her son
One of the initiatives that I am proud of is Kiducation. This is my drive to raise money to buy school supplies for underprivileged schoolkids in India. When I was in India I often saw kids whose parents lived below the poverty line (less than a dollar a day) walking to school with any supplies with them, mostly because they couldn’t afford basics like books, pencils and more often than not geometry cases. I also observed how we here in Canada often take these things for granted. Hence, Kiducation was born, both to raise awareness about every day third
Although I cannot change the world, the past leaders taught me to persevere and make a footprint on the world so that an another brave individual will join my footprint to create a chain reaction of
It's time to start paying it forward, not paying it back. In the book Pay it Forward, a boy named Trevor got an assignment to think of how to change the world and put in action, which creates the Pay it Forward movement. Through the Pay it Forward movement, Trevor affects change, shows the power of one, and stands against the greater, me me me generation of society.
In my lifetime, many experiences have changed my character, with the most memorable being the mission trip I took to Parmelee, South Dakota. This endeavor showed me how to be caring and love everyone, despite their circumstances. Although it took time, I learned to show kindness to everyone and not just the people I feel comfortable around. During my missions work, one child revealed to me how to be compassionate to people who may not deserve it, and to give to other unconditionally.
Therefore, getting to go to this event, and learn as much as I did made me change how I see things. More people should go to events, like the DHR Christmas wrap, so they can learn how to view the aspects of life differently. In society today, all people see is greed or grief. We, as the people, can change this. Making the foster care system better, and giving kids hope is just one step. Everyone can stand up in their community, and make a difference if we just choose
It doesn’t have to be something that is huge deal. It can even be an impact on someone that will stay with them for a lifetime. This song called “I Was Here”, by Beyonce couldn’t explain me better. “When I leave this world, I’ll leave no regrets. Leave something to remember, so they won’t forget. I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here”. (Beyonce 2011). With this mindset, I was inspired to volunteer at a nursing home. I know, right? Why would someone my age spend their time in a nursing home? I ask myself this all the time. I want to show people that not all young adults in my generation party all the time, or are up to no good. I went because I thought I would be helping them, I had no idea that I would become so attached to them and they were going to be the ones helping me. “I did, I’ve done, everything that I wanted, And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know. I was here” (Beyonce 2011). I couldn’t be more thankful for that opportunity. So if I don’t accomplish anything else in life, I know somewhere in that nursing home, I did leave my mark. I’ll never stop fighting to leave my
“We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can change the world”
In the Starfish story and the Nobel peace prize article, both of them prove how a small change can result in huge differences. Firstly, in the Starfish story, it talks about a girl who was gently flinging starfish into the ocean because the tide was getting low while the sun was getting high and she was afraid that the starfish would die. She picked up starfish one by one. An old man asks her why she was doing that because it wouldn’t make any difference. She then flings another starfish into the ocean, and then replies, “Well, I made a difference to that one.”