A few weeks ago, the New Yorker published it's end-of-year edition entitled "World Changers." The magazine profiled a series of mostly ordinary people including a nurse, a college professor, and a peace corp volunteer. Folks that could live next door. The reason they are each, in their own way, making the world better is because they each, in their own way, are absolutely indomitable, stubborn, passionate and purposeful. I was also going to say fearless but that wouldn't be entirely true. None of these qualities can be measured by standardized tests. In their pursuits - to stop epidemics before they spread, cure a deadly childhood disease, and re-embolden the Peace Corps, respectively - they each took risks, made people mad, broke down in tears, did stuff they regretted, and never, ever quit. Changing the world is a reach but not unreachable. It starts with a Spark and a Flame and a Torch. It can ignite on the pitch, while celebrating science, becoming culturally proficient, with your PK buddy held high, representing a side of the debate you don't even believe in, watching the Grinch who doesn't steal Christmas, realizing that you really can do anything you set your mind and your heart to. Right here, not even next door, the journey begins.
