I Have Found My Cause
By Rachel, former member, International Youth Leadership Council, Advocates for Youth
My suburban Philadelphia upbringing may not have directly exposed me the many hardships faced by my peers around the world, but my mother and father did their best to make sure I knew what life was like outside of my “bubble.” Perhaps because of their inspiration I have spent most of my life searching for something to care about, a cause I could really get behind. I devoted a lot of time and energy to researching and working on many of the world’s issues, but while the issues were extremely important, they just didn’t seem to fit my passions perfectly. I wasn’t inspired.
Then, in July of 2006 I began a year long journey to Africa. I studied in South Africa and Ghana and traveled to eight other African nations, learning about the awful impact AIDS has had in these countries. I spent four months as an HIV/AIDS and STI peer educator in Ghana, which only increased my desire to do more about the pandemic. Now I believe that as a citizen of the United States and of the world it is my job to ensure that our lawmakers and students are aware of the faces behind the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. More importantly, I want to push them to help.
Nelson Mandela said, “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have changed.” I certainly returned from my travels a changed person. I see myself as a motivator of change. I have found my cause. This is why I am an activist.
VIEW
STORIES FROM MORE YOUTH ACTIVISTS >>
ARE YOU A YOUTH ACTIVIST? CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY >>
 Send this page to a friend >>
|
