BE THE CHANGE
(Original)

Chelsea Mobley
(Age 17, USA)
Tennessee Technological University

Change. Rarely defined, yet often sought after, change is a constant desire for many. They wish to change their status in the world, change their possessions, change the opinions of others, even change their very selves, but often lack the means or initiative to accomplish such change. It is easy to predict change or suggest means for its occurrence, but this is not enough. The great philosopher Gandhi reminds us to “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Changing the world is a lofty goal. A goal that is far more practical, however, would be to create positive change in your own community. Now, some communities require more change than others. If I lived in a third-world country, wondering every morning where I would sleep that night and find food to feed my family, my idea of change would be far different than if I lived in Cape Cod. If my home was in a small, peaceful town in Great Britain, my idea of change would be far different than if I resided in a rough area of Detroit, spending each day dodging drive-bys and witnessing drug deals gone wrong. Change is relative, but every community could use it.

My community reflects none of the extremes that I mentioned in the previous paragraph. It’s a growing town in Tennessee, a state in the United States of America. Mt. Juliet is its name. I have lived here ever since I can remember, and have watched its steady transformation from a small farm town to a booming commercial frontrunner. “Development” in my community is not a problem, as I have watched open plains and trees be ruthlessly demolished to make room for the road-widening or the brand new shopping center. The real problem is making these developers realize when to stop. What used to be a small, tight-knit community has become something of a commercialism-driven tourist hot spot. Growth is good- it helps the economy, it utilizes resources, it provides convenience- but at times it can be a bit of overkill.

It breaks my heart to see a deer bounding across a city street, freezing in the glare of the headlights, because that street used to be its home. Or the squirrels, frantically scurrying around a dimly lit parking lot, searching for the forest and the trees that they used to inhabit. There homes were taken from them in the wake of a bulldozer. This kind of change- the kind that brings pain to others, however small or seemingly “insignificant”- is not real change at all.

If I could create a project with designs of creating positive change in my environment, it would be to stop this needless slaughter. Committees could be formed, peaceful protests could be organized, petitions could be signed, phone calls to commissioners and officials could be made to inform those in charge that the people of our community are tired of growing at the expense of our environment. We have enough problems facing us with the fears of global warming and greenhouse gases without destroying some of the only natural beauty that our country has left. We can be great without plowing over everything in our paths. Our city can put itself on the map merely by living in harmony with the things around us, not crushing them to make room for a new apartment building or five-star hotel. Maybe if enough voices speak up, we will be loud enough that they will listen.