WALKING AWAY......

By Sara Rose Hooker
(Age 15, Mozambique)

I am looking out into the sun kissed sky that spreads around me like a warm comforter. A soft sea breeze passes through my shawl making the pages flutter and leaving me gazing out into the horizon. What are my good qualities? They are so hard to pinpoint and yet they have been with me forever; they define my actions, my believes and my morals. My good qualities are the weapons that I am born with; and are the only things that will be with me consistently throughout my life. My good qualities are not physical but are just as good as a fist in times of trouble, and yet, a fist and these magical qualities compare like a sickly tasting medicine and natural honey. They are....

One of them is my independence. Standing on my own two feet is very important to me. For me my independence is my freedom; it gives me the chance to explore; to be my own person and not to hold back ideas or opinions on account of others.

Another good quality that I describe myself with is my determination; it is a quality that I hold close to my heart because it is such an important one. Now, in this day and age with so many people in the "rat race" it is a priceless quality and gives me a head start in life. It reminds me to never give up; it prods me forward and never back. In the last moments before defeat it is determination that keeps me going.

My humor is my secret weapon. It allows me to make light of awkward moments and to not appear hurt even though I'm feeling terrible. It tells a harsh truth without hurting the victim but at the same time makes them realize their mistakes. It makes the bonds between friends stronger and immediately creates a new bond between two strangers. But, most importantly it allows me to look at myself in new light; to laugh at myself with other people and accept willingly my mistakes.

My patience is another good quality. Patience is a quality that comes hand in hand with my determination. I use it to keep me steady when I'm about to burst. It is what keeps me responding to the same questions said over and over. But, most importantly it is what keeps me helping people even though I'm sometimes near to despair.

My ambition is fueled from all my other qualities. It is my drive. It is my power aid, chocolate, petrol or whatever energy bar you care to name. It is what my dreams are made of and what keeps me imagining sitting in a president's chair. With every book I read and every person I meet my ambition is fueled and soars to new levels.

With these qualities I can start walking the path of life. As far as the eye can see there are hills, mountains and valleys to cross. There are sceneries to admire and rivers to swim down. Opportunities and adventures lie ahead, waiting just beyond my touch. However, even with the greatest qualities there will always be ditches in my path. To walk on tarmacked roads I have to believe in myself; develop my good qualities and use them to spread my values, morals and personality to others. To make the most of my qualities I should never stop learning from others; we are the biggest font of information on the planet and more importantly then that by considering people and learning from them I form an irrefutable bond with them. When interacting with people around me I give them a piece of myself and every time I notice other peoples good qualities mine are molded for the better. By spreading my good qualities I am becoming a role model for the people around me, even if it's only a truth said in the place of a lie or volunteering when no one else will.

I will never underestimate how good qualities can change a situation around. Whenever I imagine a peaceful world I have to erase all the scenarios that could have been solved using good qualities but instead were spoiled using bad. By using good qualities there would no longer be a need for problems like war and global disputes, instead it would be possible to interact more peacefully. All that is needed is a few minutes of patience or consideration. This medicine is the perfect antidote to terrorism or war. Every day when I pass by all the things that are wrong in this world I realize that we can personally end some of the struggle against it. With a small show of our good qualities we can make a suffering person happy and inspired.

Good qualities are like chain letters, every time I use a good quality someone is inspired to do the same and so the chain continues. There are more then a billion people on this planet which would make an enormous chain. Even though a chain this size sounds unrealistic it is possible and no money, food or toys are needed to activate it. All that is needed is to reach inside and pull out YOUR good qualities.

Now it is time to pull on my hiking boots and start walking; the future looms in front and I am sure that I will get through any obstacle with my good qualities!