It's Your Time to Be "Brave"

So, here is a song artist who inspires us to stand up for our own beliefs. "Brave" by Sara Bareilles is such a motivational song that has more than just lyrics to it --- what's the message you take away from the song? Enjoy! 

"BRAVE"

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast

Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

When they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight

Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just want to see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there,

Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy

Fallen for the fear

And done some disappearing,

Bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence

Won’t do you any good,

Did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

See you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

**Check out the music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4

Lyrics Credit: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sarabareilles/brave.html

The Smallest Contributions Make the Biggest Difference

Although I intended to recount my volunteer experiences starting from high school, my class debate today reiterated my views on the concept of helping others, further emphasizing the fact that everyone can make a difference in the world, and of course, I just had to share it with you.

The debate started after following Doctor Paul Farmer on his journey of dedication, passion, and compassion in the passage "The Good Doctor" by Tracy Kidder. As Kidder travels alongside Dr. Farmer in his efforts to provide health care to underprivileged populations in countries such as Haiti, he describes the poor citizens, the rapid spread of illnesses, and the lack of medicinal advancements surrounding the nation. Kidder then explains Dr. Farmer's thoughts on health care as a human right.

Midway through our discussion, controversy among students ensued when the professor asked, "Do citizens of wealthy countries have moral responsibilities to poor people in other countries? And is health care a human right?" While most claimed that it is a moral obligation to commit self-less acts of volunteerism to dying people of an under-developed nation, several disagreed with the fact.

Throughout the entire debate, I sat and listened to the opposing viewpoints being presented, thinking about my own thoughts and stance on the issue. I came to a conclusion that more or less agrees with and expands upon Dr. Farmer's ideas. The facts made me realize the true meaning of giving. Yeah, the money donations can help out a child or two, but the mere importance of volunteerism is the actual act of giving --- the time we put into helping others. The experience. I do not feel that it is an obligation to help those in need, but believe that we should often perform self-less acts in order to better society and the world.

Dr. Farmer's beliefs have allowed me to think about the many privileges that America has given me. There are the obvious luxuries, like the newest iphone, that we take for granted, and there are the underlying privileges we fail to recognize, like electricity. One piece of information a classmate pointed out was that underprivileged countries are weak nations that lack basic resources as a result of American greed. Yes, it may be a cliched theme to a classic American novel (hmm...The Great Gatsby, perhaps?), but the truth of the matter is, American greed actually exists in the real-world. I'm not saying that we should completely give up our use of such luxuries, but we should think about the implications of over-using our smallest privileges. The opportunities we have and the privileges we hold are gifts we should share with others, no matter how small of a contribution it may be.

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both"

~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

**Click here to read "The Good Doctor"by Tracy Kidder, published in The New Yorker (July 10, 2000)

About Me

Hi! Well, you're probably wondering who I am and why I started a blog. My name is Sara Kim, a current student of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. Welcome to my blog, The Carousel. I am a journalism major with minors in international communications and health policy and management. I love to tell stories, write, learn, and explore. 

Being the curious journalist that I am, I wish to do nothing more than to make a difference in the world. In order that I can make a positive impact on the lives of others throughout the world, this blog acts as a story. It is a story about my journey in seeing the world and experiencing life to the fullest. Through this blog, I will recount my volunteer experiences. I want to inspire others to give back to society and reach out to those in need. I hope others realize the true meaning of giving and how much we take our lives for granted.

It is exciting to know that you have the ability to travel to new places, meet people with diverse backgrounds, and hear stories about their hopes, dreams, and lives. The best part? Anyone can get involved and find ways to help out in one way or another. I have traveled, met people I would have never expected, and heard stories that gave me a new perspective on life...all while volunteering and partaking in community outreach initiatives. I hope to never stop experiencing or seeing all that life has to offer. Everyone has a story. 

And this is mine.