Jaden Flach

Teenagers fill the role of customers, students, and friends, all at once. But 
amidst all of the popular trends, how do we know the impact of that constant influence?

In almost every aspect of our lives, we are being influenced. 

We scroll through perfect lives on a screen on Instagram or Snapchat. As students, we are taught a selective curriculum that has created the way we think and view history. We are heavily reliant on and influenced by our friends and the opinions of others. Even ads are targeted to guess and influence our interests. Teenagers fill the role of customers, students, and friends, all at once! But amidst all of the popular trends, how do we know the impact of that constant influence? I believe there is no way to know what influence is really “good for you”; instead, it is how you influence others and what you choose to believe that counts. 

The realm of social media is a world directed towards the lives of teenagers. Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, and others are the center of some teenagers' lives. But we are all guilty of spending a little too much time on our phones or worrying about likes. There are endless debates about what is good and what is bad, but every post, tweet, or snap is influencing us. Our generation is so different from the rest because of the power of social media. As a teenage girl specifically, that influence comes from the ideal lives, bodies, and relationships that are in front of me on all platforms. When society gives you its standards, it's almost impossible to resist the influence. The images of size-zero models in bikinis on my “explore” page used to affect how I saw myself in bathing suits or any sort of summer clothes. When shopping, I always had that perfect picture in the back of my mind, fueling a voice that told me I was not enough. I stopped shopping for those clothes with friends or family, if I shopped at all. Some influence from social media is healthy and some is not, but it's hard to untie the knots of good and evil in every aspect of a post. More important is how you use your platform and influence to affect others. I know now that I could have used my small platform to remind the people I love that there is no such thing as a perfect body. What you choose to put out onto the internet counts.

On a different note, we are also impacted by school. Instead of a drive for likes and perfection on the internet, some teenagers are also invested in studies, clubs, and sports. School teaches us how to think. We are influenced by our classmates and by the lessons we sit through every day. Teachers and the curriculum fill our impressionable heads with the knowledge that is deemed important and leave out what is not. In a country that values math and science over the arts, most kids grow up believing that the only careers that are stable and appropriate are sitting at a desk or in a university. Furthermore, the stress and responsibilities of grades also influence how we value our skills and time. I have always viewed my grades as one of the most important things in the world, and the deciding factor for success in life. Though this might sound extreme, it is the result of years of tests, honor roll, and “gifted and talented” programs. The influence of school is less obvious then the impacts of social media, but still teaches us what it looks like to be perfect. 

Lastly, I think the greatest impact on our lives as teenagers are the friends we have in high school and the years before. In kindergarten, talking to other kids and making friends was like walking; there was no judgment or drama, just playing made-up games and sports at recess. I met my oldest friend in kindergarten, and she has had the most impact on my life. Our lives bounce off each other in the ways we dress and act. She has been there for every one of my milestones in life. Even in elementary and middle school, I made friends that felt more like a family. In high school, I have made and kept old friends that I would trust with my life. Talking through problems with my friends is how I learned to deal with problems myself. Going shopping together created my sense of style, and studying for all my tests throughout the years helped shape how much I value school. I try my hardest to positively influence my friends in the ways they have influenced me. Most of the impact they have had on my life has been in the small, barely noticeable things. Still, sometimes the most important thing to do is remind them that you are always there. I will always remember the effort that they made to remind me I was loved. My friends influence me in the best way and the most because of that trust.

From the day we are born, we are influenced. School models the perfect student as someone with good grades and attendance. Social media and advertising project the perfect body and life of society. They affect how we view ourselves and our achievements. But these influences can’t only be classified as good or bad. Most of the time, they fall somewhere in between. That is why it is important to influence others in the best way you can. Throughout our lives, our environment, friends, and family hold power and influence over us. We too hold that influence, and it is important to use it in the right way.

In a KidSpirit Big Question article, teen writer Jaden Flach explores how social media, education, and friends can influence us positively or negatively. 

How Do We Know What Influence Is Good for Us?

Nathan Zhang

Despite the negative connotation of the word, propaganda itself is merely a tool.

What is propaganda? On the surface, this question might seem stupid. But ask anyone on the street, and while it’s likely you will receive countless examples of what he or she deems to be propaganda, it’s rather unlikely that you will get a concrete definition of what the word means. 

This is not so much a failure of the public as it is the inevitable consequence of the word’s looseness. Propaganda, along with select other words, is now most commonly used as a pejorative response to any and all ideological material that one disagrees with. Any political media, whether fact or fiction, can be labeled propaganda confidently and without scrutiny. This “looseness” itself is due to the value-neutral nature of propaganda, which is neither good nor bad. Despite the negative connotation of the word, propaganda itself is merely a tool, and has no inherent morality attached to it. That being said, it is still beneficial to learn the nuances of propaganda: its structure, history, and common applications. 

What are the characteristics of propaganda? Edward Bernays, in his 1928 book Propaganda, lays out a general definition, calling it “the conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses.” Bernays himself was an incredibly successful propagandist, and was best known for his “Torches of Freedom” campaign in 1929, which successfully associated cigarettes with feminism and women's liberation. Modern propaganda, according to Bernays, is characterized by the relation of the propagandists to the public: a powerful few controlling a huddled, susceptible mass. These people, Bernays writes, constitute a secret government that controls the hearts and minds of the people, “invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions.”

In naming the members of this “invisible government,” Bernays writes that it encompasses “the President of the United States and the members of his Cabinet; the Senators and Representatives in Congress; the Governors of our 48 states; the presidents of the chambers of commerce in our hundred largest cities” as well as countless other religious, cultural, and artistic leaders, whose names combined could fill a list comprising of “several thousand persons.” He then proceeds to give several examples of how such an “invisible government” has worked, first citing the case of senator and newspaper magnate Mark Hanna, who during his political career dictated all major aspects of domestic and foreign policy, as well as a hypothetical example of a clothier in London.

Throughout the book, it is surprising how positive Bernays is in his description of propaganda, given the terrifying cabbalistic nature of the mechanisms he is describing. Yet Bernays, along with many other propagandists, viewed propaganda as necessary for democracy. For them, the control of the people by the “invisible government” is a necessary symbiosis. They believed democracy would not be able to survive without the guiding influence of propaganda, as the average person is either too busy or not intelligent enough to understand or care about the inner workings of politics, foreign policy, and government. “We have voluntarily agreed,” Bernays writes, “to let an invisible government sift the data and high-spot the outstanding issue so that our field of choice shall be narrowed to practical proportions.” In this way, Bernays argues against democracy, and asserts the need for an elite upper caste of people to guide the common masses of the public. This sentiment is elucidated by Noam Chomsky in his book Media Control, which lays out the viewpoint of the propagandist as that “the mass of the public are just too stupid to be able to understand things. If they try to participate in managing their own affairs, they’re just going to cause trouble. Therefore, it would be immoral and improper to permit them to do this. We have to tame the bewildered herd, not allow the bewildered herd to rage and trample and destroy things.” Unlike Bernays, Chomsky is incredibly critical of propaganda, and describes the way propagandists view society in an attempt to expose their twisted and misguided view of the world. 

So what are the methods of propaganda, and how can we become less susceptible to it? This is a very difficult question to answer, as propaganda seems to have only grown in strength and precision. Adolf Hitler infamously stated that the larger a lie was, the easier it was to convince people. Hitler made great use of that statement; he and his minister of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, were some of the most effective propagandists of the 20th century. But nowadays propaganda often takes the form of a series of facts and statistics, which although true on their own, are framed to support ideologically or corporately motivated conclusions. The French philosopher Jacques Ellul describes this in his book Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes, writing that propaganda “is true when it serves up a plain fact, but does so only for the sake of establishing pretense and only as an example of the interpretation that it supports with that fact.” It is very difficult to attack a piece of propaganda by the facts it is based on. Rather, one must challenge the conclusion, or more often, the wording or framing of such a conclusion, which is necessarily much more difficult.

Whether it be the propaganda that preys on belief, or the propaganda that distorts science, propaganda exists today in many forms. Often times, these two merge together to create horrifying ends, such as in the case of the Soviet Union, where the traditional propaganda of media, education, and artistic control was supplemented with the introduction of Lysenkoism, a politically motivated pseudoscience that aimed to suppress the development of new biological and agricultural practices. This one-two punch of techniques resulted in the USSR being one of the most successful and long-lasting propaganda states to date. 

It is hard to become aware of these techniques, as they are so prevalent in all aspects of modern society that even if one was adept at recognizing propaganda from truth, it would be unlikely that one would even have the adequate time to carefully scrutinize the media he or she consumes. And if one, recognizing this, decided to treat everything as if it were untrue or framed in bad faith, one would have nothing to believe in at all. A dualistic approach may be somewhat effective in combating this. Know your core beliefs and expose them to scrutiny, and then attempt to consume media critically. While you may be lured into some falsehoods, the core of your being will not be compromised.

However, it is important to remember that propaganda, as a technique, is neither good nor bad. Oftentimes, propaganda can be a force for good. The great movements of our history (the American Revolution, Gandhi’s passive resistance campaign, the Civil Rights Movement, etc.) were all brought about through the effective use of propaganda. Propaganda is neither good nor evil. It is only in how it is used, and who it serves, that we can make a moral judgement about its effects. 

Bernays, Edward L. 1928. Propaganda. New York: H. Liveright.

Chomsky, Noam. 1991. Media Control: the Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda. Westfield, New Jersey: Open Magazine Pamphlet Series.

Ellul, Jacques. 1973. Propaganda: the Formation of Men's Attitudes. New York, NY: Vintage Books.

In a KidSpirit Feature article, teen writer Nathan Zhang explores the impacts of propaganda.

What Should We Do About Propaganda?

Max Mesh

Religion in my household is very interesting. When you approach my apartment you will be greeted by a “Happy Hanukkah” floor mat. Then, one of the first things you see when you enter the house is a photograph of the Pope and an image of Jesus on the wall. 

This is because of my bicultural family. My mom is Catholic and from a small mountain town in Ecuador. She immigrated to the United States when she was 17 and spoke no English. My dad is Jewish and he grew up in the suburbs of New York City. He learned Spanish in Spain. 

My parents come from two very different worlds. Yet, when they met, they found that they had a lot in common. Both of them are bilingual psychologists and they have common values, such as the importance of education and caring for others. When they got married they agreed to raise their children Jewish to give us a strong foundation of ethics and morals. 

My sisters and I all attended Hebrew school and my sisters became madricha (teacher assistants). When I first went to Hebrew school, I really wasn't looking forward to it at all. I saw it as an unnecessary waste of time. But now that I am finished with Hebrew school, I am starting to realize the great power it had on shaping my morals and who I am today. 

One of the most important ways that Judaism has shaped me is by making me conscious about helping others in need. The stories in the Torah act as a guide to model ways that God wants people to act. During Passover, you can invite people in need to come and eat, where you welcome them into your home with open arms. Because I celebrate Passover every year, its message of helping others has been ingrained in my mind, and thus I see its effect in my everyday life.

Whenever someone in my family does something to contribute to the betterment of society, my dad says it is our daily mitzvah (which means good deed). One day my dad and I were taking a walk, and while we were crossing the street he abruptly turned around and walked the other way. I was on the other side of the street when I saw him talking to an old lady. I ran back to him, attempting to not get hit by a car, and saw him helping her with her walker. We talked to this old lady for some time while standing on the corner of the street. She enthusiastically told us about her grandchildren and what she did in her life. We listened with interest for at least 10 minutes until she finally finished her stories. Then we dropped her off at the supermarket, and she thanked us several times with a big smile on her face. When I saw my father’s good intentions, it really inspired me to change my outlook for the future. Even though this only took 10 minutes of our time, I could really see the impact that it had on this lady. This further showed me that the simple things in life, like opening the door for somebody or pressing the elevator button for your neighbor, are all that it takes sometimes to brighten up somebody's day. These daily mitzvahs over years have given me a guide to follow in my own life. 

The concept of tzedakah means righteousness or charity, and it is an important value in Judaism. During Hebrew school the teachers pass around the tzedakah box so students can contribute their change to support the needy. I learned the importance of helping others, which led me to want to do more for others. The project that I am most proud of is the fundraiser that I created for Salva Dut. The summer before I started seventh grade, my middle school required everyone to read the book A Long Walk to Water. It is about an 11-year-old boy (Salva Dut) from South Sudan who was a refugee for 10 years during their civil war. After many years he was lucky enough to be brought to Rochester, New York, where he learned English and enrolled in college. Then, he decided to return to his country to build wells for his people, so they could have fresh water. This changed peoples’ lives. Without wells, girls would have to walk four hours and back to get water for the family, and they couldn’t attend school. Once the village had wells, the girls started to go to school. I felt emotional when I read this story about this “lost boy” Salva who created the organization Water for South Sudan. I wanted to help them. I contacted the organization and found out that Salva was going to be in New York City. So I created a fundraiser where he spoke about his life. Even though the event was held on a Monday night, I was overjoyed, and very proud, that 200 people, including a lot of middle school students, attended, and we raised $9,500 for Water for South Sudan. Going to Hebrew school really helped me learn important values like helping people in need.

Even though my parents decided to raise me as Jewish, I have been exposed to my mom’s culture and religion as well. We have made a number of summer trips to her little mountain town in Ecuador and during the annual bullfight festivals. I met her grade school teachers and experienced her culture. I have also experienced her traditions, cultures, and values from my grandma Nema, who is very religious. Before leaving home she says to me in Spanish, “may God bless you.” She is the one who put the picture of the Pope and Jesus next to our door. She also makes us walk up the steps of the Catholic church that we pass on our way to school and she wants us to cross ourselves.

Even though I am not the most religious person, religion has helped me find the strength within myself. When I attended Hebrew school it was very fascinating to hear about, for example, Jonah and the whale or Noah's ark. Even though there is a part of me thinking that this story is impossible and could never happen, a part of me enjoys reading about these events. When I break down the meaning of the story, I find myself seeing these things to be more relevant to my everyday life. When I make these connections to my life, I try to act in ways that these stories have told me God wants me to act.

In a KidSpirit Interfaith Connections article, teen writer Max Mesh explores how Judaism has taught him to use his inner strength to help others.

Daily Mitzvah

Satya Shaw

When I was cast in a short film about a boy who cuts his hair, I realized I would have to brave my fears.

I’ve always been insecure about my hair and my ears and, because of that, I’ve grown to dread haircuts. 

I always felt the need to cover my face because I was afraid of what other people would think if they saw me. But when I was cast in a short film about a boy who cuts his hair, I realized I would have to brave my fears.

The film is about the director when he was a kid. He has a crush on his best friend, but she doesn’t like him back. At one point, she tells him that his hair is too long, so in desperation he cuts it. But in the end, she still doesn’t like him. We spent the first few shooting days in a park where my character, Nitin, was hanging out with his friend, Samantha, and then one more day in my house shooting a scene where Samantha comes over. But the next day, when the time came for me to cut my hair, all of my anxieties came rushing back. I ran upstairs to where my mom and dad were and told them how scared I was. They hugged me and told me I was brave but because I had signed up for this, I couldn’t back down now. I walked down the stairs slowly and picked up the scissors. It wasn’t hard to replicate the emotions that my character no doubt was feeling; I was feeling them too. In my head, I was holding the one thing that could kill me. I was a mighty warrior with only one weakness. With the director encouraging me, I found the strength I needed and cut off a piece of my hair. It was pretty anticlimactic. We changed the camera angle and I cut some more, and then some more, and then some more, until it was just below my ears. After the first cut, I was in it and, even though every inch of me wanted to stop, I knew I couldn’t. The director decided that was enough for that scene. 

Between that day and the next shoot, the director asked me to get a real haircut to make it even. He also asked that my hair be cut above my ears. He said it needed to be noticeable on camera. On the day of the final shoot, we drove to the park and everyone in the cast and crew said it looked good. They said things like “Nah, it looks fiiiine” and “Don’t be so hard on yourself! It looks good!” Even though I didn’t fully believe it myself, it helped me get through that day. I think the most remarkable part of this story is what the director did when he saw how I felt. Although he didn’t want to, he shaved his head just because of me. It’s funny to think about but it’s also so amazing and such a wonderful thing to do. It took a lot of courage and kindness to shave his head just for a kid he didn’t know all that well. When I look back on it, the director is just a grown-up Nitin. He went through the same things both me and the character went through, and I think when he realized that, he felt guilty and cut his hair to show that I wasn’t alone. What amazes me is that he shaved his head, which is more than I could ever do, but he didn’t have that feeling of trauma that I did. And yet, when I log onto my zoom class tomorrow, I’ll be wearing a hood just like I have since the day of the haircut. 

I can’t fully explain why I care so much about my hair. I asked myself what I think people would say if I chose not to wear a hood one day, but the answer I came up with was I don’t know. I think that part of it could be the feeling that if I don’t look right, my friends will just get up and go. The feeling that if they can’t see what in my eyes is bad hair, they’ll stay. And although I feel bad for doubting them, there’s a part of me that can’t see a world in which they would stay friends with me even with bad hair, given that they’re more popular.  

This film changed my life. Not in the sense that it fixed all my problems, but it forced me to think about why I cared so deeply about my hair, something that many people I know don’t even think about (or just don’t show that they do). It opened me up to my vulnerabilities and showed me the ways I could strengthen myself. 

I think the most important thing I’ve taken away from this is the realization that the director, as the grown-up Nitin, didn’t have the same trauma I did after cutting his hair. It gives me hope that the feelings I have with my friends are just in my head and will go away with time. I also think that maybe they’re already on the way out, and that’s why the haircut was so anticlimactic. I was expecting this big, dramatic, action-movie moment but in reality, it just was what it was: a haircut.

In a KidSpirit Awesome Moments article, teen writer Satya Shah shares how a simple haircut changed his outlook on strength and influence.

anticlimactic

Ameena Naqvi

Row after row of neatly lined up books meticulously arranged in alphabetical order. A hushed atmosphere punctured by the occasional child's laugh. 

This familiarity and homeliness integral to my local library never failed to mystify me. Everything from the comfortable leather arm chairs to the coarse cheap fabric on the floor were staples of my childhood and invoked a welcoming sense of comfort within me. Despite the usual muffled stillness and silence, it was as if the walls of endless novels and magazines were constantly beckoning me towards them. From a young age, the mundane halls of my local library seemed to have a magical quality to them. They managed to be venerable, calm, and alluring all at once.

As I grew older, I gradually moved from the children's section with low shelves and floor cushions to scouring the YA romance novels to eventually the tables for quiet study where I had spent the majority of my freshman year in high school. Here I religiously visited the library almost every day after school and frantically caught up with the day’s homework. Arming myself with a brand-new number two pencil, I flipped open my wide array of textbooks and poured myself into work. Then, once I had finished my assignments, I would read for any remaining time, exploring the worlds of the Bennet or Linton household. Just like this, weeks passed like clockwork, until one day someone interrupted this repetitious monotony. 

A smiley librarian tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a brochure introducing the library’s latest program, Reading Buddies. This was a literacy program for children to practice their reading skills where they were teamed up with high schoolers to help and encourage them to learn. I was initially hit with a wave of interest and curiosity. However, this was immediately countered by my strong disdain for children. I was reminded of my disastrous and exhausting babysitting experiences with my two younger cousins. But, despite this initial apprehension, my love for reading and the opportunity to teach proved to be too tempting, and I decided to sign up for the month of March.

When spring finally came around, I found myself leaving the comforts of the quiet study to revert back to the low shelves and colorful walls of the kids’ section. I sat on the floor cushions and was introduced to my buddy, who was not the wild toddler I had imagined. I had been partnered with a timid nine-year-old boy named Rahul who was so shy and easily frightened he barely kept eye contact. Sensing his anxiety, I softened the tone of my voice and gently prodded him with questions about his favorite books and authors. He eventually responded, telling me he loved to read Geronimo Stilton and also enjoyed books by Roald Dahl and Robert Munsch. After that our relationship took off as we read some of my childhood favorites like Matilda, The BFG, and The Tale of Peter Rabbit. 

Seeing Rahul’s eyes light up through the twists and turns of each protagonist made every session all the more valuable. On top of that, I felt truly honored that I was able to help guide him along his literary journey. Whether it was helping pronounce or define difficult words or even just discussing the book with each other, every step provided me with a deep sense of gratification. Rahul went from barely stuttering his name to acquiring a heightened sense of self assurance and newfound confidence when flipping the through pages of large novels. As such, I felt immense pride in both his accomplishments and also my own abilities. I felt as though I had finally shared the magic of the library and books I had admired for so long with someone else who truly appreciated it.

Rather than being solely consumed by the hectic busyness of my everyday life, Reading Buddies taught me to truly relax and enjoy service to others. I no longer solely viewed time at the library as a solitary activity but began to further appreciate my environment as well as the people around me. The neat, orderly arranged books complete with curled and looped titles all took on a new meaning for me now. I began to not only learn and study for my own purposes but also with the end goal of teaching and helping others. The little haven of books in my local library perfectly encapsulated my desire to continue volunteering.

As famously stated by literary icon Oscar Wilde, “the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” My time at Reading Buddies allowed me to accumulate a wide set of small yet valuable acts of kindness and in turn acted as one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

In a KidSpirit Helping Hands article, teen writer Ameena Naqvi reflects on a transformative tutoring experience.

Volunteering: The Real Page-turner

Yifei Wang

The first time I encountered Lord of the Flies was the summer of 2018. 

For almost two years, the strong uneasy impression it left made me reluctant to reread it. The brutality of the society on the island created horrid images in my mind. I could not understand why a group of innocent young boys would be transformed into savages so soon.

The story happens sometime in the future. During World War III, a plane carrying a group of boys crashes on an isolated island somewhere in the middle of the ocean. The only adult, the pilot, doesn’t survive the accident, while all the boys do. Though perplexed at this peculiar situation, the boys enjoy their freedom at first. Then one boy, Jack, breaks away with some followers. The two factions represent the savages and the civilized men. Under extreme circumstances, which one is more crucial: working towards the goal or having a satisfied stomach? The answer becomes only too apparent. This is a very realistic portrait of the real world because in life-threatening situations, a human’s instinct to survive and stay healthy will eventually take over rational thinking. The book gives very detailed descriptions of how each faction functions, and what seems like a trivial sentence can be an essential plotline that will influence the whole story. 

This is no doubt a story about the wild adventures of a group of young boys and how they live on an isolated island. But it is also a story about savages overcoming the civilized, the insane conquering the sane. Both main characters, Ralph and Jack, are in the position of influencing and implementing their own thoughts and ideas to the other boys. In fact, at first, Ralph is in the favored position, judging by his possession of the conch, the symbol of ultimate power on the island. The moment Ralph first blows the conch to call an assembly, everyone (including Jack, though grudgingly) accepts the fact that he is the supreme leader. His first order to build a fire on the top of the mountain is carried out immediately with great enthusiasm. Though tired and full of uncertainty, the boys’ first instinct is to get away from the island as fast as possible, and the sole way to satisfy this wish is to keep a fire going. Before long, exhaustion takes over and continues to gnaw its way through everyone’s heart, and Jack’s suggestion of hunting and eating meat seems more reasonable and friendly.

So why would a functioning society collapse so rapidly from the call of the wild? Apart from the fundamental reason that everyone has evil inside, we cannot ignore the crucial outside influence. Why was Jack able to summon such a huge crowd in a stunningly short period of time and turn the situation around? In their state of fatigue, the offer of roasted meat was just as tempting to the boys as getting off the island. Jack’s offer was in everyone’s interests and, as a result, he was able to organize the boys and set them off to work with great efficiency.

Why was Ralph unable to cast a significant influence like Jack did? The answer lies in Jack’s repeated line throughout the novel: “We want meat.”

In addition to reminding everyone of the ultimate goal and pushing them to work, a leader of a team must also consider everyone’s interests in order to keep them motivated. Only when members gain benefits are they willing to work under a leader. Countless glorious successes and tragic losses have embodied this message. It is the same in both Western and Eastern culture, and is shown vividly both in the past and present. 

Almost a thousand years ago, during China’s Song Dynasty, a powerful minister by the name of Anshi Wang started a political reformation after witnessing many people in dreadful poverty. He wanted to let the central government have control over some of the wealthy people’s fortune and use it to improve living conditions across the country. However, he ignored the fact that the wealthy upper class also made up a significant part of the government itself and his decision would damage them. This resulted in the ultimate failure of his reformation. Closer to the present, when Stalin first rose to power in Russia and took control of the land and other resources to redistribute them as public resources, the rich peasants called kulaks strongly opposed his decisions. It was this sense of dissatisfaction that caused social turbulence later on.

I did not realize the need to consider the interests of my group members until one social studies project; I was in charge of settling on the topic and moving the discussion forward. It was a hot August morning, and we had been sitting around talking and arguing for more than an hour. I was going to continue until we could reach a final conclusion. Then, one of my group members suddenly protested that lunch was definitely necessary. Nearly everyone was starving. I was reluctant to agree since the deadline was right around the corner, but in the end permitted an hour lunch break at the nearby restaurant. To my surprise, the discussion later that day went smoothly and everyone seemed to be in a better and more productive mood. Having lunch was clearly in the group members’ common interest, and by satisfying their needs, I gained their support. My ideas were accepted much more easily. In other words, my influence on the group was magnified.

Leading a group of people is never an easy thing to do, because everyone has their own thoughts and ideas. Even if there is a common goal, different needs and interests must be met in the process of reaching it. It is a good leader’s job to consider everyone’s interests and make decisions that will benefit his or her members. 

In Lord of the Flies, Ralph detects the general resentment of his constant calls for tiring routines: keeping the fire going and building shelter. If he lets the boys off on a break, things could turn out very differently. What’s more, he fails to understand Jack’s eagerness to hunt and the pride he takes in killing the pig. Ralph provokes him by saying that what he has done is useless. 

In conclusion, I will rate this book four stars out of five. Its vivid description of the boys’ actions and their thoughts propels the storyline forward, and the metaphors and plot are mind-blowing. So broaden your mind, clear your view, and be open to satisfying your fellow members’ needs and interests. Rational thinking is the key to success, but without roasted meat, a team can never reach its goal. 

In a KidSpirit Media review, teen writer Yifei Wang reviews the classic novel Lord of the Flies.

The Triumph of Roasted Meat Over Rational Thinking

Brooklyn Montgomery

A small grimace
Maybe a step in the right direction
Everyone else is planning for world domination
I'm trying to be my own heroine
Trying to organize my thoughts
So that they don't get scattered like the rest of my emotions
I'm lost in this cycle of knowing what I want, but not knowing how to do it.

It's like climbing an endless mountain 
And not knowing how far up it is
But knowing you want to get to the top

My weapons are my ideas
My confrontation is self-doubt
And the world's view of me.

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Brooklyn Montgomery charts a course for self-confidence and inner strength.

My Own Heroine

Yingxin Liang

When I am,
At the top of the wild geese array,
I know my companions are following my step,
Supporting each other,
Brave lives linked by the clouds.
With cautious and courage,
I can never stop flying,
Endless strength lasts longer than sunset,
And we will finally see the dawn.

In a KidSpirit poem, teen writer Yingxin Liang illustrates the power of togetherness with a metaphor in the natural world.

Team

Max Libman

In the front by the teacher?
Near the exit at the theater?

By the end of the church pew?
Do I compromise my life for a view?

Where to sit in the concert hall?
How many more until they hear our call?

Frightened students listen to the gun sound
Ammunition round after round
Is our destiny fatally bound?

Families are scared to go to worship
As a mother weeps into her kerchief.

If it happens to me
Would I fight or flee?

Who will listen to our repeated cry?
Not even Congress as we testify.

Where next will the bullet hit?
As I think where to sit.

In this poem, KidSpirit poet Max Libman vividly portrays the psychological toll of violence on teens today.

Where to Sit?

Aditya Naik

The world's hit by a pandemic,
And everyone's locked down,
With people afraid of the disease,
And economies broken down.

With migrants stuck at workplaces 
And finding nowhere to go 
With philanthropists coming forward to donate
And others starting to follow.

With a few playing the blame game 
And somewhere there is protest
With governments working to their fullest potential
And COVID warriors fighting their best.

With stress hitting people hard 
Anxiety and depression 
With virtual being the new real
And pandemic being the reason.

While we could have been more powerful 
But a little lack of collectiveness
Is why we are under solitary confinement
And the world has become a mess.

With humans winning this war
And nature starting to heal 
The break has become a good reason 
For life's sustenance and zeal.

Let's vow today in unity
To forget the disparities
Let's stand today in solidarity 
To empower the weak and minorities. 

Let's come together now
And pledge to prepare better 
With sustainability and combined strength 
Save our planet, our mother.

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Aditya Naik calls us to combat the COVID-19 pandemic with strength, unity, and solidarity.

The Strength of Humanity

Pragya Natarajan

Being a leader is a very tricky role to handle no matter what situation. However, there are specific styles you can follow.

Is your group falling apart at the seams and prepared to mutiny? Do they want you to walk the plank? The second is a rhetorical question (or is it?). 

Being a leader is a very tricky role to handle no matter what situation, and you have to tread carefully to most effectively complete the task at the end of the day. However, there are specific styles you can follow. Depending on the situation, you can identify which way will be most effective. A combination of these styles is optimal, and it is always helpful to know what you need to combine for which situation.

First, you need to understand what sort of leader you currently are to pinpoint where you might be going wrong in your situation. A popular way to categorize your personality as an authority is the DiSC method: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. A dominant leader is direct and focused on their task. They are determined to accomplish results, love challenges, and make sure their environment is the way they want it to be. An influential one tends to be well-liked, prioritizes the opinions of their subordinates, and is very warm and persuasive. Steady leaders value stability over all things and emphasize collaboration and giving support. And a conscientious boss loves competent and accurate workflow no matter the circumstance. 

All kinds of leaders have their faults. Those who dominate may also tend to be impatient and lack adequate concern for their group. Leaders who align with the influential personality usually need to work on researching facts and being more direct. Stability-loving leaders often struggle to adapt to change. Leaders who value conscientiousness may have trouble having fun or making quick decisions.

Once you identify which kind of leadership personality you are applying right now, let us look at what type of leadership style will help you get your group back on track. The main types that are acknowledged by experts are authoritarian, democratic, laissez-faire, transactional, and transformational. These are different ways you can learn to lead your team to solve specific situations.

The authoritarian and democratic styles are complete opposites, and one is not necessarily better than the other. Be careful, because running a full-on authoritarian regime isn’t recommended. Authoritarian leadership seems scary and can border on tyrannical if overused, but it works well when deadlines are near. This variety allows the captain to make quick decisions that can be carried out speedily and functions best when the superior is the most skilled member of a team. One example of this kind of leadership is Harriet Tubman in the Underground Railroad. She led hundreds of slaves north to freedom through abolitionist houses and careful planning but had to make sure everyone followed directions. All of their lives were at stake if they refused to obey her. Democratic management is often seen as the best path, as there is input from all team members. When a magazine asks for new ideas for columns that will do well, all group members are welcome to share their opinion. Democratic leadership inspires creativity as well as a sense of equality between the team members, even though the one with authority makes the final decision. However, using the democratic method is very difficult for a leader to manage when deadlines are nearing.

Likewise, laissez-faire and transactional are drastically different styles of leadership. In the laissez-faire method, the chief officer leaves the team to do their jobs and exists solely for the team to ask for advice. For example, when there are a couple of weeks until deadlines and everyone is working on writing and artwork, superiors do not need to keep checking on their team because their direction is not necessary when everyone knows what they are doing. And when a team is almost independent and experienced, a leader is more of a supervisor. It functions when the followers are skilled, but can be detrimental to progress if they require constant guidance. Unlike laissez-faire, transactional leadership is very focused and driven. Each member of the team has clear instructions and expectations on what to do in a particular time frame. When it is time to organize dates and meet for editing and revision, this kind of leadership is the most efficient.  You would make sure every single project is reaching its final stages and nearing completion. Productivity and goal-setting drive this method, yet it could damage internal motivation in a group member if improperly implemented.

Lastly, transformational leadership seems to be the most foolproof way to motivate a team. The transformational method is demonstrated when a creative leader shows a clear vision to their followers, motivates their group with their infectious passion, and offers the team support and guidance to help each team member reach their highest potential. The group, in turn, feels the urge to trust their director and strive to emulate the qualities they have. This method can seem stellar, but it depends on what vision is painted by the boss. It can reduce individual members' creativity to a small extent, but it seems to make the team and the leader happy. Transformational leaders are those who lead movements. Malala Yousafzai is a stunning example of transformational leadership as she uses her influence to show a clear vision: educate more girls.

All in all, if the productivity of your team is unsatisfactory, identify what kind of a leader you currently are, then look at the different leadership styles to decide what will help your situation. Your leadership should not consistently be using one method, because all situations cannot be solved with only one approach. You cannot implement these styles singularly, and a combination is ideal. My personal opinion is that one should use the transformational method a majority of the time. But before establishing their vision, a leader should be democratic in trying to create one for a group so that the group agrees with the given goals. Then, the superior should act transactionally when assigning tasks, and use the laissez-faire method while the team is working. When deadlines are coming up, they should be slightly authoritative to make sure their group gets the work done. 

I have formed this opinion after analyzing my disastrous time as the captain during the explorer unit in fifth grade, in which I was so dominating that members of the team refused to cooperate. But by the end, I was behaving in a more transformational way by clarifying goals, and it lessened the tension. Dominance is necessary during deadlines, but not always. I should have let my team come up with their ideas as well instead of consistently pushing my own onto them; I could have been able to trust them more. 

As you can see, every situation is not definite in management, and everyone has their personal beliefs when it comes to the style of leadership they use to handle them. First, pinpoint what you value as a leader: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, or Conscientiousness. Once you understand your values and analyze your situation, take the course of action that best aligns with your preferences and the needs of the team. No matter what, your leadership should be effective. The terms given in this article are umbrella terms, and no person fits into one category only, but having these definitions should clear up confusion on how to be a functional leader. After reading this article, I hope that you have become enlightened on how to behave as a leader and which situations are most appropriate to act in a certain way. Hopefully, your crew will let you back on the boat.

“DiSC Profile - What Is DiSC®? The DiSC Personality Test and Profile Explained.” DiSCProfile.com, 2010. https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc/overview/. 

“Organizational Behavior and Human Relations.” Lumen Learning. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-organizationalbehavior/chapter/leadership-styles/. 

Tracy, Brian. "5 Different Types of Leadership Styles." May 11, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vilZazhIjoc. 

In a KidSpirit Feature article, teen writer Pragya Natarajan explores different styles of leadership.

What It Takes to Be a Leader

Max Fang

Jasmine Xu

Moving to Australia was a culture shock in more ways than one. 

I was twelve, had a fringe cut, and was thrust into a room in the oldest boarding house of one of Australia’s most prestigious private schools with three other kids I had never met. All of a sudden, I no longer had my mother to check all my homework every day; I no longer could go to Starbucks with my dad after dinner; I no longer had that safe harbor to rely on whenever trouble struck. Instead, I found myself navigating through crowds of aliens, all of whom looked different and spoke unfamiliar languages, by myself. Green eyes, brown eyes, fair skin, dark skin — everyone looked different and had different ideals and expressed them without censorship. China’s culture is not one which encourages free, individual opinions; consequently, I found this diverse independence novel and, oftentimes, almost threatening.

So, finding my voice during my first few years in Australia was quite a challenge. I was reluctant to venture out of my comfort zone — namely, studying, sports, and blending in. So for a good three and a half years, I was quite lost. I dropped violin and piano, and solely stuck to my strengths: tennis, soccer, and video games. I wasn’t exactly a nobody at school, but I wasn’t at the center of anything — just a nice guy who happened to be pretty good at studying.

But something I did do very well was listen to others (which is partly why I was labeled a nice guy). Listening is very much a part of Chinese doctrine, especially when it pertains to elders and authority figures, so that was something I was used to and quite good at. Classmates, teachers, people I randomly walk with, whomever — I let them talk. And I’m glad I do, because I have learned a lot from them. From a girl who did circus, I learned about the “flying trapeze”; from a Vietnamese immigrant, I learned some very colorful Vietnamese words; from listening to my homeroom teacher, I learned more about physics than any science class has ever taught me. During a year nine math class, my neighboring classmate taught me how to play on my phone without getting caught, and that was probably the sole cause of the mess that was my math grades that year. 

However, not everything was lighthearted and positive. I was ignorant about many of the world’s most pressing issues, and if I hadn’t listened, I’d still be steeped in that ignorance. From an Aboriginal student’s shocking speech about the bullying he suffered, I learned about the dark undercurrents of systemic racism which remain deep-rooted in the country. From Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes exposé on the inhumane conditions of live animal exporting, I found out about the harrowing animal welfare predicament, which plagues the nation as a premium agricultural exporter. From listening to a friend’s confessions about her struggles with depression, I became aware of the mental health crisis that hounds adolescents, including those around me. 

Listening to others has gifted me with knowledge about society’s most pressing issues, and along with that knowledge, a passion for sparking change. I was influenced, moved, affected by what I heard, and the deep, sticky swamp of cynical apathy in which I had been mired suddenly felt rather shameful. As time passed, I became increasingly engaged with student bodies that seek to promote social and economic inequality. I took an active interest in politics. I started my own blog, on which I share my opinion on issues like gender inequality, the climate crisis, the wealth gap, and more. As I stepped into year 11, I finally found the voice that had been absent for the better part of five years.

That was when others began to listen to me — my friends, my classmates, my teachers, even strangers on the internet. The more I listened and debated and engaged with the voices of others, the more willing they were to listen to me. Being willing to listen and respect other people’s ideas and opinions had somehow earned me that same respect. And how empowering it was, to listen and be listened to! This gave me a chance to share my individuality; to add my own color of diversity; to begin to make a difference, and empower others to do the same.

I suppose that, by definition, I have influence. I like to think of my influence as rather positive, though I do admit that influence is very much a double-edged sword. The wrong kind of influence is exerted by force and deception. The wrong kind coerces and tricks its victims to do the bidding of the wielder. The wrong kind demands obedience instead of respect. It encourages ignorance instead of intellectualism. It smothers dissident voices instead of debating them. It is the elimination of diversity rather than its expansion. It does not listen. I listen, and I believe in the progressive nature of the influence I exercise — one that garners and promotes respect, encourages rational and intellectual debate, and bases itself on truths rather than lies, distractions, and ad hominems. It is the kind we lack and desperately need in this increasingly polarized socio-political landscape. And it begins with listening to others — not just listening, but absorbing, considering and being willing to modify existing views in light of new stories and perspectives.

This kind of positive influence can only be practiced when you are willing to both listen and share. It’s difficult to do one or the other, much less both, especially when it seems like no one else wants to. I know. I’ve been there. But radical change always begins as a spark. It always begins with you, the individual, the first. So, sometimes you need to open your mouth; sometimes you need to shut it for a while, and open your ears and mind instead. When that time comes, you know what to do.

Author's Note: When we first came together to write this piece, Max suggested the strength of listening and Jasmine offered how influence is found through diversity and the expansion of opinions. To combine our ideas into one coherent piece, Jasmine wrote a rough draft that laid out the structure and general message of the piece. Max then added specific anecdotal examples and fine-tuned the original draft. In the end, most of the specific anecdotes are told from Max's perspective, whereas Jasmine's voice is found in the more theoretical parts of the piece. Nonetheless, due to our common immigration backgrounds and experiences of finding our voices through listening, the overarching meaning of the piece still holds true for both of us.

In a KidSpirit Interfaith Connections article, teen writers Max Fang and Jasmine Xu share how listening helped them find their inner strength. 

Willing to Listen, Willing to Share

Nanyee Lin

Little Women is one of those famous works people often bring up to you, but you never get the chance to either see the film or read the novel. However, that did not stop me from watching the newest adaptation of it, released in 2019, on the silver screen. 

Before watching the film, my first impression of Little Women was that it would definitely be heavily related to feminism; however, I was shocked at the array of issues Little Women is able to touch upon. Not only does it brilliantly showcase the realistic aspect of sisterly love and an empowering image of feminism, it also displays the difficulties of wealth disparity in society and the struggles of young people to find their own identity. 

As the oldest sibling in my family, I can easily relate to the love-hate relationship between the March sisters in the movie. While I have just one sister, let alone four, I can already think of countless times we have wanted to kill each other for the dumbest reasons possible. I’m going to dive deeper on the most misunderstood sister, Amy. Amy and Jo have the strongest personalities among the four sisters, so tension between them frequently escalates more abruptly than it does with Beth and Meg. One of the most dramatic scenes in the film is when Amy decides to take revenge on Jo because of a very small slight. Obviously, not every single person has acted so extremely, but I’m pretty sure everyone with siblings has these types of evil thoughts come across their mind every once in a while. To me, Amy is the most realistic and relatable sister out of all four because she displays the raw emotions that any sibling normally has, including jealousy and what I call nonchalant love. 

Nonchalant love is a term I made up to explain the situation when people’s affection toward one another is purposely not shown. They want to appear to be nonchalant with each other despite secretly looking out for one another. This is often seen in Asian households where parents never say the word “love” out loud to their kids or even compliment their children, but show that they care through small actions such as packing an extra banana for their kid’s lunch in case they are hungry and forcing their kid to wear an extra jacket because they worry it will get cold outside. Tying this back to Little Women, Amy, after angering Jo, tries to redeem herself for her reckless action. Jo, being the headstrong one, of course doesn’t forgive her easily. 

Lastly, as the sisters move forward to adulthood, economic problems begin to unravel in their life. Meg, the eldest among the sisters, neglects the social norm of marrying for wealth and decides to follow her heart by falling in love with a middle class man who is a teacher. Amy claims that “marriage is an economic proposition,” since after a woman marries a man, her money and children will all belong to the husband. Women rarely make enough money to support the entire family, so marrying rich is a necessity. Her statement may be controversial to many others, but it is undeniably correct given the status of women during the 19th century. Similarly, Jo is constantly doubted by the people around her, as they don’t expect a woman to make a name for herself from an unconventional career, such as being a writer. When Jo is proposing her work to a publisher, it is obvious that the publisher doesn’t take her seriously through his condescending attitude towards her. Although as time progressed, women slowly gained more rights, including suffrage through the 19th Amendment and the feminist movement in the late 1900s, many women still suffer from prejudice in the workforce.

The lively performances of the actors and artistic costumes also contributed greatly to the overall success of the movie. It brought the fictional characters written in the original book to life. Florence Pugh, who played Amy, is the perfect embodiment of Amy. Since the movie lets the audience peek through the characters’ different stages of life, Pugh is able to accurately personify Amy’s maturation process throughout the years. I also would like to commend Timothee Chalamet, who played Laurie, for bringing dimension to the character by charming the audience with his overflowing charisma while simultaneously bringing out Laurie’s vulnerability. Moreover, this movie won an Oscar for Best Costumes in 2020. What makes the costumes in this movie particularly breathtaking is that the designers not only make them realistic, they also add an essence to each character’s costume to make it look like it was made for the character. Most notably, Amy’s distinctive hat that she wears in her adult life radiates a sense of regalness and reservedness, showing the audience her change from childishness to maturity.

Watching Little Women makes me feel like I am not little anymore. It demonstrates how four sisters with different personalities progress from naivete to maturity. Instead of slamming social issues right in people’s face, the movie projects them to the audience in a subtle way that doesn’t appear to be preaching. The unique backgrounds of the four sisters intertwine with each other to form a versatile lesson that can apply to every audience that is watching. With all these qualities in mind, I rate this movie a five out of five without question.

In a KidSpirit Media review, teen writer Nanyee Lin gives her take on the 2019 film adaptation of Little Women.

Little Women Speak Big Words

Andrea Posada

The wind spoke to me,
blowing through my head
and floating with my thoughts.
She said —

Run.
Run like I do,
be free.
Read what you want
and write when you can.
The trees, they dance for you.
Blades of grass on the lawn
wave to you as you walk by.
They hope you’re safe and okay.
So do I.
I blow away
and dry your tears
but I can’t always do so.
I will follow you wherever you are
and wherever you go.
If you are outside,
I will always comfort you.
I will keep you standing as I
brush your hair from your eyes.
You always seek comfort,
so know that I am here
until you flow with me.
Then we will heal together.

She Spoke

Po-Ting (Duke) Lin

I waited all day long for my blissful paradise: the unfathomable, cerulean ocean. 

Strolling to the counter, I registered for a two-hour swimming excursion. Then the spiritual heaven called me to enter. Before the start of my endless journey, I stretched my arms and legs, jogged, and crouched. The warm, cordial breeze embraced me as I rambled to the coast and dived into the pellucid waters. Splash!

It was eight years ago when I decided to attend my first swimming class. At first, my father attempted to persuade me to learn basketball. “All the boys in your class are practicing basketball every weekend. You are the only foolish one who has no knowledge of basketball at all. Let me tell you something: basketball is the true sport of a man,” he proudly claimed. At that time, however, I saw basketball as something “treacherous,” seeing most of my classmates getting bruises and sometimes even bone fractures after rough games. I refused. My father was, undoubtedly, enraged at my quick refusal, so I offered the idea of signing up for swimming courses, since playing in water was one of my goofy passions. Soon, I began learning swimming at my dad’s university. 

I woke up early in the morning on the first day of the swimming session, anxious that I would be tardy for class. As a child who suffered from anxiety, I always pondered how others would judge or even criticize this newcomer. I was petrified with fear. Yet, when I arrived, I saw no one except a fresh-faced lifeguard sprinting to the gate with a set of rusted keys. He waved gleefully at me. 

“I have not seen you before. Are you here for the summer swimming classes?” the guard asked me with a welcoming face.

I nodded sheepishly and replied, “Yes.” 

As the sun embraced me at the pool, I sat on the wooden bench, waiting for my coach’s arrival. After a while, I shuffled to the changing room. I instantly thought  I had made a wrongful, witless decision; it was totally dark. I moved my hands across the wall, searching for the light switch like a stupid cavefish trying to see without any eyes. Out of the blue, I heard a silvery voice, “Did you see my new student?” I turned around and saw a slender and shapely woman talking to the guard – she must be my coach. 

“There he is,” said the guard. The coach greeted me. “You must be Professor Lin’s child!” she claimed, and laughed, “Professor once mentioned that you loved to play in water!” I nodded humbly without realizing my phobia had forever perished in that moment. The coach’s embracing persona had mystically thawed my deep uncountable fears and revived my confidence. Minutes later, I dived into the frigid water and got into a curious mindset as the coach went to change her swimsuit. Then a gradual vision arose in front of my sight: I saw myself becoming a professional swimmer, competing with other Olympic winners.

As time went by, I learned more styles of swimming and routinely practiced butterfly back and forth before class began. When the coach arrived, she would always provide me with profuse advice and strategies to hone my swimming skills. Once, she asked me why I wanted to attend swimming class. I wanted to tell her my grandiose desire to achieve the gold medal at the Olympics, but my self-consciousness kept that grand aspiration in my dream list. Even today, the words “Olympic swimming medal” are highlighted on my mental dream list, alerting me to persevere in swimming no matter how difficult it could be. Day by day, I practiced with strong determination and believed I was moving another small step towards my ultimate goal.

Besides working toward my huge aspiration, swimming endowed me with a sensation of liveliness and reincarnation from Mother Nature. Whenever I dived into the pool, I felt carefree as I paddled my feet through the water. Listening to the pleasant sound of the bubbles as I exhaled through my nose bolstered me to bask snugly in the fresh water. Every time I left the water, I gained something new – something that could not be evoked in words. Probably it was the rush of thoughts and imagination I unconsciously attained under the water, each time shedding my old perspectives and making me grow into a new self. Whenever I felt worn out after hours of swimming, there was always something within my mentality that guided me to persevere in reaching my daily goals. My Olympic medal dream would instantly come to mind, reminding me to not give up easily in order to pursue this ultimate dream. Thus, swimming has been my source of strength and influence since childhood.

Recalling the past, I have grasped what Buddha taught me: “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Now in the present, I  question myself, my identity, and, ultimately, who I am – once I was an airy fish, splashing freely in the water; then I became a jolly shrimp, wading buoyantly; in a flash, I evolved into an elated seahorse, dashing zestfully through the seagrass; now, I have matured to a gleeful dolphin, flying high on cloud nine.

Feeling unlimited, I swim in the boundless ocean. Despite laughing at the impossibility of pursuing my aspiration to become an Olympic swimmer, I have ultimately fulfilled my grandiose dream: to be a self-determined swimmer, diving with Mother Nature.

In a KidSpirit Awesome Moments article, teen writer Po-Ting Lin shares how his love of swimming has brought him strength.

Underwater

Keesha Joseph

Tell me not where I should go
But instead when I came from above.
Build up my internal power,
Not the facade you claim to love.
Put my pieces back in place,
Don’t demolish my resolve.
Place your hands above my heart,
And till death do us apart.

Learn to give a helping hand,
Show your values to your fans.
Stop criticizing on demand,
Give respect to those who can’t.
It’s not right to point your hand,
Have some decency to think.
Illuminate the place you stand,
Never wait for the command.

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Keesha Joseph illustrates the qualities of a good role model.

Role Model

Sebastian Hersey

A large part of a person’s worldview is made up of their religion (or lack thereof), or the religion of their family or community. I am a Christian, and I have grown up in a Christian family and attended a Christian school my entire life. 

A topic that the Bible talks a lot about is power and influence. The Bible gives examples of how to use power well and it gives examples of power being abused. Jesus talked about power and was a model for what leadership should be. Through reading the Bible and being raised in a Christian environment, I have grown to see how the Bible’s views on power and influence often contradict how the rich and powerful commonly use their power, emphasizing the need to protect those without power and criticizing the wealthy and powerful.

Power is commonly viewed or used in reality as a commodity. Power is seen as something to be attained, and, often, people are not content with the amount of power that they have. As Lord Acton’s famous quote goes, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In modern times, this often manifests in the form of wealth, as the richest continue to amass riches and increase their power. The Bible, however, has a very different view on how power should be treated. In the Bible, power and wealth are not things to be seized. In Luke 14:11, Jesus says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” In Christianity, it is not the place of people to be ambitious and to grasp for power. The Bible also asserts that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” in 1 Timothy 6:10, and as power and influence today are largely predicated on wealth, the values of Christianity contradict worldly standards. I try not to be overly concerned with possessions in my own life, and I think that it is important to not make material goods your priority.

The early church also provides examples of the Christian view of power and influence. In James 2, there are warnings against favoritism and treating those with money and influence better than the poor and disenfranchised. James 2:1-6 says, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” The early church lived in a way in which they were all equal, as outlined in Acts 4:34-35: “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” The early church preached equality and lived in a way that illustrated it. Jesus, the leader of Christianity, even washed the feet of his disciples. Christian ideas of power and influence have traditionally been that leadership should be expressed through service, people with power should not abuse it, and people should be treated equally. In my everyday life, I interact with people from different social standing than me. I try to mimic Jesus and to treat everybody equally, regardless of those things. 

These are the views that I have on power and influence. They are based on the values that the Bible teaches and promotes. My views have also been shaped by the country that I live in: Haiti. Haiti is a country that struggles with wealth inequality and poverty, and it also deals with political unrest. Protests and riots often disrupt public life, including for a period of about four months in late 2019 when all schools were closed. Poverty is undoubtedly a critical catalyst for such unrest, as people are more likely to take action against those in power when they are personally suffering. The government is often unresponsive, and quality of life continues to remain stagnant. Seeing such unrest my whole life has enforced the beliefs that I have received from Christianity, as I have seen how people in power don’t use it correctly and don’t help those without power. Christianity has taught me that they should, and Christianity has taught me that people should be treated as equals. Those with power should use it to help those who don’t have it, rather than use it to enrich themselves. In everyday life, everybody should be given respect, regardless of their wealth or status. 

Power and influence are issues that are dealt with differently across the world, from oligarchies where power is consolidated in the hands of the few, to democracies where people can make themselves heard, and there is a wide range of opinions on how power should be regulated and who should have access to it. I have learned from my religion and from what I have witnessed that those with power should be compassionate and treat those without power as equal to them, and I have learned that those without power should be granted greater freedom and greater ability to make themselves heard and make an impact on the world. 

In a KidSpirit Interfaith Connections article, teen writer Sebastian Hersey shares how his Christian faith shapes his view of strength and influence.

Strength and Influence in Christianity

Sticks and stones
Leave bruises, blues.
But words, they scar,

Like pocket knives,
They choke
Like a noose.

Tell me, do you think
Before you open
Your cold lips?

They are frozen blue
They wound.
They kill.

Eight hundred thousand every year
Do you hear their silence?
This is not how we do.

We wield a terrible strength
Untethered, it stampedes
Feral hooves

Are you not concerned?
Are you not worried?
Are you removed?

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Max Fang describes the destructive power of words.

Words

Elías Viveros

"The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.” - Vince Lombardi

Influence and teamwork are very similar concepts. Are we aware of what such concepts mean in our lives? Most of us are vulnerable to being influenced by the people around us. This also has a significant impact on the way we work as a team. Some people are more susceptible to the opinions or suggestions of the people around them, influencing their perception on certain topics, while others only take these suggestions as a point of reference toward their own decision.

The influence that people exert on a person while they are working as a team can be positive, since looking for different points of view can give a broader view of the way to reach a goal. However, influence has a negative side; criteria for making decisions can be distorted, which generates confusion and bewilderment. For that reason, it is important to find a balance between the two extremes.

At the end of 2015, I participated in an activity that helped me understand this clearly. My mother and I were invited to participate in a project called “Lives in Action.” Lives in Action is a little known project that belongs to the church that I attend regularly. The project is carried out approximately three times a year in various countries in South America. The organization is in charge of finding a city that has needs in some respect (lack of clothes, food, medicine, or medical or psychiatric attention). Once a city is chosen, invitations are sent to people who want to volunteer for the project, in addition to medical professionals who are willing to provide care for free. After that, the organizers are in charge of announcing the project to people in the community, distributing invitation letters, or posting on social networks.

 The project usually lasts a week. The participants stay in a city school, which is requested from the local authorities. During the project, medical professionals carry out physiotherapy, pedagogy, family clinics, and dentistry, among others. Another group of people organize play activities for the children who attend. Another group of people organizes and distributes used clothes that were previously donated by local authorities, family, friends, teachers, among other people close to the volunteers who attend the project. During the project, a large quantity of medicines is also distributed; this is possible because leaders of the organization request money from the city authorities, explaining that said money will be destined to purchase medicines for the project. Without a doubt, the leaders do an excellent job when it comes to collecting clothes, obtaining medicines and donations. Of course, donations do not come from a single person or organization, but are the result of the goodwill of hundreds of people willing to collaborate for a good cause.

My mother and I were specifically involved in the area of ​​medical care. Despite the fact that neither of us are medical professionals, the leaders told us that we would be in charge of receiving the people who came to consult with the doctor. Every time a person arrived for medical attention, we wrote down all their personal data, to keep a record of the people benefitting. Besides that, if the doctor needed to prescribe some medicine to the patient, we were in charge of finding the medicine in one of the warehouses, and we made sure that they were the right ones. Even though we were designated to help in that area, if one of the leaders needed help somewhere else, we were willing to help. 

During the project, I noticed a detail that I had never noticed in any other activity. Compared to other experiences, each activity was perfectly organized, in terms of time and the roles that people played. All that week, there was not a single discussion that distracted people's attention. There was always someone who gave suggestions to improve the service. Participants gave their opinion without fear that someone might be upset. The attitude of the team leader stood out; he had the situation under control. He was willing at all times to listen to suggestions. He had great leadership ability, remaining calm at all times, but without losing control over the group.

What also caught my attention about the leader was that he had a great ability to positively influence the other participants. Every time he noticed that a person was feeling discouraged, he went and talked to the person, helping him or her to overcome difficulties. 

A specific moment when I noticed this was when, during a medical care day, a large number of people began to arrive, more than usual. I was one of the people in charge of recording patient data and organizing it while they waited to be seen by the doctor. At one point, I began to despair, as I did not know if I was going to be able to collect all the data on time. The leader, who was supervising the activities, noticed what was happening to me. He immediately approached me, began to calm me down, and gave me some tips based on his knowledge, in order to speed up the task I had to perform. He explained to me that getting desperate wasn't going to help anything, but the only thing that would get me was to get confused and get stuck without doing my job well. After talking for a few minutes, I became calm again and was able to continue what I had to do. I collected all the data on time, and that day was a complete success.

In a KidSpirit Helping Hands article, teen writer Elías Viveros shares a community service experience that changed his views of leadership, teamwork, and influence.

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