My least favorite class this semester is Finance 201. I just find the material to be very dry; it doesn't really motivate me or inspire me to do big things. Thankfully my professor Dr. Holmes is interesting enough, and every once in a while he has true gems that really stick with me. One such gem has been on my mind this past week.
After 72 minutes of lecturing about capital budgeting, Dr. Holmes began to talk about changing the world in the full sense of the phrase. He talked about how some people would have us believe that we can't really change the world, that those are just some fluffy words out of our reach. Then he stated, "Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't change the world because in fact, you're the only ones who can. Your station in life gives you the energy. The fact that you're members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives you perspective. Your education at BYU gives you the intellectual prowess. You can change the world."
Dr. Holmes is right; you and I can change the world on a large-scale basis. However, I think this is best accomplished on a small-scale basis, one person at a time. We can begin to change the world by changing someone's world.
I know this because my world has been changed by people around me. Family members, friends, and mere acquaintances have left lasting impressions that shape who I am. I want to have the same influence on those around me. Because of Dr. Holmes' words, I want to begin to change the world. I want to brighten the days of the people I meet. I want to smile. I want to lift and encourage and love. I want to focus more on those around me than I do on myself. This week I want to find one opportunity every day to change someone's world in a small way.
Finance 201 may be boring most of the time, but I really have learned a lot that is applicable to life. You and I can change the world!
Great post! I loved your quote from Dr. Holmes. I have been listening to TED talks this past week and I have been hearing something along the same lines. What I have learned is that the only reason we cannot do something is because we have decided that we can't. We decided to believe those who told us we can't. But those who decide that they are wrong, they are the successful ones. We can definitely change the world if we decide to do it.
ReplyDeleteNice post Lexi - Changing the world by changing someone's world. I like it. I remember one time on my mission in Toronto this guy stopped my companion and me on the street and thanked us. A few days earlier we had said "Hi" to him as he walked past us. It was a small and simple thing, but I realized that the little things we do, can and do make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post, Lexi! Dr. Holmes' words reminded me of something I saw while perusing the internet: "You all have a little bit of 'I want to save the world' in you, that's why you're here, in college. I want you to know that it's okay if you only save one person, and it's okay if that person is you." I believe that this can be taken even one step farther. If we start by focusing on changing ourselves--by making ourselves kinder, wiser, and more generous people-- we can change the lives of those around us either directly or indirectly. We can focus on directly changing someone's world for the better, or we could even make someone's day a little brighter just by being a better version of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post!!! Your example just goes to show that we can learn anything from any class no matter how boring it may seem. Change is done little by little. Even then sometimes small things can have big impacts.
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