My relief society leader wrote me a note that said
Kelsey, I'm so impressed by you. You're so successful in everything
you do. You're going to do incredible things in this world. You're
very strong and you know what you want. I love that people feel
empowered when they're around you. It's a great influence. You're a
beautiful woman whose beauty shines from the inside out. I have loved
being in the same Relief Society as you. I love you!
I thought that was really nice to be told that I help empower people. That's something I want to do as a nurse. I'm glad I'm accomplishing it as well in my social group. I think the most important thing you can do is empower others to help themselves. I'd rather give someone knowledge so they can make a change rather than forcing a change on someone who doesn't know how to keep that change permanent. Maybe one day I can do some type of education for people who are also US citizens so they can better their lives and their health.
I know most people want to go to another country to save the world. But I think your own small world needs saving first. There are so many sad statistics that I hear about in my nursing classes and on the news. Why focus on other countries when the US needs our help? Can't you save the trip money and help your neighbor? Anyways, sometimes it's a pet peeve of mine when someone is so gung-ho about saving some village in the Congo. Yes, those people need help, but not money. They need education and maybe just a small improvement on something they already have....after all, they've survived this far....they must be pretty competent and creative; don't pity them. And hey, look at your neighbor who has a pregnant teenage daughter. Why don't you go to the schools and talk about safe sex ed or be an example of someone that teenage person can look up to and want to be like...
I guess you can tell it's a pet peeve, huh?
I think the biggest difference anyone will make is in their own home, their family, and their neighborhood. You're there most the days of your life anyway...not someplace in the Congo.
*I really do love all people everywhere. I am especially thankful to be a US citizen and have all the freedoms and opportunities I enjoy on a daily basis. I only wish that perhaps we could focus more on solving our own US problems first before we go tell other countries how to operate.
