How I Got Inspiration and Courage from a Nobel Laureate
There is nothing more inspirational than shaking hands with a Nobel Peace Prize winner; the experience shaped my life. It was in September 2006 and I embarked on my first trip away from my family for the international PeaceJam Conference in Denver. While in Denver, I had the opportunity to meet my role-model, Desmond Tutu. Meeting and listening to him changed my life from that point on. I was always a quiet and an extremely shy person. I was intimidated by speaking with others and I was frightened by the violence in my community. I always had a lot I wanted to say but little courage and heart to say it.
My experience with Tutu at the conference helped me find the strength to speak up. At the conference, we broke up into groups for service projects and it was in that group that Tutu helped me find my courage. He called me up to stage following our project and wanted me to talk about another project I was doing with MADDAD's here in Minneapolis, but I couldn't find the courage to speak up. When he realized I was scared, he turned to me and said, "If you have something to say, never be afraid to say it. People cannot benefit from your experience if you’re quiet. By being silent, you won't be able to share your advice, concerns, even the stories with the people who need to hear them."
Since that life changing day, I have continued to share my story and dreams of building a school to build peace through sports. In 2008, I had the opportunity to meet Adolfo Perez Ezequiel, a Nobel Laureate from Argentina. I told him about my dream and without hesitation, he told me, "Keep following your dream and if you need an architect, I would help design the school for you." Ezequiel was an architect in addition to his social justice work. I am still working towards my dream of building the school he designs for me.
This year, I'm excited to meet Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Laureate from Iran, at the 2012 National Service-Learning Conference and youthrive PeaceJam Leadership Conference in Minneapolis. Her story will serve as another building block of inspiration for me to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. Dr. Ebadi's love for women, children, and peace was more important to her than a life of safety. She stood up for the injustice in her country and made a difference in the lives of many. I cannot imagine the turmoil she underwent and yet, she overcame it.
At a PeaceJam conference, you have an opportunity to experience a feeling of inspiration and value because you will have peers from all over the world in one location who are striving towards change for our world. From experience, I have learned that the one person (or more) you inspired will pass it along to the next person, who will in turn do the same. Pretty soon you have a billion acts of peace taking place right in front of your eyes, the challenge set forth by PeaceJam Laureates. I challenge you to get inspired and pass your inspiration along. Most importantly, do not be afraid to speak up for what you believe.
About the author: Montrell Donaldson is a youthrive Scholar and has been with youthrive for six years. He is very passionate about peace and youth work, specifically in the Minneapolis community. Montrell's dream is to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.
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