Digital Voices

“I Believe”

Lindsay’s Speech

I believe that what goes around comes around. What does that mean? This is a Cliché which happens to mean Karma. Karma, which comes from the root “Kri”, means “To do”. This means that you are the architect of your own destiny and you do what you choose, you build your future and you choose your actions.

You have made and thought out millions of different karmas everyday, and in only one day you create a lot of new karma through your thoughts, words and actions. Sometimes it is positive, sometimes negative but unfortunately, it’s usually negative because you constantly have disturbing thoughts and emotions which not frequently result in anything positive, but in wrongful actions. You may act lovingly towards your family, this is your duty and because you should, and suddenly you will gain love and trust from your relatives and you will become more involved with your family. “If you want love, give unconditional love”.

But you have to think and remember that thoughts and words are also to be considered a part of Karma as well. Everything you do and everything that you say will be apart of karma. To desire is also considered as well. If you have negative emotions such as anger, envy, hatred, jealousy, so we need to remember that each of our physical, emotional, verbal or mental actions have their repercussions and you need to be very aware of these emotions and realize that they may have an affect on others. For example, when I get into trouble for something that I didn’t mean to do and my parents punish me for it and I get really angry about it, I usually take it out on the closes person to me by responding with a negative attitude. These emotions may emerge or affect us everyday. This will also consider if you have negative actions (karmas) such as, lying, stealing, and criticizing, and then there will be terrible consequences for you sooner or later. Whether it is suffering, illnesses, calamities, you will get what you deserve. But needing to be remembered that you generate over 60,000 thoughts a day. So keep in mind that positive thoughts will lead to positive words and actions. This way you will not have to worry about the negative karmas.

Josh’s speech

I believe that everyone should be treated with the same respect as everyone else. Anyone should be able to walk anywhere in this world and not be made fun of because they are “different”. When I say someone’s different, I mean there is a physical or mental problem with them. It’s not right to make fun of someone for something that they have no control over. Just because someone thinks differently then you do or talks differently then you do doesn’t give you the right to make fun of them.

Teasing someone because of any reason is never a right thing. It makes the person that has a problem feel even worse about themselves and it makes you look like a jerk. I hate teasing a lot and I wish it would all just stop. Teasing is a huge problem and it makes people do things that they normally would never do.

If you’ve ever been teased, then you know how that feels. You feel empty and you hurt inside. You feel like you’re worth nothing and you start trying to figure out what you did to deserve this. When the teasing gets worse, you just want everything in your life to end.

I have personally been teased in my life and when it happened, I felt really bad about myself. I used to get home and just start crying, trying to let out all the hurt and pain. I felt so horrible and miserable and I thought that there was no one that I could talk to about getting teased. I shut out the whole world. Nothing in my life mattered.

Not only did I get teased a lot but I also used to tease a lot of kids growing up to try and make up for feeling so bad. There was one kid whose name was Tyler that I teased really badly. I used to pick on him and hate him as much as I could. Looking back, I realized that I should have never said those things and put him through that. I’m really sorry for everything that I ever did to him. Even now, six years later, I still feel bad for all of the things that I did. Every insult that I ever said to anyone wasn’t right and now I have to live with that rare type of guilt for the rest of my life.

From all of my experiences in this field, I have realized that no one should ever get teased or made fun of under any circumstances. You should never make fun of someone because you personally feel bad about yourself. If you only remember one thing from this speech, then just remember that teasing someone is never at all right. I hope that after this speech that you now see people the same way that I see them. People that have real problems and real emotions. That is what I believe and I will continue to believe it, forever.

I believe in the value of thought. The only skill human’s hold over all other creatures is the ability to think cognitively. Our minds have allowed the human race to advance far beyond other living organisms. With religion, philosophy, concepts and constructs people live in a much more complex society. This ability, although amazing, is sometimes a heavy burden to bear. We, as humans must use thought to it’s greatest potential for it is our sole advantage in this world.

Conflicts, dilemmas and problems vary from one person’s bad hair day to the world’s energy crisis. If we would simply stop and rationally think out these issues, I believe we could solve them all. Open minds and willing hands create incredible experiences.

In the early ages humans lived all over the planet without knowledge of other societies. Blind to diversity, each individual community organized their own governments, religions and morals. In a more modern world, mankind has connected all cultures together in a global community. New sights and experiences have helped us all to understand more about ourselves, but they also bring conflict. When cultures from around the world interact they experience different norms and customs. As people do this it is natural for them to feel uncomfortable, which leads to conflict, and in turn, war.

This phenomenon occurs as a basic function within our minds. It can range in scale from a simple disagreement between friends to a religious war between countries. Although the gap is wide, all of this can be resolved with the only tool we all share. Thought.

Arguing with a friend is easily ended by logical thinking and healthy discussion. Despite the change in scale, rational thought is the answer to global issues as well. Oil disputes, religious differences and global warming are only problems when our leaders view and present them as such. Mankind has created an unbelievable collection of knowledge, history and information. This is proof of our skills. Working collaboratively, there is no challenge humans can’t face.

As I wrote this speech a favorite quote came to my mind. Edward Abbey, desert anarchist, once said:

“One can imagine a sane, healthy, cheerful human society based on no more than the principles of common sense, as validated each day by work, play, and living experience. But this remains the most utopian and fantastic of ideals.”

Common sense, cognitive thought, rational thinking; the label is unimportant when compared to what it means. One day I hope to be a part of a logical, open-minded global community.

Listen to Carli’s speech 

This I Believe

I believe that laughter is necessary in everyday life. Laughter can help with daily problems, and can make the hardest situations seem a little less severe. No matter what kind of mood you are in, laughter can always help to lift your spirits.

Laughter is genuine.

There are many different types of laughter. Each person has their own unique style that varies depending on the mood. For example if you are about to meet someone for the first time, you might use laughter to help break the ice. Another example is telling a joke when you’re with your best friends. It’s the joke that everyone knows, and you don’t even have to finish your sentence before they are laughing. There are other times when you wouldn’t imagine laughter taking part in a certain situation. Take for instance, a funeral; although the atmosphere is very sad and serious, people often recall good times shared with the person who has passed away and will find themselves laughing, in turn helping others around them feel more reassured.

Laughter is comfort.

There are stages in your life when laughter just doesn’t seem make sense. It can be silly, unmanageable, and full of nonsense. When I was younger, my older sister Lauren and I would get into trouble when going on long car trips for laughing about absolutely nothing. It was the kind of laughter that you couldn’t hold back; all it took was one look at my sister and we would both burst into laughing. After a few hours of our silliness, my Dad would get a little irritated; this would make us laugh even harder. It took a pillow over my face to stop laughing at her.

Laughter in uncontrollable.

Having a good sense of humor, in my opinion, makes living that much better. Being able to laugh at yourself helps you relax and appreciate everything around you. For example, when I have to make a presentation, and I’m so nervous and uptight that I make a mistake, I feel it’s better to laugh things off because I know it’s not the end of the world. Without laughter in my life, I believe that it wouldn’t be complete.

Laughter is a gift.

Listen to Steven’s speech 

I believe in self-reliance. I think you should be able to help yourself most of the time before you go and ask someone else for help.

A lot of the time I see people asking other people to completely do things for them, like turn in papers, get them something, or sharpen a pencil. I think that people should just do things like that and anything they can themselves, it is not something that is difficult, it only requires us to not be lazy which is something that I think is is becoming far too common.

People are missing out on the opportunity to feel good about themselves. Think of the great feeling you get when you accomplish something that you did not think you could do. Whether it is just cleaning a room or fixing a computer. That single experience will motivate and drive you forward toward another goal.

When people become too dependant on others, they will have trouble later in life when they do not have others to fall back on. It could lead to them into getting in trouble or into debt. I have seen people fail because they depend on others so much. Eventually it becomes like the old Mother Goose story about the boy who cried wolf. Eventually people will not come to your assistance because they don’t truly think you need it anymore and when you actually do, you might not have them to help you.

Self-reliance is a good attribute to have. By learning self-reliance, we will be able to help ourselves in times of need. Our level of independence in our teen years can determine how successful we are in adult life. It is not too early to start helping yourself. Do yourself a favor; learn to become independent in all areas in which you can possibly be independent.

We need to appreciate each other and the help we do get when we need it. For instance, when your parents pay for your vehicle or give you money for gas, you need to learn to appreciate this and give them the appreciation they deserve. While you can accept some assistance and appreciate it, you should strive for self-reliance.

By Jennifer

Listen to Jennifer’s speech

I am a woman.

I can go to school, have a career, own property, testify in court, get married or divorced as I please, vote, run for office.

But not all women can. Many are robbed of these basic rights, simply because of their sex. This isn’t an exclusively “woman’s issue” just because it has to do with women. It’s a human issue. I have been blessed with a voice, and I plan to use it to speak out for all women not given these rights, for all humans who are not treated with justice. I believe that the fight for women’s rights is not over.

I believe that the fight for women’s rights is not over, because arranged marriages are still forcing young women to marry strangers whom they do not love worldwide. The girls do no get a say in these arrangements and they are often made out of convenience of their family, for wealth, or to extend their family connections.

I believe that the fight for women’s rights is not over, because women are punished for not adhering to strict cultural laws outlining their religion, dress, behavior, and activities. Women who refuse to cover all but their eyes are brutally beaten or murdered, and made an “example” for any other women who find the courage to rebel.

I believe that the fight for women’s rights is not over because “honor killings” are still practiced. These murders occur when the family feels their daughter has dishonored their family name by not following religious laws, having “inappropriate relations” with men including hand holding or hugs, or even for being a victim of rape! They have done nothing except be victimized, and yet they are allowed no voice. Instead, their lives are ended for them.

I believe that the fight for women’s rights is not over, because Women are stilled denied an education. Women are still expected to stay in the home, and raise children, cook, clean. There is nothing wrong with being a mother, or with society expecting you to raise your own children. But how are they supposed to raise smart children if they themselves do not have an education? How can they manage the household affairs if no one ever bothered to teach them math? Author Greg Mortenson said, “Educate a man, and he will go out and get a good job, and take his family away from home. Educate a woman, and she will stay to make a difference, to educate her children.”

I believe the fight for women’s right’s is not over because women and children are trafficked for sex. They are sold, abducted, or traded for the personal pleasure of rich men. From this forced slavery, women experience pains both emotional and physical, and their health is compromised. Most never have a choice, being used until no one wants them any longer.

I believe the fight for women’s right’s is not over because these women are people too; people entitled to the same life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that we all are. These women are our sisters, and they need our voices.

Your voice.
My voice.

I believe that the fight for women’s rights is not over.

I believe in Learning from Past Mistakes

Kassie’s speech
“The one who makes no mistakes in life, usually gains nothing in life” this is a quote that stood out to me by William Magee. I believe that the best teacher in life can often be yourself. You make decisions, whether they are good or bad you make them, and in the end will endure the consequences, and hopefully learn from them. If anything, maybe you can be a teacher to someone else who sees what you go through, and learn from it.

I grew up in an environment where I had to be an adult sooner than most kids. My mom was out all the time working two jobs – the life that most single mothers live and I had to become the head of the household while she was working. When I was about 10 years old, my uncle moved in with us, fresh out of rehab. He had just lost everything – his wife, kids, job – literally everything. When he moved in, my mom had set very strict rules for him and me. He was to stay at the house with my sister, brother and I, and help us with homework and housework until he could get a job – but I was supposed to baby-sit him? He had a drug problem and had relapsed before. At first it went great. It was so nice not having to be the parent for once, but as time went on, money started coming up missing, and he started leaving as soon as I would get home from school, and always told me not to tell my mom. My mom expected me to baby-sit him, but how was I, barely ten years old supposed to stop a full grown drug addict from getting a fix? Not knowing how I was supposed to stop him, and not wanting to start a fight between my mom and her brother, I didn’t say anything. Eventually one day, he left and didn’t come home. When my mom got home later that night she asked where my Uncle was, so I told her about all of his little outings he would take. She, like I had anticipated was not very happy. At about three in the morning I heard a loud noise and went out into the living room to warn my uncle about what my mom knew. At first I didn’t see him, it was really dark. I turned on the lamp next to the couch where he slept, when I looked over the back of the couch I screamed. There was my uncle, half on the couch and half on the floor shaking uncontrollably, a yellow foamy matter coming out of his mouth. I just stood there shaking myself, standing for what felt like forever, just staring at my uncle’s trembling body. My mom came running out of her bedroom, and yelled at me to call 911. A lot of the night has become a blur, but the next thing I remember was my mom crying as the back doors of the ambulance shut, and then I was in the waiting room of the hospital with my pajamas and winter coat on just staring at the doors that the doctors kept coming in and out of, the same one my mom was pacing in front of.

He had overdosed from crack-cocaine. Now my uncle has been clean for almost nine years – the night of his near-death experience changed his life. He never used again. I know that I would never do anything to abandon or hurt my family – especially the ones that went out of their way to help and protect me. My thing is that I experienced my uncle’s mistake and know that I will never follow in his foot-steps. I did learn from his mistakes, although he paid for the consequences I learned that night that I would never use. To me, experiencing my uncle’s struggle with drugs taught me more than any D.A.R.E. or health class ever has – because I witnessed first-hand the devastation tied to it. I believe people who make mistakes can change. Always give people a second chance because they way I see it they’re still learning. I believe in learning form past mistakes.

One Lonely Page
Aleisha

Aleisha’s speech

Everyone comes from somewhere, and it is important to know your heritage. The past is significant to the present and the future. People are like the pages of a book. The pages before them are their ancestors, and the ones after them are their descendants. If you rip out a piece from the middle of the book, it makes little sense. You have to know what came before to completely understand. I, myself used to be a lonely page, until I found my book.
My grandmother had always told me that I had the same personality as my great-great grandmother, Beverly. To be honest, I never really cared. However, I recently found my grandmother’s family tree. It dated all the way back to the Mayflower. Down near the bottom I saw written in a flowery scrawl Beverly (O’Neil) Andrews 1862-1957. Underneath the dusty life map was a pile of yellowing papers. A little journal on top caught my eye. It was my great-great-grandmother’s journal. Only the first four pages were written in. It told a story of how she had fallen in love. Sadly, the man wasn’t in love with her.
Like Beverly, I have suffered from a one-sided love for almost a year. My heart had shattered when I realized that it would probably always be one-sided. I had seen movies in which the main character overcame their feelings and moved on. I had seen movies where their love was realized and accepted. It didn’t help. My mother had told me that everything would work out. She had told me I was wonderful and only a fool would give me up. That didn’t help either. I felt alone in my pain, like no one else understood my heartache.
I can’t remember how many times I read those pages. Five, six, seventy-two. On the last page, was Beverly’s greatest gift to me. A passage about how she had learned to move on. Knowing that someone who is a part of me suffered as I did helped me to cope. She was the only one to truly understand.
Thanks to my dead relative’s four pages of love lessons, I managed to piece together my broken heart. I realized that even though I love that one person with all of my being, I will still be able to move on if and when the time comes.

Cody’s speech 

I believe in selflessness.
That’s selflessness. Not selfishness. That’s putting others before self. Not self centered.
That’s looking outwardly. Not inwardly.
Yes, I believe in putting others before oneself.

And I believe that using selflessness for small, insignificant situations can solve a bigger problem. For example, I stand in the lunch line and watch as mobs of students cut to the front. I tell myself that it’s not that big of a deal, but I realize that if nobody cut, the line would move incredibly fast. People cut because they don’t want to stand forever, but if nobody cut, the line would run so smoothly people would get to the front just as fast.

There have been many times when I have not been selfless. Such is the case in basketball. The basketball court is a battlefield. I used to look out for myself, because if I didn’t do my job, I sat the bench. I know, I should have been thinking “teamwork,” but in the end it came down to who was doing their job on the court, and who wasn’t. During one of my games, I was going up for a lay-up and I got hammered, sprawling out on the baseline. I went to get up, and an opponent offered me his hand. Now I find that “cool.” I find that respectable. Of all the hot-shots out there, of all those who can dunk and dribble like mad, I admire those who can help me up from the court. Here we were, in a situation made for selfishness, and this kid had enough decency to get me on my feet.

There are many times when I am selfless. Such is the case in one big memory of me tutoring a student. I circle a math problem on the piece of paper, telling him to try one by himself. He looks toward a few students on the other side of the classroom, but I pull him back, not letting him lose focus. He’s smart, and I know it. He doesn’t know it, and doesn’t want to. I won’t let him fail, so I push him, forcing him to think, to work. Within a half-an-hour the homework page is done. It is the first piece of homework that he has ever completed. He looks up at me and smiles.

There have also been times when I have seen others that lack selflessness. For instance, a woman was unloading packages from her car. Her arms were full, almost to the point of dropping the packages, and she was advancing towards the door. A man on a cell phone passed her halfway there and slipped through the door, letting it shut behind him. The woman stopped walking and stared. She was just as surprised as me. Then she began to attempt to open the door herself, shuffling sideways to get a hand out. I raced up and grabbed the handle for her, and she smiled very pleasantly, thanked me, and headed through.

I believe that lifting someone to their feet, helping someone learn, and holding a door are all selfless. I believe that simple acts can be selfless, and thus selflessness is actually very easy. I believe that people appreciate selflessness, and that I should strive to be selfless toward others.

I also believe that selflessness can be spread. Selflessness is the hidden cure. In a world of violence, people ask for a solution. Selflessness is that solution. It’s a cure that no one has considered. It doesn’t require brilliant mind and a multibillion dollar research facility. It doesn’t require incredible motivation and dedication. It requires believing. I hear about selfishness all the time, but I barely ever hear of selflessness. I want to replace selfish with selfless. I’m going to be selfless to others, in hopes that they will do the same. Let’s share selflessness with the world.
Let’s believe in selflessness.

Zach’s speech

I believe everyone should take a vacation every once in a while. How often do you dream of that nice vacation to Florida or California? Do you ever wonder why vacations are desirable? It’s because they relieve stress from everyday lives.
Everyday in our world, no matter how you go about your life, you will become stressed since stress is unavoidable. Stress has many harmful effects. Some include: body aches, trouble concentrating, and poor relationships with people, harmful eating habits, and in the worst cases can lead to extreme acts of violence. Going on a vacation can help relieve stress, because it helps you temporarily escape the everyday places that you see that may be causing you stress.
Another way in which taking a vacation is beneficial is that you can bond with your family, or friends, depending on who you take with you. There’s nothing better than hanging out with your family or your good buddies away from home. When on vacation, there is no one around to distract you while you have a conversation, there is no need to worry about forgetting to say or do something with your family or friends, since it’s not like they will just leave. Also, vacations are a perfect time to enjoy activities such as fishing, hiking, biking, jogging, bonfires, cruising, or other activities together.
In taking a vacation, you also have an opportune chance to try and see new things. Vacations always come with plenty of surprises, and there’s always that story that you can tell everyone about when you come back. Also, you can try going to different places around the area. If you are staying at Florida, try going to Disneyworld. Check some places out. Even if you don’t like what you see, you know what’s there. Also in trying new things, it keeps you away from activities that negatively impact you such as drugs and alcohol, gang activities, and other illegal activities.
In short, taking a vacation helps reduce stress, keeping you emotionally healthy. Vacations also help you connect with your friends and family, to rekindle the relationship, or just enhance it. Vacations also give you an opportunity to see the world outside of your daily community, which lets you see and experience great things.