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I sat there in the library, to my right was Corli and to my left was Vanora. The teacher began speaking about 'thinking' and using our mind. She told us her goal was to get her message across, that at the end of the session, we'd all leave with something valuable learned. I listened to her intently, I was interested. But she stopped talking because others were being rude. Some weren't listening and were having a little discussion of their own, some weren't simply paying attention. She tried to get their attention, it took a while but finally they settled. She turned her eyes to the people seated to the far left corner. At the beginning of the session, she made it clear that she wanted two people seated at one table. The two people at the far left corner weren't on a table, and she repeated herself. The two continued to ignore her, acted as if they didn't know it was them she was talking to. She eventually got mad, raised her voice a little and told them that they need to move. The girl moved, she was laughing as if saying she doesn't care that she just disrespected the teacher. Some others joined as well. I showed no emotion, but deep inside I was a bit disgusted with the way they reacted. I thought that maybe, they thought being disrespectful and naughty was cool. It was ridiculous. I felt sad for the teacher. She was trying to help us, but the others thought it was a waste of time.

I realised, some people simply refuse to do what's right. They may know what right was from wrong, yet they chose to do the wrong thing or they may think that the wrong thing was the right thing. Either way, it disappointed me. I knew those people, that were rude and disrespectful could be decent people if they tried and wanted to be, but they weren't. They are nice to their friends, but not to those in authority. It makes me think, why? Why do they act that way? Why do they show respect to their equals, but don't show respect to those in authority? Why don't they show respect to the people who deserve it more? It makes me think, is that the same way they act towards their parents as well? It's just so sad, disappointing and it makes me angry. I'm not perfect and I oftentimes disrespect my mother, but I try not to. And witnessing how repulsive it was to show disrespect to those in authority, and to anyone, it made me determined to change for the better.

That whole session at the library wasn't a waste of time for me at all. Although there were a few interruptions, I managed to understand what she wanted us to learn. She wanted us to use our minds, our common sense so we would know how to behave and act in all kinds of situations. Apparently, some people think they have common sense but they don't know how to use it. They think just because they know what it is, it's simply enough. But in fact, it's not. Common sense helps us understand what's happening around us, it helps us react accordingly to every situation and if not used, it would make us react inappropriately like how my classmates did during the session earlier. One of the girls asked if the reason she was teaching us about it was because she couldn't see us using our minds and common sense, and her answer was yes. Another girl argued that the reason why we (she had to generalise it, which I didn't like at all because there was a small percentage of people who actually paid attention) weren't demonstrating the use of our minds and common sense was because we didn't need to at that moment. The teacher asked when the right moment was to use it. The girl retorted by saying that we only needed it for job interviews and things like that. I wanted to laugh. Really. I wanted to laugh at her ridiculous answer. We need to use our minds and common sense all the time! Just like what I mentioned, it helps us act accordingly to every situation. It was very evident, those who use their minds and common sense during the session were the people who had good manners and they (I was part of them) were the ones who ended up helping the teacher clean up the mess. The rest, who thought the whole session was a waste of time left immediately as if they were fleeing from hell.

It's so sad, how people can be so rude, so disrespectful and so immature. It's sad how they are such beautiful people on the outside but a part of their personality taints their real beauty, making them somehow look ugly before my eyes. They could be good people, but they chose not to be. I don't understand. I don't understand what they get out of it. Do they like the feeling of rebelling? Do they feel in control? If they think they feel in control, then that's silly. Because the way they act is far from being in control. It just makes them look bad and it actually shows that they don't have self-control at all.

I actually stopped hanging out with one friend of mine because of the way she acts. Not only does she brag about her material things and how expensive they are, she also doesn't take things that much seriously. Usually, I would have high tolerance to people like that but she ended up making one of my friends cry, which ticked me off very much. She can be so nice, I used to enjoy being with her, but it's like she's not being herself. It's like she hides in a facade and pretends to be someone who she isn't. I don't know if that's true but she never gave me a chance to really get to know her. I told her about how I felt, hoping that she'd help me understand or would explain to me but she simply told me she doesn't care and she doesn't need shit in her life. I was a bit disappointed but then I told myself, it doesn't matter. I have to choose my friends wisely, and that's what I did.

So, simply, my point is that we should all be respectful to anyone and everyone. Whether they are a stranger, your sister, your best friend or your teacher. We need to use our minds and common sense all the time in any given situation. We need to control our selves, and do the right thing. We have to think before we act and before we speak. We need to think of other's feelings and be empathetic. We need to show good manners all the time and simply be good wonderful people. If we become like that then maybe, in a little way, the world will become a better place.

This here is the World Vision Speech of my dear friend Taylor Scott. I haven't known her that long but her determination to change the world made me want to be her friend. She inspires me to speak out even more and think about the things that matter most.

"Hello my name is Taylor Scott, I’m 15 years old and I want to make a difference. I have done the 40 hour famine 3 times but this year instead of lying around the house not eating I went to the city. In the city eating take away is a popular thing because its quick and easy especially for people who need to get back to work fast but you also see a lot of food being wasted whether they drop it on the floor or put it in the bin. I saw all these people eating half of a burger and then throwing it out or not eating all their chips. I spent 7 hours in the city that day walking around watching people.

I have to admit I am a picky eater and that’s when my mother and I fight a lot. For a while now I have been uninterested in food. I don’t eat much. I used to eat quite a lot and I just don’t feel the need to anymore.

I have been going to the Morley Salvation Army for nearly a year now. I go to morning church, teen scene, junior soldiers, afternoon church, girls group, bible study and scope. I am going to insane which is in Melbourne in January to protest against trafficking and doing all kinds of things. When I’m older I’m going to join primary school teaching and missionary work together.

You know when your young and you want to be a princess or fire fighter. Well I wanted to go around the world and clean up litter. That doesn’t sound very exciting but that’s what I wanted to do. Ever since I was little I wanted to make a difference, I want people to look at the world around them and realize that there is poverty, racism, child abuse, sexism, rape and the list goes on.

When someone told me America has spent so much money on making guns, tanks, ammunition and other war equipment that they could have made poverty history 22 times and that’s only one country, I was disgusted. I said that’s disgusting, they would rather shoot at each other and kill each other rather than save millions of people that are starving because of the climate. I hate weapons I don’t see the need for them if every country got rid of all there weapons then you wouldn’t have wars and you could save a lot of money and spend it on something that you really need.

I believe we are gods hands, feet and mouth and he has put poverty on this world for us to solve it. God does everything for a reason. In Proverbs 21:8 it reads, Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. There are more than 2,000 references in the bible to do with children and poverty. The cure to poverty starts with children

We need to:
Speak the unspoken
Heal the unhealed
And reach the unreached

We need to speak out and we need to do it now. I believe one person can change the world because if everyone is that one person we are then a group of one people changing the world.

Thank you for your time it has been a pleasure sharing my experience and my life with you"

Source: http://changetheworldonebyone.blogspot.com/