Guatemala 2009

Having spent only a week in Guatemala, I came back somewhat discouraged with what I had learned and seen. Unable to contribute in any substantial way during our brief visit, I found myself continually wondering what I could do upon my return. That question, however, started to haunt me. It made me question the power of the individual and the real significance of raising awareness.
As I spoke with other group members and prepared my presentation for Globalization Gone Wild, I continued with this feeling of hopelessness and frustration. Using history as a reference , however, I began to recall individuals like Martin Luther King Jr., Fidel Castro, and Mother Theresa. Whether for good or bad, the lives and actions of these individuals most certainly had an impact. While I would never venture to say that I view myself in the same league of these dynamic historical figures, I think the underlying message is that one person really can make a difference. Whether that is through doing your little perfectly like Mother Theresa or organizing and mobilizing the masses such as MLK and Castro, it is empowering to internalize the idea that all social movements ending in lasting change must take root somewhere, even if that somewhere is the changed heart of one individual.
With this change of heart, I finished my GGW topic and went to class presentations cognizant of the fact that I am potentially paving the way for any number of leaders that may follow me. I can only hope that my experience inspires someone else, or opens the door for discussion. While I only spent a week in Guatemala, I have a lifetime ahead of me to continue sharing what I learned, trusting that I may in fact be planting the seed for social change among my peers.