Finding peace, bringing it home
May 23, 2010 07:00 AM Filed in: News | PeaceJam
Conferences
By
Emily Zetterholm
reprinted from the Vacaville Reporter
Posted: 05/23/2010 01:02:16 AM PDT
Last month, students and leadership classes from all over the world came together at Oregon State University with the PeaceJam Foundation to meet and learn from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams.
The weekend trip was a life-changing experience. Before I tell you how this trip changed me, you must know how I was before that weekend in April.
From the time I joined my leadership class at the beginning of the school year, all I heard about was the trip to Oregon with PeaceJam and how we would meet a Nobel Peace Prize winner. I heard stories about the lessons they would teach us, the team-building skills we would participate in, and the community outreach we would do. But with my teenage ears, all I heard was that we were staying in a paid-for hotel with our close friends on a college campus, away from our parents.
We left early on a Friday morning. As everyone was placing their bags on the bus, it was easy to tell who went to which school. Students from each school, including my own, were bunched up together in their own cliques. No one wanted to mingle with anyone else. Our advisers came up with the idea of taking out the microphone so we could share what we were looking forward to in Oregon. About three students went up to speak.
The first night in Oregon, we went out to dinner and the atmosphere was exactly what you would find at a high school cafeteria: groups of kids who knew each other eating together, not ready to step out of their comfort zone and meet anyone else.
After dinner, we had our first experience with Jody Williams. She was not what I expected. She talked to us as if she were one of us. There was no tone in her voice to suggest she was trying to give us a "I'm high and mighty" lecture. She was upfront and honest and even sat cross-legged in front of us, as you would with your very best friend at a sleepover. She gave everyone the feeling that they could relax and be comfortable.
The next morning, we were divided into "family" groups. Not a single one of my classmates was in my group, but we started talking about who we were and what we thought of Williams. We were all a little shy. As the day went on, we spent time with each other, ate lunch and did our first community outreach program. The atmosphere around me soon changed. People were talking louder with one another.
After lunch, we had another lecture from Williams. This, too, was not what I expected. She told us about how she had been raped years ago and said she would not be a victim but would continue on her journey to peace. She told us about what inspires her to make this world better. After she was done, she lighted a candle and invited us to come up, tell everyone what inspires us and to place a lighted candle next to hers.
The question hit me hard: What does inspire me to make my world better, and why do I want peace?
I stood up the second I knew and walked with others up to the podium. I told them that my future is what inspires me. I want to know that, when I look back on my life, I can honestly say I did the best I could.
One by one, more kids told their stories. It was so moving to know that we really weren't all that different and we all did want our world to be a better place. It was a turning point that no one saw coming.
After that, everyone really cracked out of their shells. During team-building lessons the next day, we were falling into each other's arms, turning ourselves into human chairs, and making a human conveyer belt to hold people up and pass them down the line. The room was filled with laughter and joy as we worked together.
Soon it was time to pack up and get back to Vacaville. No longer were there cliques of schools, but groups of friends. On the bus again, the advisers pulled out the microphone and asked us to tell about our favorite experience in Oregon. This time, just about everyone spoke. We shared our fondest memories, gave special recognition to one another and described how we were going to change our lives when we got back home, to make it more peaceful. There was an uplifting feeling in the bus that night.
What I learned is that to be peaceful within yourself is a great trait, but to spread peace is the most wonderful thing you can do. I learned that in order to make our world a better place, I cannot be selfish, nor can I turn away a helping hand. I learned that sometimes, to get things done, you have to step out of your comfort zone and work together with people you never thought you would.
I am truly grateful for this experience, and I will forever tell this story.
The author, a Vacaville resident, attends Country High School.
reprinted from the Vacaville Reporter
Posted: 05/23/2010 01:02:16 AM PDT
Last month, students and leadership classes from all over the world came together at Oregon State University with the PeaceJam Foundation to meet and learn from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams.
The weekend trip was a life-changing experience. Before I tell you how this trip changed me, you must know how I was before that weekend in April.
From the time I joined my leadership class at the beginning of the school year, all I heard about was the trip to Oregon with PeaceJam and how we would meet a Nobel Peace Prize winner. I heard stories about the lessons they would teach us, the team-building skills we would participate in, and the community outreach we would do. But with my teenage ears, all I heard was that we were staying in a paid-for hotel with our close friends on a college campus, away from our parents.
We left early on a Friday morning. As everyone was placing their bags on the bus, it was easy to tell who went to which school. Students from each school, including my own, were bunched up together in their own cliques. No one wanted to mingle with anyone else. Our advisers came up with the idea of taking out the microphone so we could share what we were looking forward to in Oregon. About three students went up to speak.
The first night in Oregon, we went out to dinner and the atmosphere was exactly what you would find at a high school cafeteria: groups of kids who knew each other eating together, not ready to step out of their comfort zone and meet anyone else.
After dinner, we had our first experience with Jody Williams. She was not what I expected. She talked to us as if she were one of us. There was no tone in her voice to suggest she was trying to give us a "I'm high and mighty" lecture. She was upfront and honest and even sat cross-legged in front of us, as you would with your very best friend at a sleepover. She gave everyone the feeling that they could relax and be comfortable.
The next morning, we were divided into "family" groups. Not a single one of my classmates was in my group, but we started talking about who we were and what we thought of Williams. We were all a little shy. As the day went on, we spent time with each other, ate lunch and did our first community outreach program. The atmosphere around me soon changed. People were talking louder with one another.
After lunch, we had another lecture from Williams. This, too, was not what I expected. She told us about how she had been raped years ago and said she would not be a victim but would continue on her journey to peace. She told us about what inspires her to make this world better. After she was done, she lighted a candle and invited us to come up, tell everyone what inspires us and to place a lighted candle next to hers.
The question hit me hard: What does inspire me to make my world better, and why do I want peace?
I stood up the second I knew and walked with others up to the podium. I told them that my future is what inspires me. I want to know that, when I look back on my life, I can honestly say I did the best I could.
One by one, more kids told their stories. It was so moving to know that we really weren't all that different and we all did want our world to be a better place. It was a turning point that no one saw coming.
After that, everyone really cracked out of their shells. During team-building lessons the next day, we were falling into each other's arms, turning ourselves into human chairs, and making a human conveyer belt to hold people up and pass them down the line. The room was filled with laughter and joy as we worked together.
Soon it was time to pack up and get back to Vacaville. No longer were there cliques of schools, but groups of friends. On the bus again, the advisers pulled out the microphone and asked us to tell about our favorite experience in Oregon. This time, just about everyone spoke. We shared our fondest memories, gave special recognition to one another and described how we were going to change our lives when we got back home, to make it more peaceful. There was an uplifting feeling in the bus that night.
What I learned is that to be peaceful within yourself is a great trait, but to spread peace is the most wonderful thing you can do. I learned that in order to make our world a better place, I cannot be selfish, nor can I turn away a helping hand. I learned that sometimes, to get things done, you have to step out of your comfort zone and work together with people you never thought you would.
I am truly grateful for this experience, and I will forever tell this story.
The author, a Vacaville resident, attends Country High School.