Activism | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Activism

Its how you change the world.

4
Activism
Gage Dabin

I was raised, and still am a firm believer that actions speak more loudly than words. Sometimes though words can drown out the actions and we begin to forget the type of impact that our actions either as a group or as an individual can have on our friendships, our community, and our world.

I get that sometimes it is hard to see our impact, and when we don't immediately see it we come become disillusioned about the purpose of our actions in the first place. I mean that is how my generation is. We like instant gratification, we want to see instant change, and when it doesn't we move on to something that can provide that result. I know because I am guilty of doing it. I think to some degree we are all guilty of moving on to quickly or not investing enough time because we were not impacted right off the bat. I think that needs to change.

It is hard I admit to be able to commit oneself to a singular cause or to multiple causes. I mean to be fair there are so many things in our community, state, region, and nation that we can become a part of. It is fantastic. But, I believe we are better for it when we devote our time to focusing on one singular thing. Changes I admit will not come quick, sometimes they can be which is kind of rare, but we can't grow weary in our pursuit of creating change. When others notice that we are dogged in pursuit of something or some cause our actions begin to create the change we sought to make. Just don't give up.

I, along with my some of my peers and the support of faculty, formed an organization on my campus called the Centenary Political Union. The goal is to bring awareness to students about advocacy groups that are tackling local, state, and national issues. We know that we all live in our own personal bubbles that is easy to forget what is going on around outside. We want to change that. So, each month we bring the groups to campus to provide and inspire our peers to go out into our world in order to make it better than how we entered it.

A daunting challenge, but a challenge nonetheless that we have and will continue to meet head on. This month is human trafficking awareness month. Did you know that? If you would of asked me a week ago I would of said no. But you see knowing is only half the battle. We brought in an amazing speaker who spoke to fellow students about how human sex and labor trafficking is a problem here in our city of Shreveport, and in our state of Louisiana. It was definitely eye opening to have an issue like that hit so close to home. Literally and figuratively. The second half of the battle is the actual combat in regards to tackling the issue we have brought to campus.

We are fully aware that we will not beat this issue in the span of a single day, month, or year. We are aware though that giving this knowledge to our peers, and then providing them the avenues to take the knowledge and act upon it can create the change that we seek. That our community desperately needs. It will not be an easy process. Change is never easy even if the change is for good. It requires always some form of sacrifice.

Each month we will seek to provide the avenues and knowledge for our peers to help change the world around us. We owe it to the world to be agents of change, to help those who cannot help themselves. To be those agents, and to utilize those tools we must remember that when we act people will always hear. They may forget our words, but they will never forget our humanity founded in our actions.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
an image of taylor swift standing center stage surrounded by her backup dancers in elegant peacock esque outfits with a backdrop of clouds and a box rising above the stage the image captures the vibrant aesthetics and energy of her performance during the lover era of her eras tour
StableDiffusion

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

85906
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

11378
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments