Be a Change Agent
- Demonstrate persistence. When things get difficult, these people are resilient. They may take a deep breath or crack a joke to alleviate tension, but they keep moving.
- Set Goals. Change Agents don't live moment to moment. They see a problem, they set a course to a solution. This doesn't mean they don't have to be flexible. Part of their resiliency comes from being a problem-solver. When something doesn't go right, they navigate the course to their goal or they move their goal to align with their course. They keep moving.
- Possess the Right Attitude. Change agents know they will meet resistance. They work to create an open, respectful atmosphere where it is safe to ask questions and push. They don't look for conflict, but rather a way to approach things which people can reach out.
- Grace Under Pressure. Part of being resilient and a problem-solver is knowing that no amount of planning will cover every possibility. When your goal gets off course, you need to stay calm, look at what needs to be adjusted to move forward. It also means that you need to find a healthy balance in your life. If something is going wrong, you need to have space or some time to regroup and do something you love. Keep your mental health up just as you do your physical health.
- Show Empathy. Change is not easy. Even if you have a group that wants the same change as you, they may not be prepared for the work. Some will be prepared for the work, but worried about the outcomes and what they will mean. Regardless, change is not easy. You must be willing to listen to the doubts and anxieties of others. You need to acknowledge the resistance and work with those people as well. You can't be so set on the change that you become a change fossil and are unwilling to listen and learn from others.
- Look and understand at your community- whether it be your town, city, neighborhood, state, nation, or international. What do people need to be successful? Is there an environmental, animal, or human cause that inspires you and you want to change what is happening?
- Walk Your Talk. Show your passion for your goals. Demonstrate your willingness to work through a solution using teamwork, respect, tolerance, responsibility, and empathy. Always remember that change is hard.
- Get Moving. Stay active physically, emotionally, and mentally. Don't stay holed up in your room, use your feet, use your voice, use your tech know-how to reach out and build relationships and get your messaging for your cause out.
Banned Book Week
Everything is Possible
Everything is Possible is the theme we are exploring in 7 Mindsets right now. You’re learning that everything which exists today was once just an idea until someone believed it was possible and took the actions to make it into reality. We seek to instill the belief that your goals are possible and to foster the courage, discipline, and persistence to act on achieving your dreams. These concepts can also tie into the discussion of being a Change Agent. Please watch the video below as Kid President travels to Selma, Alabama to meet some kids making a difference and a woman who was a freedom fighter during the Civil Rights Movement.
A Message for People Who Want to Change the World
Now that you’ve watched the video, think of ways you can be a change agent in your community and share them with your family. You’ve been creating vision boards during ACCESS, and you can add this new goal to your board - as well as reading one of the banned books from the list!