I'm not a normal person. I try to do stuff out of the ordinary.
Here is an example.
Many people know, I cycle to school almost every. My route will pass by Tampines Ave 9 intersecting Tampines St 72. This is the junction.
Notice anything wrong?
The Green Man on the left side is not working. This green man was not fixed for about a week or so. It caused a couple of problems for me as a cyclist. I almost got hit many times because I don't know if I should cross or not. Car drivers honking at me for crossing because the green man was out. It was confusing.
So on 8th February 2013, Friday, 7.45p.m., I called the Land Transport Authority for assistance. I report the problem and stated it was not fixed for a week. And I waited to see when it was fixed.
I returned to school on Wednesday because it was the long weekend (Chinese New Year). The traffic light still wasn't fixed.
Thursday, wasn't fixed
Exactly a week later, I passed by the traffic light in the morning and its still wasn't fixed. I had half the mind to call up LTA again but I waited. I ended school at 5+ and cycled back. And TADAH! It was fixed. That little part of me jump for joy.
Yeah, I contributed something!
So yeah. I don't achieve big things like Angela Zhang who managed to conceive a nano-particle system that can cure cancer without the side effects. I'm not like the Youth Olympiads who could excel in sports and bring fame to the country.
I'm just doing things behind the scenes that benefits people.
People passing by the junction would never know that a 17 year old teenager named Gabriel Ho help fixed a little traffic light. There is nothing to be proud of in helping to fix a traffic light but at least I know I could help prevent an accident.
I do things that benefit most people but people just don't know. Its as easy as giving up your seat to people who needs it more, offering help to a stranger if he/she couldn't do it, say a simple thank you to people to make way while you are cycling, etc etc.
Maybe to me, these small acts of kindness makes a difference to that person.
Here is a story:
"A young
girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been
washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she
would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her
with amusement.
She had
been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said,
“Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save
all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl
seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent
down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into
the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
“Well, I made a difference to that one!”
The old
man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done
and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back
into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved."
- Adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley
Any ordinary person can help change the world. Lets all be like this little to help make a difference in peoples life and soon, you will see the world changing bit by bit.
Heres Gabe,
Signing OUT!
