Chosen To Change The World

Everyone can envision himself changing the world. Although many have the ability to accomplish incredible things, consider a community of ten whose lifelong goal was to improve the common good. This so called community could undoubtedly accomplish great things. However, its members must be chosen carefully. All members must exhibit four main qualities. They must not only have the scholarly capacity to develop new programs but also the leadership abilities with which to put them into practice. This group must be both academically and culturally diverse in order to maximize the scope of its abilities. Finally, and most importantly, each member must be evaluated on his desire to help others. With these criteria, it is indeed possible to select a group of talented individuals with the ability and desire to change the world.

The first quality on which a member is assessed is his academic ability. Academic passion is critical. A lifelong passion for learning will ensure continued academic development and commitment to the common good. In the words of Herbert Spencer, nineteenth century British philosopher, “The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.” Education provides the foundation for achieving greatness. A passion for learning inherently leads to a passion to help others. For many scholars, the motivation to learn derives from a sense of awe at our surroundings. A physicist stands in awe at the elegant pattern of the universe; the infinite complexity of our minds astounds a neuroscientist. If the mysteries of our world can captivate a scholar, the same scholar will stir with empathy for others in need. The scholar’s passion for solving the enigmas of the world leads him to value equally the pursuit of the common good...

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...in a position of authority, it is imperative to be confident that he will not abuse it. How does one evaluate a candidate’s character? The candidate must have demonstrated a prior commitment to service and be a positive example to all he meets. This will ensure the he will remain faithful to his professed goal of improving the common good even in a position of authority.

With members chosen on these criteria, this group certainly possesses the capacity to accomplish greatness. A member of this community has the academic passion to explore new ideas, the leadership skills to carry out and convey his passions, a unique cultural or academic background that adds to the scope of the group, and a well-formed conscience that enables him to make the right decisions. With its members chosen properly, this group will have both the ability and the desire to change the world.