Who are YOU?

Alice, while in Wonderland, is presented with the question, "Who are YOU?" by the Caterpillar. A simple question, yet most challenging to answer. Understandably, Alice is stumped. Stammering, she replies, “rather shyly, ‘I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.’”  Life presents us with many factors that shape the person we are today and the person we may become in the future. One day we are confident and feel we can accomplish anything, and the next day we are uncertain of our capabilities. Young adults, in particular, struggle with who they are and where they belong, as the world is changing as fast as they are. In fact, it may seem as though they are falling down a rabbit hole only to find themselves in a strange world. Becoming aware of the factors that surround you may help you shape the person you want to become, helping you to crawl out of the rabbit hole and answer the Caterpillar’s question, “Who are YOU?” 

Many young adults around the world, have made sense of their world, realized their potential, and have become giving, global citizens. The International Children's Peace Prize organization presents an annual award “to a child, whose courageous or otherwise remarkable acts have made a difference in countering problems, which affect children around the world.”  These young adults, because of the factors that surrounded them (good and/or bad), fought to not only make their life better, but also the lives of other children. If asked, “Who are you?”, they can proudly respond, "I am someone who fights to make a difference."

This year, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu, presented the International Peace Prize 2012 to a 13 year old boy named  Kesz.  As a result of the factors that impacted Kesz’s life; “abused and forced to scavenge dumpsites at the age of two”, he is fighting to improve the rights of street children in the Philippines “where more than 246,000 street children are subjected to abuse, violence and child labour.” See video below that shares Kesz’s personal identity journey:

Kesz is not alone; read about other exceptional award winning recipients from 2005 to 2011 on the Children’s Peace Prize website.  Consider the factors that shaped these youths’ lives and their goal to fight to make a difference in the world.