by Megan Alsheikh
Standing on a side walk in downtown, early in the morning, surrounded by broken down houses and homeless people, I walked into the Father Joe’s Village. Inside I saw children, women, and men, wearing used clothing and going about their business. As I walked around the village I saw different people washing clothes and cleaning. I saw a place where people could have their teeth fixed for free, finish school and get degrees, and a nursing area for young children and babies. Many of the people living there seemed happy and they had an air of self-esteem to them rather than self pity. My visit to Father Joe’s Village showed me that people with nothing aren’t a lost cause and can be helped. It gives less fortunate people hope, and it also gives people like me who want to help poor people the hope that we can do something about it.
As a child, I was obsessed with animals. I would religiously watch animal planet and had great sympathy for animals. Growing older, my empathetic feelings grew. Living in San Diego, I am always seeing poverty and I can barely imagine what it’s like living on the streets and not having a bed. When I first really learned about social injustices, I was in my Ethics II. I was shocked at how many social injustices there were, and what kinds of things were going on. Learning about what’s going on around me has changed my whole view on the world and my own life.
I became more interested in social injustices and one day when I was doing research on the kind of work UNICEF does, I saw a picture of an elegant but aged Audrey Hepburn. I decided to Google Audrey Hepburn and her work for UNICEF and read that she had dedicated a good amount of her life helping people around the world. Instantly my favorite actress was not only an actress to me, but a real human being with a big heart. Her work changed not only the children’s lives, but also their families, and people connected to their families. Some people think that if something does not directly affect them it isn’t their problem, but that’s false. I believe that things going on in the other side of the world affect everyone. One of the wisest quotes I have heard was actually said by Audrey Hepburn and she said, “The 'Third World' is a term I don't like very much, because we're all one world. I want people to know that the largest part of humanity is suffering."
My goal in life is to change people’s lives in a good way. I want to travel all over the world and do something to help end social injustices. Audrey is one of the many people who have helped others, and not expected anything in return. When I help people, the only thing I would ever want in return is for them to be happier. I love doing work at Father Joe’s because not only am I physically helping people, but I am also showing them that someone cares about them.
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