Ever since a child is young, parents tend to instill in them high aspirations and goals for the future. The desire to make a difference in the world is the primary theme in doing well in school. When I was little, my grandfather used to say to me that “The world has too many problems that you, my dear, are meant to fix.” At that time, I believed that it was his indirect way of saying that he wanted me to have a good job so I could be wealthy and live well. On the day of September 11, 2001, the terrorists attacked the United States and shook the world to it’s core. At that time I was living in Albania and I did not understand what was going on and how it could affect me. I kept thinking back to what my grandfather had told me and I could not see how one person alone could make a difference. I was not powerful enough to change the course of events or prevent tragedies from happening; I was one person who most people did not know existed. As I soon learned, the world was not a place of fairytales and dreams but in a way a dark room. Deception, sadness, emptiness, and greed were influential factors in the lives of many. In a materialistic society, everyone strove for their own ambitions ignoring those suffering.
Miep Gies said, “Everyone is capable of providing a small light in a dark room” and I believe wholeheartedly in this concept. As I matured into an educated young lady, I understood that if one person had the courage to stand up to injustices, it would give voice to those who are afraid to do it themselves. Have I been “a small light in a dark room” in my life? I do not think I have been so far because I have not had that opportunity to make a difference in somebody’s life. In the future, I plan to study international affairs and make a powerful impact in the life of those people who live in fear and terror, or as Miep describes it “a dark