Wednesday, February 16, 2011


YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Who hasn’t dreamed of growing up to be Superman, President of the United States, even Mother Teresa? We all want to make a difference, to save the world, to leap buildings in a single bound! But the truth is, it’s probably not going to happen! Here we are, 40 something years into life and not one world crisis solved or one life changed because of what we’ve done! Right?...............Wrong!
  
  The problem with our childhood dreams is that they are so huge! Yes, there are large as life heroes and saints among us, but we have the potential to affect change, growth and salvation too! It’s in the little things we do each day. The smile you give your child when you drop him off at school can change his whole perspective on his day. The “good job” you lightly share with a coworker may be just the motivation to move forward. The point is, we may never know what superhero effect we have on the lives of others!

   
  I taught music and gave guitar lessons to elementary school students while I was working my way through college. Years later, I went back to Brooklyn to visit the school and found that one student had been trying to find me. She was studying at Julliard on a full scholarship for music. She said I was the first one to ever tell her she had talent and that made her determined to succeed. Such a little comment and yet it made a difference!
    
  Recently I was fortunate enough to be honored for my years of teaching and serving as an Assistant Principal. My former principals spoke, there was a beautiful slide show of all the programs, curriculum and policy I initiated, and there were wonderful letters from parents of children I had taught. It was an amazing, joyful celebration, but the thing that meant more to me than anything else, was the testimonial that was made by a former student. She was in my 8th grade class many years ago. She has since earned a degree in elementary education and special education, has become an outstanding teacher, an awesome mom of 3 and a loving, treasured wife. She also happens to be the president of our Home and School Association! A true Wonder Woman! She credited me with all her success! She claimed that I was her role model and inspiration. I have no earthly idea why! She’s a highly intelligent, motivated woman with great charisma and superb instincts! I can’t think of one thing I might have done to inspire such an enigma! All I did was love her and do my best to give her a good education!
    
  So you see, you can never say, “I don’t make a difference.” You may be the one to inspire the next Gandhi or Martin Luther King Junior!  You can change the world, maybe you already have!




28 comments:

  1. Marion, It never ceases to amaze me that you are so humbled by what you mean to so many! The power of you love is limitless - all the lives you have touched and the ripple effect of how that keeps going and going is a priceless legacy. I am blessed to be among those inspired and loved by you!!!! :)

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  2. This is a wonderful story Marion!!
    You never forget someone who makes such an impact in your life. Teachers, coaches, scout leaders, etc.

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  3. You are so right - We don't have to do big things to make a big difference. Sometimes it is the little things that mean so much more just because the timing was right. Just doing the right thing can end up being a great thing.

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  4. Marion,
    Mother Theresa couldn't be everywhere. You were needed right where you were, right then. You always have been my role model. You are greatly loved by so many!!
    Jane

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  5. Marion, your passion in all that you do, leaves a lasting mark on us all. You are truly an amazing person with compassion and conviction. I agree that that even a smile can impact even a stranger, but it takes action to put that smile on your face. It takes action to open the door for a strangerit takes action to take that extra step...and you do it without even thinking about it. Love you!

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  6. Marion, you are truly an amazing person! Even your writing is inspirational! Your compassion, your passion in all that you do, has left a positive mark on us all! Your right, even the small things that we do can make a difference...but it is the action that makes it complete. It takes action to put that smile on your face, or to open that door for a stranger and you my friend do that without even thinking about it. Love you!

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  7. This reminds me of that commercial where one person sees another do a random act of kindness and so he does one ,and another person sees and so she does one, and so on and so on! It really does only take one little thing to potentially make a HUGE difference. Think of all the people this one article will touch and inspire! It's awesome!

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  8. This is so true! I was at my wits end and ready for a breakdown when a total stranger walked up to me and asked if I was OK. It made me realize how self consumed I was being and I actually snapped out of it. I never got to thank the stranger but he made a monumental change in my life with his one little sign of concern.

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