The Power of Words

Three weeks ago I entered the doors the South Franklin Community Center for the first time. I am amazed at the changes that have occurred within myself--mostly on my perspective--in such a short time. I see the world through different eyes--opened to the issues around me, ways to make a difference, and the power of the written word. 

This particular time volunteering, the first child to arrive was my precious Daniela. She walked in, scanning the room until her eyes locked on mine. She immediately came up to me, math test in hand. She proudly showed me the big, red ‘A,’ announcing her success. Her spelling test grade lacked a little, though, so we decided to work on the words she had missed. We practiced the spellings until she could write them all perfectly. However, when I asked about the meanings of her words, she could not confidently tell me the definitions of many of them. I went over them one-by-one until she had a better understanding of their meanings. Why know how to spell a word if you don't know what it means? I really stressed this to her; she probably thought I was crazy.

But I've always been kind of a "word-nerd." My parents started reading to me when I was really little, and I started reading on my own before I even entered kindergarten. I took pride in choosing hard words on my spellings lists. I did a whole project in third grade about what I wanted to be when I grew up--an author. My first email address was maggie_bookworm for crying out loud. (And, no, I don't use it anymore.) I wrote my own stories, poems, and even scripts for plays. I loved books, maybe more than people. So when the annual spelling bee rolled around, I felt confident that I could do well. I eased through the classroom round and prepared for the school wide bee. I soared in the first few rounds. My turn again: “Smoky. S-M-O-K-E-Y. Smoky.” My heart fell when I learned that I had incorrectly spelled the word. I took the long walk of shame back to my chair and sat with my head hung for the remainder of the spelling bee. I will never forget how to spell that word for as long as I live.

My spelling has improved since then, as has my writing. My freshman writing class at BYU has really transformed my writing. I have learned how to make a much better argument, organize my ideas, and persuade others through my statements. But more than that, I have learned the power of the written word. Words can change opinions. Words can change lives. Words can change the world. I have become motivated to use my voice, my words, and my knowledge to make a difference. I work to raise awareness through this blog. I hope that I might be able to influence my readers to also use their words to make a difference, in turn starting a ripple effect. We truly have the power to change the world--starting with a single word.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please enjoy this video about the power of words by Andrea Gardner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU