Martin Luther King Research Paper

Kristen Mathieu
12/05/12
2nd

Be the Change You Want to See

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” (Barack Obama) Both Martin Luther King and Trevor figured this out. They never waited for change to come their way, they changed things themselves. A lot of people who take drugs fail to recognize how much their actions affect the people around them. No matter how small you think your actions seem, you made a huge difference in that other person’s life. Doctor Martin Luther King Junior became well known for being a civil rights activist. He led many protests including the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Martin Luther King acquires the qualities a person needs to be a great role model. King quickly became a national icon in the history of modern American history. When King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech he received the Nobel Peace Prize. There, he also established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history. King became so influenced by Gandhi he made a trip to Gandhi’s
birthplace. In a radio address made during his final evening in India, King reflected, "Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity." Martin Luther King Junior campaigned against segregation between blacks and whites peacefully. He wanted equal right for all people. For example, he asked black people to ride in the front of the bus. Because of Martin Luther King Junior, many laws began to change in the United States. In Pay It Forward, Trevor’s seventh grade teacher, Mister Simonet, assigns an extra credit project to the students. The project required the students to think of an out of the box way to change the world and then put it into action. Trevor’s project became a charitable plan based on the networking of good deeds. He called his project “pay it forward.” The process required that he helped three people. Those three people each helped three more people in return. Trevor comes across some bumps in the road as a few of his attempts fail but Trevor just continues along with his idea. Trevor, as just one kid, tried to change the world and succeeded. Trevor got killed for standing up for what he believed was right. In the end, Pay It Forward made out to be the story of seemingly ordinary people made extraordinary by the simple faith of a child. Pay It Forward truly became a story of hope for today and for many tomorrows to come. Between fourteen million and fifty-six million people aged fifteen to sixty-four worldwide used amphetamine-type stimulants, such as speed and crystal methamphetamine.
Many more people use and or get addicted to drugs than most people realize. People experiment with drugs for many different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to indicate a good time, because friends try it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Getting addicted to those drugs never even crossed these people’s minds. The subject of drugs became very close to my heart because I acquired a friend who uses. He lets drugs run his life. He never goes a day without using. Just remember this saying, “Wasted? So is your life.” This became why I pledged to never take drugs under any
circumstances. Martin Luther King and the idea of Pay It Forward make great examples to look to on changing the world. Trevor as one person, a child particularly gives the youth today hope that they themselves acquire the skills to make a change in the world. They just need to put forth a little effort and not give up. Martin Luther King also makes a great role model for anyone. Martin Luther King lived in a world filled with segregation. That event inspires people in itself. The fact that someone who got downed for segregation brought the whole world out of segregation simply exudes amazing. People just need to learn to start with the man in the mirror. You just need to be determined and put forth a little effort and then anything becomes possible. The people who inspire others make the world go round. Waiting for change to come never got anyone anywhere. Change things yourself. You need to recognize how your actions affect the people around you. Your actions appear bigger to others than they appear to you. Even though it only appears to be a small change, it shows much bigger to someone else.