Ralph Waldo Emerson's Aphorism

The amazing thing about Emerson's aphorisms is the fact that the truths he wrote in the past still applies to everyone, including myself, in the present. I especially agree with the aphorism above because I had an experience this past summer that relates to its simplicity. My love for traveling to new places brought my brother and myself to Thailand during our summer vacation, which was a break from home and the stress that comes with it. During our three week trip, we were offered the opportunity, along with 10 other high school students in our group, to make a 4x4 off road trek through jungles and remote villages to a Burmese Refugee Camp. After we arrived in the afternoon, we did small service projects throughout the expansive area. At night,
around 9pm in the camp, everything was dead silent. This is because the people that live there wake up when the rooster crows at first sunlight, and they sleep when darkness arrives. However, as my group and I wandered through the camp with no light, we were directed to enter a small hut on the side of a river. This building serves as a dormitory for students staying in the camp without their families, who are trapped within the country of Burma. As we entered, we all sat on one side of the room. On the other side of the room there were about 30 Burmese students ranging from the ages of 12-25 who waited patiently our “performance.” After brief introductions, we were to sing them a song or two from our lives that we enjoyed. In return, they would sing to us. To be 100% honest, I really didn’t think these kids would be good at all. How could a group of nationally unrecognized people have any unique talent. However, despite their circumstances, they blew me out of the water. It was probably the most beautiful set of songs I have ever heard. Before that moment, I thought there was no chance that I would find the ultimate power of an individual in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Burma. The fact that these students were singing “Hallelujah” in Burmese to us amazed me. Despite all of the hardship in their lives, they were singing to God. So, after witnessing this event, I have taken a lot of time to think about it.
While talking to these kids, I really noticed how they all had different ideas on what they wanted to do with their lives, but they all had the same purpose. The individualism that Emerson pushes us for was discovered in these students. Unrestricted by a society they are not exposed to, they were able to form their own beliefs and dreams. For example, one student wanted to be a doctor, one wanted to be a police officer, and another wanted to be a president. Growing up in a refugee camp may have the impression to outsiders that people within the camp have a very small chance in the “real” world accompanied naturally with little hope. However, their dreams were bigger than my own. They have successfully recognized their potential and ability and they all plan to use it for good. The students all want to return to their home and make a positive difference, whether that be in their own community or on a national stage. The belief in self power is one essential to Emerson’s truths, and these isolated people who are widely ignored by those outside of their refugee camp plan to impact the world by sharing their power with everyone who they cross paths
with.