Motivations.
I’ve always had it in my head that my sole purpose in life is to help other people and I was never sure how I could possibly make a career out of that. How is someone supposed to profit out of helping other people? For people who don’t know me very well or don’t spend enough time with me, it probably sounds like I’m exaggerating when I say that my sole purpose in life is to help people but I can’t see myself doing anything else.
My parents, being retired, want me to get a college education so I can get a decent job and have a nice life. So, in short, they want exactly what I’m assuming every parent wants for their child – to be financially stable. That being said, when I told them I wanted to major in political science, they immediately scoffed at the idea because they believe that there’s no scope for it in Sri Lanka because to become president here doesn’t necessarily require a college education. But what they fail to understand is that, my intention to pursue political science isn’t because I want to be in power one day but it’s because of the people who are in power today.
In school we are taught to be kind to one another, to share, to clean up our mess, and not to hurt others. I find it ironic how that’s what we are conditioned to do from a very young age yet our governments tend to go out and do exactly the opposite of what we’ve been told do. Developed countries bomb smaller countries and refuse asylum to refugees that are displaced because of the actions of these governments. According to Oxfam, the richest one percent of the world own as much wealth as the bottom ninety-nine percent combined. Even when we have more than enough, we are afraid to share. We are afraid to let go of some of our wealth. I’m not a communist but I’m not a capitalist either. I believe that we should work hard for our wealth but it should not be at the cost of someone else’s life. I don’t see the morality in having more money than one needs when twenty-two thousand children die each day due to poverty, and they die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world.
Income inequality, poverty, and climate change are not heaven sent. They are man-made problems often, if not always, created by the politicians we elect to represent us: the people. Unfortunately, politics has become a competitive sport for some and the minute they come into office, they forget who they are representing and instead, focus more on re-election. Funnily enough, if they were to do what was best for the majority rather than their wealthy donors, then they wouldn’t need to worry so much on whether they would be re-elected or not.
Pursuing political science, I’m hoping, would allow me to gain the experience and understanding I need to be able to change the world one day. I understand how unrealistic or may be even overly idealistic that may sound, but I’m not afraid to risk my life or my well-being fighting for what I believe in. People can laugh at my “naivety” if they wish but someone has to do something, so why not me? What if Martin Luther King decided that racism would be too difficult of an obstacle to overcome? What if Nelson Mandela believed overcoming institutionalized racism and apartheid was unrealistic? What if Eleanor Roosevelt and Susan B. Anthony decided that fighting for women’s rights was overly idealistic? Where would we be today if they didn’t do what was once considered impossible? Just like them, I intend to pursue my goal despite constantly being told that it’s “silly” and “naive” of me to actually consider doing so.
- Rukshana Abdeen