Sometimes I look at other people, and I’ll wonder how they were able to change so much within a year. But today, I’ve realized that a lot of people who used to treat me with disrespect have been treating me with respect now. And I’ve understood why they might have done that because even though all this time, I’ve believed or wanted to believe that I’ve remained the same person, I haven’t.

Life has changed me. And I can’t believe that I haven’t realized this until now. I was ungrateful before. I did not understand the price and value the things that I took for granted. I never once questioned the people in my life. I questioned with why this happened. But I never questioned the who. The people in the community that I never gave a second glance to are the same people who sustain it. And even though I think I’ve been treating people with respect, I need to look harder, because I feel changed. And definitely respect is not what is was back then.

Today, I understand more. I care more. And I think the main reason for that is the education that I have been so fortunate to receive. The education that only the privileged can receive. That’s why I feel that education is really the key to the future. I feel that truly with the depth of my soul. Education isn’t necessarily ‘knowledge,’ it’s a lot more than that. It’s something deeper within, it’s understanding, it’s feeling. It’s applying the things that you learned to something more, something outside of only yourself. It’s broadening your perspectives to help others. If everyone was given a chance to education, how much more would people care?

We give humans a lot less credit then they deserve. All the heartless beings out there… something made them that way. Maybe misinformation, the way that they were taught when they grew up? Many things. But I believe that when people receive an education, their eyes are not just opened to the world of knowledge, but to the world of love.

That’s why this year, I’ve decided to keep dedicating my time to help women receive the education they deserve.