My second presentation, to the District Assembly in Murray Utah, March 24, 2012.
Hello, again my name is Blake Schapiro; I have already met
some of those who are here today. For those that don’t know me, I am a ninth
grade student in South Ogden Utah, a People to People Student Ambassador Alumnus,
hold a 3.8 G.P.A., and am now preparing to go on a 10 month Youth Exchange to
the country of Russia. When first learning of Rotary through my Spanish
Teacher, and all the options available I was motivated, I was confident the
Youth Exchange program was for me. I could not say the same for my parents.
However, as I pushed this idea towards them, and we attended
an orientation meeting, they agreed to let me embark upon this journey. As a
result of this, on September 1st I will be the youngest Rotary
Student leaving the State of Utah on an exchange this year. To prepare I will
fundraise for a bulk of my tuition, due to the generosity of so many Rotary
members, I have received numerous donations towards the standard tuition. I
have contacted U.S. officials here within our country, and in Russia. I have
told them what I want to do, what I plan to accomplish, and have asked what
they believe the best way to go about reaching my
goals.
While in Russia I hope to become fluent in the Russian
language, as learning an understanding and appreciation for world cultures.
However, my main focus will be to represent the greatest of our nation, by
trying to unite both our countries, and make a step towards peace. I plan to do
this through community service, outreach, and many united forces. The idea is
not to hold a standard for which all our citizens must resemble. It is not
about claiming our country has all the answers, or that their country has all
the answers. It is an understanding our nations do have faults, our countries
are not perfect, and that is okay, for we are all always learning.
Recently, I have been told the proximity of where my
exchange will take place; 26 possible cities all within South East Russia. The
city which I am striving towards is less than 100 miles away from the North
Korean Boarder. It is safe to say Americans are not cherished in this area. Yet,
at the same time there will be hundreds of children, parents, and families who
will have a cold slumber upon the streets tonight. This is the change I want to
set in motion. I want to set the ground work to a sturdy structure of united
forces, which together can address many social issues including human
trafficking, prostitution, and alcoholism. It will be difficult; it will take a
large amount of time. Yet, what makes this experience so treasured is the
opportunity to analyze their community, and see what needs modifying. I will
have many barriers which fall in my way. But, I am lucky, not only can I say I
am a U.S. Ambassador to the great country of Russia. I can say I am a U.S.
Rotary Ambassador form the great state of Utah.
I have decided to pursue Rotary because this is idea of
which we are based on, looking past our nationality, looking past our
differences. It is understanding we all are people which have different
backgrounds, different roots but that does not matter because we are all
people. My life goal is to become a U.S.
Repetitive within Congress. I have chosen this career path because I believe
this is where I can make the largest positive change. I want to be remembered,
I want to bring a brighter future to my children. I have started at a younger
age. It is our duty to give this same opportunity to many deserving others.
Together we will reach our distended greatness. Together we will leave a better
tomorrow. And we not only start today. But we start with every time our clubs
sponsor an outbound student and inbound student. This is what allows us
international relations; we are the one which have an opportunity to bring
peace through understanding.
My second place winning essay, third presentation, at District Conference in Midway Utah, June 1, 2012.
My second place winning essay, third presentation, at District Conference in Midway Utah, June 1, 2012.
Hello, my name is Blake Schapiro; I have had the privilege
of already meeting many of you in attendance today. For those I haven’t, I am a
ninth grade student attending South Ogden Jr. High, I am a former People to
People Student Ambassador representing our State in England and France, I hold
a 3.8 G.P.A., and now have the honor of preparing for ten month exchange to the
country of Russia, as the youngest Rotary Ambassador leaving this state, this
year. I have chosen this program and am pursuing Rotary with such passion
because of the values I see in each and every one of you here today. The idea
that if we want peace, if we want to stop unnecessary bloodshed, and unneeded
death, the weapons we use are not bombs, guns, or bullets, but education. All
here understand a greater power; we all understand the limitless boundaries of
teaching by example. We understand the need in sending our youth
internationally, to make connections, to gain knowledge, so they can use this
once they become the leaders of our world, the parents of our future
generation, so they can use this education for when they become our next
Rotarians.
I represent the greatest of our nation, by reflecting this
same idea. As for what I plan to do in the assistance of a progressive peace, I
will complete community service, and community outreach. I will use this
opportunity to get involved within my host community, get involved with the
locals. I want to get the message across that what I am doing is not to
infringe upon the culture of the people. It is not proclaim America is perfect,
it is not about stating Russia has never made a mistake. It is to allow an
insight in seeing our communities, our people can admit our flaws; we can admit
that we are not perfect. And we do not have to because our nations and our
people will forever be changing.
I had the privilege to meet and speak with those who hold
public office and those locals native to the area which I will be traveling.
They have assisted me in carving a path to reach my goals. I will be using this
journey as a pilgrimage, to see what must be done to rid this region and these
citizens of falling into the endless cycle of alcoholism, prostitution, and
human trafficking. I will be using a stimulus fund to help those parents,
children, and families who are forced to sleep countless nights upon the cold
streets. The idea which I portray is simple; the idea that throughout the world
we are all different, yet more so than not we are the same, we like the same
activities, we enjoy the same sports, and we all share in a similar
lifestyle.
I will face many obstacles upon my voyage in order to secure
my goal. What gives this motivation, what gives me this drive is seeing all of
us here today; seeing those who put past and celebrate our differences, those
who strive to bring diversity into our communities. Those who together have set
out for a common goal, to change the world for a better; let me be a hint of
hope in saying we can change the future, we will leave a brighter tomorrow. We
are on the right path; this is a lengthy transition which we must all endure.
But this is a war which we will win. Remember that every time you are
participating within your weekly meetings. Every time a volunteer opportunity
revels itself to you, and most importantly remember this every time your club
has an opportunity to sponsor a student representing our State, and the ones
representing communities worldwide.
Fourth presentation, to the Park City Rotary Club, July 19, 2012.
Hello my name is Blake Schapiro;
I am a former ninth grade student attending South Ogden Jr. High, a People to
People Student Ambassador Alumnus representing our State in England and France,
hold 3.8 G.P.A., and am now preparing for a ten month Youth Exchange to the
nation of Russia. In 6 weeks I will be departing from the Salt Lake City
airport, leaving my friends, family, and community behind. I will be going to a
region which I have never been before, living with a family unfamiliar to me,
learning a language, and culture of which I have never been exposed to. This is
Youth Exchange; one year ago I would say this would be an impossible journey
for me to take. But Youth Exchange tells me, Impossible
is the word used by those who have not conquered the idea of imagination. Used
by the ones who take an easy way out, who only do what they are told.
Impossible is not the truth, it is only ones assumption. Impossible only shows
the potential.
My exchange will be held in Magadan, it is a city of 95,000, sitting
on the coast in Northeast Russia; the nearest big city being about 1,000 miles
away. My host parents Vladimir and Maria know only very limited English; their
two sons whom I will be living with, do not speak any English at all. This is
what I will face every day, just within my home. This is a test of strength, a
test unlike one you receive in a classroom, this is your life, this is the life
of your host family, and your reaction, your answer to this test affects those
lives.
I am using this voyage as a pilgrimage; I will use this as an
opportunity to see what must be done to assist in a progressive peace. I will
set the ground work to a powerful structure of change. And find the resources
necessary to rid these regions from the crippling reality of human trafficking,
prostitution, and alcoholism. My goal is to get the message across; that what I
am doing is not to infringe upon the culture of the people. It is not to charge
one nation in fault hood, it is not to proclaim on nation in perfection. It is
to allow the insight into our communities in seeing we may not know all the
correct answers, to all the necessary questions in our world, that there are
many ways to go about fixing issues. And that is okay, because what makes a
nation powerful, what makes our world work, is the diverse heritage and the
diverse thinking process of which each of our citizens have.
I am honored to be a representative of our State, our Country, and
of our values. This journey will be the most difficult time in my life so far.
There will be tremendous hurdles I must jump over, large barriers of which will
far in my way, and many distractions I must say no to, in order to reach my
goals. Still I am the luckiest student of our State, having the opportunity to
be departing as the youngest within our district. I am the luckiest student in
our country because I am able to represent the best State of our nation, and I
am the luckiest Student in our World because I am going through the best
program, the best service organization in history.
I have such passion for Rotary because my mission in life is
similar to our mission. World peace, and there are those in our communities who
tell us this is an impossible objective. Still we are all here today. We
are here because we’re the ones who refuse to believe this falsehood. We are
the doers, the thinkers, the ones who will be able to take an amount of praise
once that ultimate goal is reached. Youth exchange is an essential part in
reaching this aspiration. We will achieve our destined greatness; together we
are leaving our mark upon history. And not only do we open the door of world
understanding today, but this door is opened even greater every time our State
hosts an inbound student, or sponsors an outbound student. This is what builds relations;
we are bringing peace to the next generation.
