#5

The power of writing. My initial thought when I heard the topic of this blog entry was the quote "The pen is mightier than the sword". So, I think I’ll write a little story about how this became true in my life. When I was younger, around the age of 15 or so, I wasn't very big. I was probably a solid 125 pounds and a compact five foot five. Not very big for your average high school freshman. Aside from the fact that I was on the smaller side of the students in my class, I didn't look intimidating. I had braces, didn't wear very cool clothing, just an all around dork I guess you could say. You can probably see where this is going. Just like in an after school special, yes, I too was picked on ferociously by not just upper classmen but students in my own grade as well. They would call me names; push me around, just the normal high school bully routine. This just wasn't going to work. I had just started school, life was already hell and I hadn't been there for more than a few months. I knew I couldn't compete with these bigger guys on a physical level; they were just too overpowering, and often congregated in large groups! I chose to use the only advantage I had, my speaking ability.

I started talking to my aggressors. I would ask them questions about why they would torture me, what I had done to them to make them act like they were towards me. Surprisingly, they would just lose their steam, eventually, after a long enough stall with my questions, it seems as if they had lost their interest in picking on me and walked away. From this point on I became more of a nuisance and a drag to beat up than an enjoyment for these kids. They would hate hearing my lectures and questions so much that I would be left alone for the most part. This is when I knew that the pen really is mightier than the sword. I was able to diffuse many situations, some not even directed at me by using language. I was able to calm friends when they became angry at one another. I was able to make two parties see the others point of view without having to raise a fist. With my use of language to calm hostile situations I have to this day never been in a physical altercation. I have been able to talk my way out of countless situations, where another person who is less skilled in speaking would have given in and thrown a punch.

Through this exploration in the giant benefits of language I have also found a profession that I love. One of my dreams is to become a journalist. I believe that through language and a common dialogue we can solve many of the problems that we face today. I believe that much of the hatred in this world comes from a lack of understanding, a lack of a common language. The way I see it, if I was able to escape high school without ever having to have thrown a punch, we can surely have a far less aggressive stance towards other people.