A Most Beautiful Thing

by Arshay Cooper

This is a big world we live in, but you and I chose to expand.’”

Despite everything, I still believe in seizing the moment and that an opportunity is a gift.

The gift that we gave each other was to listen.

“Don’t grow weary in doing good, for you shall reap if you don’t give up.”

leadership is not the position, but the effort you put in.

I will never understand why the ones we like don’t like us back, or why we’re never interested in the ones who actually do like us.

people perish without vision.

To me, intelligence is being able to stay out of trouble, knowing when to shut your mouth, being open to new learning, hanging out with the right crowd, and thinking of consequences before every action.

I repeatedly tell myself that this is not a door closing but another door opening.

yes has been my favorite word.

I learned that it’s okay to look back, as long as you keep moving forward.

What if the local police officers, gang members, aldermen, clergy, firemen, doctors, school principals, basketball teams, grocery-store owners, prosecutors, and community all got together weekly to barbecue, play games, watch sports on an outside projector, play cards, attend Sunday services, teach their trades, build a park, speak, shake hands, learn names, mentor, educate, swap books, give jobs, and trust like our rowing team did. What would the community look like?