“Everyone, stand up and form a big circle. Now I’m going to read a statement. If it applies to you, please step into the center, look around at who else is there, and walk back to your spot on the circle.”

These were the directions for an activity I recently participated in. Plenty of statements of varying intensity were announced throughout the activity. The response to one statement has been burned in my mind for a while now. “Step forward if you believe you can make a change in the world.” Most of the group didn’t walk up to the center with me. Why?

Creating a change isn’t exactly easy but everyone has the potential to do so if they wanted to. What does it really take to change the world? All it seems to take is an intense dream and some help along the way. An intense dream is important because you need a powerful force to keep you from quitting after countless inevitable obstacles. Usually you’re going to need help sooner or later. Trying to do everything alone simply gives you an unnecessary handicap. Smash a dream and some help together and I don’t see what’s stopping anyone from creating a change.

Something that struck me was that the group I was performing the activity with was made entirely of IMSA students. A dream and some help seems so easy to find within IMSA’s crazy environment. We have opportunities backhanding us in the face and ample resources to execute our visions. IMSA’s a great example of a place that pushes you to think about what you truly desire to see in the world. We’re surrounded by competent people, and more importantly, competent friends to help us through our endeavors. So what’s stopping any of us?

We have freedoms that most high schoolers never get to taste. LEAD serves as a way to allow students to get a feel for executing their ideas. TALENT is there to help anyone create a thriving business. Grants are available to fuel projects. 3D printers, digital drawing tablets, internet access, intelligent staff members, etc., are all available to help us create. If you’re still skeptical, EleMENT is evidence that you can put together something awesome if you really (really, really, really) want to.

My call to action: Believe that you can create a change in the world. I was taken aback when so few IMSA students went into the circle when that statement was asked. We have the resources and the environment to build change making machines. Honestly, the opportunities and resources are benefits, not necessities. All you need is a dream and some help along the way. That doesn’t seem too hard. So remember, always believe.