One Book Sacramento Essay Contest
Teen category 2nd place winner:Nigel Brady
McClatchy High School
Sacramento
Quite possibly the most volatile region in the world, the Middle East has been described a pre-WWI Serbia, a tinderbox once again waiting to ignite. From this hostile expanse of massive peaks and harsh, hidden valleys emerged the Taliban and a violent form of radical Islam. Yet, in spite of this, one American man has journeyed to the Taliban's backyard and done more to counteract terrorism than all the bombs and bullets combined. This man, Greg Mortenson, is a national hero and an absolute inspiration on all levels.
For me, the most inspirational part of Mr. Mortenson's story is his dedication to his cause. While reading I felt that it was almost as if he could tell that everything, from his childhood in Africa to his mountaineering and K2 "failure", had prepared him for building these schools. The first school had to be the most motivating, as he exhausted seemingly every source to get that school built, despite setbacks. I can tell you now that if I wrote 580 letters and 16 grant applications and got no response I would have given up. But the magic is that Mr. Mortenson didn't, that despite of all adversity he kept pushing until the job was done. It's this kind of perseverance that we need today more than ever and the kind we can find embodied in Mr. Mortenson. Now when I think things are rough, when I'm ready to complain and give in, I see this book on my desk. I stop, and I consider all the times when Mr. Mortenson had it rough, could have given in, but instead rose to the challenge and took his projects to new heights. And that's the kind of person I want to be. I think deep down that's who I can be if I follow a model like Mr. Mortenson's and throw my entire essence into whatever it is I'm doing.
Another amazing quality of Mr. Mortenson's is his humility. He repeatedly travels from the comforts of America to rural Pakistan, a place of substance survival, to keep his promise to a people. This is remarkable considering the cost and difficulty of travel. While his impact on Pakistan is undisputed, Mr. Morrison contends that he is the one who is taught and deeply blessed by these experiences. Mr. Mortenson actually embodies the universal truths of Haji Ali's wisdom which he shares with his readers including the value of peace, honesty, hard work and dedication. These truths transcend cultural lines and spur me to stop and evaluate how they relate to attitudes and actions I choose on a daily basis. Mr. Mortenson's writing clearly has a positive and motivational impact on my life. I would like to someday accomplish something that brings hope like this to people.