One Event Can Change Everything edit
One event can change everything. This has been proven in texts by Kurt Vonnegut, William Kamkwamba, and David Bornstein. The stories “Harrison Bergeron”, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", and "The power of student peer leaders" demonstrate the effect of one event and how it can change everything.
"Harrison Bergeron" edit
Background Information edit
The story takes place in a grim dystopia in 2081. In this story gifted people have devices to limit themselves from their full capacity so everyone can be equal.
Events that change everything edit
In this short story Vonnegut wrote “Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousand pounds.”(Vonnegut 5). This quote is one example in which one moment changes everything. This is because without his handicap he has unlimited power which he is using to start a rebellion all in one moment. Vonnegut also states “It was then that Diana Moon Clampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor.”(Vonnegut 6). This means that although Harrison became Emperor he died ending his rebellion and any chance of hope for a future without handicaps, all within a moment. These two quotes from "Harrison Bergeron" are direct examples on how one moment can change everything.
"The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" edit
Background Information edit
This story is based on real events, when a boy from a poor village in Malawi built a windmill to keep his villages crops growing year round and to bring money to his deprived village.
Events that changed everything edit
Kamkwamba states “But the fans on this book were not toys. They were giant beautiful machines that towered into the sky, so powerful that they made the photo itself appear to be in motion. I opened the book and began to read.” (Kamkwamba 2). This quote from the story tells us about how William Kawkwamba found his motivation to build a windmill for his village, all within one moment. The text also states “But most important, a windmill could also rotate a pump for water and irrigation. Having just come out of the hunger—and with famine still affecting many parts of the country—the idea of a water pump now seemed incredibly necessary.”(Kamkwamba 3). This quote explains that William found out how to fix his village’s agriculture problem to keep his village’s farm running throughout the dry season all in one moment. These two quotes from "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" are direct examples on how one moment can change everything.
"The Power of Student Peer Leaders" edit
Background Information edit
This is about a program and how it gave high school student who was educational lacking, an opportunity to be go to collage. Mr. Urena was a high school junior who was skipping classes because of his homelessness. But a teacher recommended a program which helped inspire and motivate Mr. Urena to turn his life around and go to collage.
Events that changed everything edit
In this article Bornstein asserts “That year, one of Mr. Urena’s teachers suggested he take part in a three-day summer workshop run by an organization now called PeerForward, which helps students from low-income backgrounds plan for success after high school.”(Bornstein 2). This means just because one teacher told Mr Urena about a program he was able to turn his life around and focus on his education. But for Mr. Urena the program not only helped him improve educationally but also helped Mr. Urena develop mentally and speak up about his troubles being homeless all because a teacher recommended him to go their. The author also states “He also gained confidence from “rap sessions” led by youth facilitators. In those sessions, students spoke candidly about their fears, insecurities and family pressures, as well as their achievements. 'It was the first time I ever told people my story of being homeless, growing up with just my mom, struggling not having a father,” Mr. Urena said. “I realized that telling my story could help improve the lives of others.”(Bornstein 2). Mr. Urena explains that he was able to mentally develop and all because his teacher recommended him to go to the program. These two quotes from "The Power of Student Peer Leaders" are direct examples on how one moment can change everything.
Conclusion edit
These 3 texts from Kurt Vonnegut, William Kawkwamba, and David Bornstein showed how one event can change everything. For Mr. Urena it was when he joined PeerForward, for William Kamkwamba it was when he found the book called "Using Energy" which motivated him to build a windmill for his village, lastly in "Harrison Bergeron" it was when the handicap general shot Harrison and ended his revolution and any chance of people being free from handicaps.