On Friday 4 November 2022, King’s High School was honoured to be joined by Mr Ziauddin Yousafzai. Our guest delivered his keynote speech with such wisdom and humility about his personal experiences as a teacher, a father, a husband and an activist for girl’s education in Pakistan under the Taliban regime.
When asked by a student about his activism and where he found such courage, he replied that he “didn’t decide one day to change the world” but he recognised that if you want to change the world, “you have to start with yourself”.
Changing our own actions and behaviours is often the hardest thing to do, but also the most necessary and rewarding to experience meaningful change. We don’t have to set out to change the world, but what small change could you make to your life today that would have a meaningful and rewarding impact?
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Could you try going to bed half an hour early to get more sleep and feel more refreshed for the next day?
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Could you challenge yourself to not criticise yourself (so difficult!) or others (just as difficult!) for a full week?
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Maybe decide that you will do two extra chores at home without being asked to do them.
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Have the courage to be the voice that challenges unkindness or reminds your friends that they don’t have to speak badly about someone else.
Small changes are never really small, for it is from them that we make the significant changes in ourselves, our communities, and eventually the world.
