Make a difference, it really does matter

by Brynne Tuggle

Kristof says, “One of the things that is truly striking about the world is that talent is universal but opportunity is not, and that’s something we can change to make a difference.” He recalls a story about a Zimbabwean friend of his who would not be allowed to learn by her father because of her gender. She was doing homework for her brother, because she was so brilliant, she wanted to learn. Soon, her brother’s teacher caught on and realized that this boy was turning in brilliant homework and was simply mediocre during his class participation. The teacher soon realized it was this girl who was helping her brother get along. She asked the girl’s father to let her go to school, and he did for awhile. But then, he married her off. Soon she was married, and her husband beat her regularly. She thought her dreams didn’t matter. But then this woman came into contact with Heifer International and someone told her that her dreams did matter. Now, this woman has come to the United States and gotten a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s Degree, and just this December, a P.h.D. Kristof says it’s stories like this one that encourage him to do what he does.