THE FACTS
By Caroline Sumner

Who are the people who will change the world?
They are ordinary
They are plain
They would not exist if it were not for people in need

They love long, flowing skirts and pigtails
They love t-shirts made of organic cotton and seven-year-old jeans

They are the Theatre majors
They are the Film majors
They are the Poli Sci majors
They are the World Studies majors
They are the Undeclared students
They are the grad students and the high schoolers

They are the ones with playlists on their iPods entitled "Music to change the world"

They are the ones who just can't shut up about their favorite charity
They are online until 3:00 AM, e-mailing Facebook friends about it
They scream for joy at big donations

They are vegans and vegetarians (or borderline carnivores)
They recycle
They take the stairs
They speak languages their friends have never heard of
They have Peace Corps badges sewn on their purses and backpacks

When they say, "Watch this movie. It'll change your life"
It's because it changed theirs
When they give gifts, they give merchandise from a favorite charity
When they focus on a project, they survive on black coffee for days at a time

They long to visit nations of fear and pain
Because if they are responsible for even one grin, they have accomplished greatness

They are the parents and the children
The brothers and the sisters
The best friends and the confidantes -
Not of other people, but of love

They have tattoos of peace signs and flags of countries that stole their hearts

They worry that they cannot do enough
They have BIG IDEAS
They are centuries-old souls in young and able bodies
They are pretty girls and handsome boys
They have broken hearts

They are terrified of this breathtaking world
And they are the ones who will save it.