Activist

I am not real sure if this is the type of “activist” role we are supposed to be reflecting on, but I am going to give it a shot anyway.  During my senior year of high school, I can remember standing in the courtyard behind the cafeteria enjoying my lunch break while talking with some friends.  There was a group of guys not far from where we were all chatting.  Suddenly the group grew larger and I could see they were forming a circle around a big senior football jock and a smaller fellow, I think he was a sophomore, who looked terrified.  The football guy kept throwing his arms around and swearing at the top of his lungs.  I could not stand by and watch this poor kid get bullied, so I went over to the large group of kids.  I listened to what the jock was yelling (something about how the other kid needs to learn respect and watch where he’s going) and calmly walked into the middle of the circle.  By this point, my heart was racing and everyone had turned to look at me.  I walked up to the jock and whispered in his ear that he had to give respect to get respect and that if he didn’t walk away he would lose all of the respect of his classmates for beating up on someone who was half of his size and obviously did not stand a chance in a fight.  Luckily for me, the jock looked me in the eye and walked away.  I have never felt better about myself for standing for someone who was being treated unfairly.  I did not know the sophomore boy before then, but it did not matter.  I felt like I had to take a stand even if no one else would.