It was such poignant news to hear of Nelson Mandela’s passing yesterday. I have been thinking about it a lot over the past day, as Mandela was one of my utmost role models growing up.
Mandela represented so much to so many people: hope, resiliency, compassion, determination, empathy, courage… the list goes on. His strength of character was incredible – I cannot even imagine the energy that it would take to forgive the oppressors that imprisoned him for 27 YEARS. That is by no means an easy feat and requires continuous effort; thus, Mandela taught the world lessons not only pertaining to politics or justice, but also ethics.
It is also important to remember that Mandela was the face of a movement that included thousands of fellow courageous freedom fighters. In this regard, countless other individuals need to also be recognized for their fights for equality, as Mandela’s accomplishments could not have been made possible without the continuous, collaborative efforts made by these individuals.
It has also been amazing to witness just how many lives he touched across the globe. Seeing the reactions that have taken place over the past 24 hours has been incredible. I went to a tribute today put on by UBC’s Africa Awareness Initiative, which was very touching and a great opportunity to share stories regarding how Mandela impacted so many youth on a personal level. A few South African students were present at the tribute, two of which had the honour to even meet Mandela in person. It was interesting to hear their stories of how they felt this figure transformed their country and how they bared witness to these transformations personally. It was very moving.
Without question, Mandela has left a legacy of love and forgiveness that will last generations. However, now that he has passed on, I feel it’s important for us to continue pursuing his struggle for greater equality. It’s as if Mandela started the race, yet now the baton has been passed on and it’s up to us to continue running and moving forward. I think this is part of a greater process that requires each of us to individually commit to making the world a better place. Whether it’s refusing to be a bystander, volunteering at various community events or demanding greater equality in our work places, these actions can have significant impacts, especially if made on a larger scale.
It was an incredible opportunity to grow up and be raised during a time that such an inspiring figure was on this planet. Only occasionally does an individual make such a positive impact on this Earth, which is something we should all strive towards.
“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.” -Nelson Mandela
RIP Madiba, your light will be shining bright.