Tomorrow's World: 'Look for the good in all'

The children of today are the adults of tomorrow. They shape the future and reflect our progress. What are the hopes and aspirations of our kids? How do they see themselves contributing to a better world? What do they feel, think, believe and desire? Every week, we zoom in on the youth living in the Emirates, and hear what they have to say

Children of the Week: Aravind Ganesh

Build bridges, not walls." So, agrees 12-year-old Aravind Ganesh who was awarded first prize for his speech about the most shocking moment of his life – viewing the collapse of New York's World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001.

It is no wonder that Aravind won in both Tiffany Inter-School Declamation Contest and Inter-School Quiz Contest recently. He is the youngest in a family of Toastmasters, members of a world-wide organisation committed to public speaking. His talent for verbal presentations was further enhanced during his term as president of the T.K.M.C.E. Gavel Club, a group organised for youth to help improve their communication skills. This week he will attend the Child Education Summit in New Delhi and have the opportunity to exchange ideas with others.

While Aravind's father Ganesh C.G. is an engineer by profession, his mother Padmaja is a teacher. As Toastmasters, they both share their interest for public speaking with their son. A student of the Delhi Private School, Sharjah, Aravind's hobbies extend to drawing, painting, reading and singing. He also enjoys creative writing, and has formulated his own short story called "The Jungle Democracy" and posted it on his website on www.angelfire.com. Studies are a priority, but he makes time to pursue his extra-curricular interests.

HE SAYS:

I believe if you have time for something, you have time for everything. As students, we all face the matter of organising our time. Rather than resort to last minute preparations, there is less stress if you work systematically and routinely. Though it is easier to say than do, discipline is essential. That is how I can easily account for my studies and co-curricular activities. Being president of the Gavel Club taught me the importance of self-improvement and teamwork. It helped build my confidence, interact with different people and introduced me to some nice kids. I like making new friends. The value of friendship was something I experienced when I was down with chicken pox during my final exams. True friends are those who help you in need, and I really appreciated their support.

I moved in Class 2 from Muscat, the city of mountains to Dubai, the city of gold, and now to Sharjah, the cultural capital of UAE. Living abroad, we must never forget our roots. My parents have taught me the values of our Indian culture. Be humble, kind and helpful, they say. Always believe in honesty and caring for the welfare of others. The have also been my source of motivation for anything I do.

As an adult, I would like to be an engineer or doctor. Whatever career I choose, I would like to be the best in the field. However, more than achievements, I have been told that you must be a good person. It is always better to be humble, no matter what you accomplish. It is said, "pride hath a fall". When we attain our goal, we become over-confident and no longer strive. I would like to stress the significance of trying. When we encounter failure, we should not give up, but always be hardworking.

The world is a nice place, but there are certain problems. So many people are dying of violence and diseases. I pity those suffering from Aids and cancer, especially little children who are afflicted by these diseases. My greatest fear is another world war. We should all try to bring about global peace, and cooperation by countries is essential. "Do onto others as you want others to do you." Nobody likes everybody, but I suggest people should not act upon it or show hate. We must understand that everyone has good and bad aspects, so try and look for the good in all.

The world is at the peak of progress, but there is also destruction of the natural environment. Deforestation, global warming, and pollution are major problems we face. However, one must first "practice what one preaches".

By conserving water, energy, and keeping the city clean, we can contribute towards improving the environment. Only when you show that you are considerate of the environment can you tell others. The chain of environmental awareness begins at home with family, then to friends and finally to schools and community by getting involved for can collection, recycling and clean-up drives.