Everyone wants to change the world. Which is pretty awesome. Lots of people don't change the world. Which is less awesome. The problem is, when people think of how to change the world, they think of writing letters to Congress or some other person, and asking them to change the world for them. Asking someone else is not progress. What's the opposite of Pro? Con. What's the opposite of progress? (Little AP Gov't joke there) Congress will not fix something just because you asked them to. You need to be the change you see in the world. (coughcoughGhandicough)

"But Cookiemaven," you say, "I don't know how to change the world! Everyone tells me to talk to Congress or something."

Don't worry. There is hope. Change can be made, with careful planning. Decide what you're going to change, and how to do it. Then figure out who can help you. Google is your friend- google your topic, then find organizations who might be able to help you. People are surprisingly nice, and willing to help out others. Especially teenagers who are showing interest and initiative in their chosen field. People know other people, so even if the person you contact can't help you, they can direct you towards someone who can. Then, sit down and do the work. Research, plan, research, plan, ACT.

Example: I'm researching the effects of surrogacy* on society, with the eventual goal of writing and getting passed a law protecting surrogacy contracts in Maryland. So I wrote letters to two surrogacy law agencies- they write up the contracts and take care of legal snags. I now am setting up an interview with a judge, a doctor, and the leaders of an agency that matches surrogates and intended parents. This is less than two months into my project. I'm going through my contacts list, and have connections to at least five people on the Maryland General Assembly. Because I wrote to many people, and asked kindly, I'm getting help. And because I will be doing work on my own, as well as getting help, people are willing to help me more. And between my work and the help I'm recieving, I will likely succeed.

So go ahead, change the world. Don't write a letter to some faceless politician, write a letter to a business person, to an organization that will help you, and do some footwork on your own. Leave a mark where there wasn't one.

Cookiemaven.

* Surrogacy refers to the practice of using one woman's uterus for carrying a baby that is not hers. At the birth, the baby goes to the intended parents and the surrogate (birth mother) gives up her parental rights.