You Can't Save the World But You Can Help One Person
I mentor university students who are from 2nd or 3rd tier city of an Asian country. The charity group assigned this student who is classified as an orphan because her mom has passed away due to illness. She is studying English. My role is to be a mentor, listener, and adviser. All her decisions are her own decisions.
Late last year, she stopped communicating with me. The charity group could not locate her as well. Early this month, she finally reached out to me told me that she had a big fight with her dad's family. Four months ago, she quit school and moved out from her home. She called to apologise. I told her that I was never angry at her. In fact, I was worried about her. She is now calm and going back to school next year. Now, she needs to look for a job.
She was surprised that I am not angry at her. I did not even judge whether she did the right thing for quitting school and moved out. My role as a mentor is to keep her on the right track. The right track means not throwing her life away, have the courage to confront her problems. How far she wants to take her life, it is up to her. Our conversation focuses on her thoughts and decisions. Most importantly, she must take ownership of her actions. I cannot save the world, but I can help her. If her life is on the right track, her life is better. There are more opportunities. Her future family will be better. Her children's future life will be better. Everything starts from her and her own actions.
I do not have big ambitions wanting to save the world. If I can change one person's life trajectory, that's enough.