Connecting 7.7 Billion by Alecia

Connecting 7.7 Billion by Alecia - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

Take out a piece of paper and a pen, don’t worry, I will wait. With your pen draw a box on the paper, about 15 cm by 7 cm. Leave it for a minute and think about this.
On the Earth today, there are 7.7 billion humans. That is 7.7 billion human brains that make individually unique decisions and think in individually unique ways. Switch back to the box and attempt to draw 7.7 billion equivalent circles inside of that box. Basically impossible, right?
Now, think of this box as your brain and imagine the circles as all of the different ideas and experiences of each individual person in this world. It is equally impossible for one brain to understand and accept 7.7 billion thoughts and ideas. So, in order to make all of the circles fit on the piece of paper next to you, you will have to draw some “outside of the box”.
To better understand, please label the circles with adjectives about yourself inside of your box. For instance, I could write: female, American, middle-class, indecisive, runner, etc. Your turn, and take your time. Now, outside of the box, try writing down what you are not. I could write: male, swimmer, architect, Irish, etc.
These adjectives that you chose to write inside of your box are what you can understand without a second thought. However, the adjectives outside of your box you have little or no connection to, which makes them susceptible to being labeled as incomprehensible.
Imagine an opinionated arguer amongst you, a foreign setting surrounding you, a complex idea that grasps you, or a person in need beside you. Thinking outside of the box means that you are able to create more connections between the circles inside your box and the ones outside. It means trying to understand opposite views and arguments that you may not agree with. It means placing oneself in a new environment in order to gain an understanding for unfamiliar cultures and ideals. It means welcoming viewpoints that are hard to accept. It means connecting yourself to how a refugee may feel after being forced out of their home and separated from family. Thinking outside of the box, to me, means doing your best to create connections with others feelings, ideas, hopes, dreams, and reason while keeping your own in mind. It means taking on new perspectives.