Upper School Students Celebrate International Day of Peace

In celebration of the International Day of Peace—a day observed around the world each year on September 21 as a way for all humanity to commit to peace above all differences—Upper School students heard from Rosa Emilia Salamanca Gonzalez, a finalist for the 2020 Women Building Peace Award on Tuesday during Community Time. Gonzalez shared how her experiences of growing up in Columbia and working as an anthropologist among indigenous people influenced her life's work fighting for peace.

 

"Being an individual is important, but being a community is more important," Gonzalez shared, explaining that relationship and the dynamic of individualities working together with the goal of peace is the best way to bring about a change of culture, non-discrimination, and equal distribution of wealth, education, and work. Gonzalez stressed to students that peace is a way of behavior and encouraged them to embrace creative discussions and debate in their communities and homes. 

 

At the end of the presentation, students were encouraged to ask questions of Gonzalez. When asked "what advice would you give to someone starting a career like yours?" Gonzalez answered, "Look to your heart—can you go through life without seeking justice?"