An Ally's Promise

by Anthony J. D’Angelo

I believe

I believe success is the freedom to be yourself.

I believe nobody is wrong they are only different.

I believe your circumstances don’t define you,

rather they reveal you.

I believe without a sense of caring,

there can be no sense of community.

I believe our minds are like parachutes.

They only work if they are open.

I believe we only live life once,

but if we live it right, one time is all we’ll need.

I believe we must first get along with ourselves

before we can get along with others.

I will

I will seek to understand you.

I will label bottles, not people.

I will grow antennas not horns.

I will see the diversity of our commonality.

I will see the commonality of our diversity.

I will get to know who you are rather than what you are.

I will transcend political correctness

and strive for human righteousness.

I challenge you

I challenge you to honor who you are.

I challenge you to enjoy your life rather then endure it.

I challenge you to create the status quo rather than accept it.

I challenge you to live in your imagination

more than your memory.

I challenge you to live your life as a revolution

and not just a process of evolution.

I challenge you to ignore other people’s ignorance

so that you may discover your own wisdom.

I promise you

I promise to do my part.

I promise to stand beside you.

I promise to interrupt the world

when its thinking becomes ignorant.

I promise to believe in you,

even when you have lost faith in yourself.

I am here for you.

Source: Collegiate Empowerment, Inc, 2006.