Russell Ro
Angela Duckworth, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and CEO/ founder of the Character Lab, launched a “behavior change revolution” in which the world’s renowned social scientists gathered to converse and collectively create a behavior-change program focused on promoting health, education and personal finance. Issues were clearly outlined, ideas were exchanged and common initiatives were established by the team of erudites.
Duckworth emphasized that if it weren’t for the valuable feedback from the participating scientists, many important questions and ideas regarding their study design wouldn’t have existed to support this potentially world-changing initiative.
The process presented in Duckworth’s initiative is analogous to the student-led meetings of Sun Youth Forum. Since our room was labeled “Potpourri,” we found ourselves posed with many questions that touched on unique themes. As a member of the discussion, I took it upon myself to learn by listening and to educate by speaking. As a representative of my room, I carry the duty to convey the valuable ideas formed by our collective compromise.
First, the laws regarding gun ownership have never been so relevant today in this year’s forum. Our room posed a clear divide as two factions comprised of Second Amendment gatekeepers and anti-firearm zealots. The former utilized the fallacious argument that violence would inevitably occur whether firearms are outlawed or not, while the latter advocated for the immediate abolition for gun ownership based on Australia’s successful policy. Regardless of our differences, we came to a consensus that there is a lack of background checks and enforcement as volatile people have ease of access in acquiring lethal weapons. The U.S.’S recent shootings, most notably the Oct. 1 massacre, produced mass fatalities due to our lack of policy limits and enforcements on firearms, and if actions aren’t taken to deter needless gun acquisition, more innocent lives will be lost. We may not be able to change the minds of the ill-intended,