When Pigs Fly
BY JASMINE CINTRON
FEATURED IN VOL 7, ISSUE 1: JACKSON GROWN
“Follow your passion,” is such a frequently repeated bit of advice we get told by the world around us. As we grow older, however, society feels a bit more restricting and tends to contradict these words. They divide our aspirations into two categories: “Acceptable” and “When Pigs Fly.” No role was too small, but so many aspirations seemed too big to chase after.
One of the biggest challenges I have faced is knowing whether to give in to these societal views or not. I grew up in a household that encouraged me to think outside of the box and be a leader. Going into ninth grade, I was happy to know that I went to a high school that did the same. However, when it came time for me to lead a program or group project, I tended to be my worst enemy. I was constantly tearing myself down and telling myself, “Some people are born to lead, but that person is not me.” The “When Pigs Fly” mentality ate away at my goals. I applied the same mindset to bigger issues.
It is easy to get frustrated by living in a world that is constantly changing, for better or for worse. I so badly wanted to be in a position that allowed me to help fix these issues, but I tore myself down once again: “Someone will do it for me. It is not my place.”
It wasn’t until my junior year that I met a teacher who completely changed my views. For every opinion we expressed, she would swiftly remark, “Why do you feel that way? Justify your opinion.” I came to find out that she did this not because she wanted to intimidate us, but to teach us to believe in ourselves — to be more confident in our beliefs, no matter how outlandish they may seem, but to always be open to hearing other’s opinions as well. One day she told my class to sit down in a circle and said, “I know many of you understand the problems going on in our world today. The society we live in now was created by the ones who came before you. Do not depend on them to change the world for you. It is your job to create these changes. Yes, there will be old and young people to help you along the way, but ultimately, it is up to you.”
I’m not sure she was aware of how impactful those words were for me that day, but it was a turning point.
A few weeks later, I received an application for the Mayor’s Youth Council and got accepted. Walking into the conference room with all the other members who had been accepted, I did feel a bit intimidated. I was so used to going into every room with a friend or parent by my side, that I felt out of place. To overcome this feeling, I came into every meeting prepared with ideas and thoughts. Unlike before, I was ready to speak my mind and prove to these city officials that they made the right choice by selecting me. Months later, I was offered an internship at the Mayor’s office. Looking back on the past year, my mind is blown. I have met such incredible people that work for the city, local businesses, and so much more. Besides this, I have found myself in the process. The experience has grown from me working at City Hall to a lifelong mission. It is the same conviction that told Homer’s epics, painted Dali’s works, and shot Kubrick’s films: the aspiration to use one’s experience and voice to inspire others.
The advice I would give to any teenager aspiring to get involved in the community or any large position is the same as the advice I have received from the people around me. We all have the ability to change the world, no matter how minuscule or colossal the change may seem. Everyone plays a role in creating our society’s future. To accomplish this, we must remember that no one becomes a world-renowned writer or politician in a few days. Just like any teenager reading this right now, I still have a long way to go. There are so many more lessons I need to learn and hurdles I have to face until I am happy with where I am. To make a difference within the community, don’t be afraid to be a leader. Make meetings with the head of boards; chase after the club that has a small acceptance rate. If everything else fails, you can make peace with knowing that you gave it your all.
When someone tells you that your goals are too large, it is because they are scared of all that you can accomplish. If society says you will only accomplish your dreams when pigs fly, look them in the eye and say, “watch me,” and hit the ground running.
JASMINE CINTRON is a freshman Political Science major at Pace University and a 2021 graduate of Madison Academic High School. After being raised in the Puerto Rican country side, she moved to Jackson at 9 years old. She enjoys spending time working on projects at her school and in her community and hopes to one day pursue a career in politics.
CARI GRIFFITH is a gardener and a photographer with a lifelong affection for seed sowing and storytelling. She lives a very sweet life in midtown with her husband Rob and elderly rescue pup, Deaton, who doesn’t have any teeth and can’t hear a thing, but he’s really quite cute. She spends most of her time behind a computer or a camera, and her most treasured moments are eating dinner with her friends both near and far.
