The Enlightenment
By Ahana Raghavan
Class 8 Student, USA
Foreword by Venkat
In this beautiful article by Ahana she contrasts the beauty of Switzerland with the searing issue of global warming of Earth. The power of the ‘Contrast’ is not only the ‘nut and bolt’ in her wonderful message but also of the parts where we are held in the framework of life. Without contrasts or differences which hit the eye (and the heart) one would never care to understand others’ needs, appreciate the value of what one has or become aware of the latent and unforeseen problems. While the beauty of Switzerland is comforting (and enticing), it has brought the discomforting reality to the eyes. It inspires for good action, more to protect the natural beauty around us than to create more Switzerlands around. Excellent and wonderful flow of thoughts from Ahana. Keep it up!
Experience the heavy jolt of inspiration from the bubbling joy of Ahana’s words from the Swiss Alps!
Hi, my name is Ahana Raghavan, a 13-year-old from the United States. To put it simply, I am a stationery fanatic who loves to play the piano. I am also on the Science Olympiad team, on a robotics team, and on the local debate team. In my spare time, I am also a Sochcaster who loves to create content on websites and volunteer in my local community. Writing is a hobby that brings me pure joy, and I hope readers find ecstasy when reading my articles.
The Enlightenment
Natural beauty at its finest. A world beyond our own imagination. Pastures extend past the horizon. A glowing yellow sun with orange, pink, blue, and even purple hues painted across the sky. That is Switzerland in a nutshell. When one dares to attempt to describe the picturesque scenery with words, its beauty is simply understated. Being one of the finest trips I have taken, I will never forget the memories attached to the gorgeous country. But the Swiss Alps are a different tale altogether. Its steep and sloping sides as well as its dominance in the sky are a mental photograph no one can forget. I know I can’t. But there is something much deeper than the vivid details of this eye-opening trip.
Staying in Switzerland made me realize something. We have an important responsibility to not only ourselves, but to our planet. Battling global warming. Why did Switzerland remind me of the devastating consequences of climate change? Simply put, Switzerland didn’t seem to be facing any such problems. It was almost as if the term “rising global temperature” was non-existent. It seemed like climate change could not penetrate through a semblance of a “bubble”. However, in several countries around the globe, climate change’s harsh effects are being witnessed by the day. The World Health Organization finds that 4.2 million people die of outdoor air pollution each year around the globe. These losses are devastating to hear about, and having gone through the COVID pandemic, it is almost as if we are insensitive to hearing these large numbers (we hear them on the daily).
Switzerland was almost symbolic of an escape, a hideout, from the imminent impacts of climate change. The ability to make a run for it and flee from the problems at hand (daily stresses, like work, family struggles, etc., and also worldly issues like climate change). We need to ensure that we do not need a hideout. We should not need a Switzerland to “get away” and run away from our problems. Our world should be as pristine as Switzerland, free of pollutants, and safe for all of us.
Well, how did we go from a place like Switzerland to a devastating matter like global warming? Escaping reality was quite like how staying in the country felt. But we shouldn’t have anything to escape from. Thank you for taking the time to read this inspiring personal experience of mine. Well, that’s all folks. As they say, all good things must come to an end, much like the journey-of-a-lifetime.
By Ahana Raghavan
Class 8 Student, USA