Years ago, for the final in my class, we listened to a talk by Bryan Stevenson, the civil rights lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. It is a brilliant talk by a singular human being. He ended with the quote below.

“ … I believe that many of you understand that the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. We cannot be fully evolved human beings until we care about human rights and basic dignity. That all of our survival is tied to the survival of everyone. Our visions of technology, design, entertainment and creativity must be married to visions of humanity, compassion and justice. And more than anything, for those of you who share that, I’ve simply come to tell you to keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.”

We listened and talked and then I asked the students what their prize was, and if it was hard to hold onto. I treasure these precious insights as they offer sage advice in particularly difficult times. 

Chloe Gonzales wrote: “I am 18. I haven’t experienced myself, this body and this life enough to thoroughly understand such an existential question. However, for me and from experiences with death, loss and love, I have found that love and the process of finding love have always been the prize; my optimal theory for playing this game of life, something I find is ‘worth the gamble.’”

“Romantic and platonic love are what make most of our purpose in life: love for our family, partners, passions and surroundings,” Gonzalez continued. “The process of falling in and out of love with these things will shake our bones and rewrite our way of thinking. But the prize is how love allows us to highlight how life becomes less about the good or bad experiences, and more about the people you have to share love with..”

Yevgeny Yevtushenko wrote: “World evil has quick legs, but the legs of goodness are tired. In a world where humans stupidly fight to kill millions, cranes fly together in harmony and look for better choices.” 

Finn Leahy wrote: “The prize is mercy. My ability to remove all barriers between me and my fellow humans. Understand them in their most human, and therefore flawed, souls. And, to be merciful is to recognize that you too, as a human, are flawed. We are all flawed and we must not leap to condemn those who are just like us. ‘He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.’ 

Imagine two young Russian soldiers from the same village, bunked together fearfully in a cold tent somewhere in the mountains of Chechnya,” Leahy went on. “One of the soldiers leaves the tent, not going far — just to the first little bush. The second soldier wakes up and looks for his friend. He stands in horror, seeing near his boots the bloody head of his childhood friend, cut off by a Chechen dagger. Outraged, he shoots two uncertain figures that suddenly sway before him, speaking Chechen in the milky fog. Immediately he is seized by a Russian patrol, for he has blindly killed two peaceful peasants.” 

“Similarly, the United States decided to invade Iraq. Frantically looking for a scapegoat for 9/11, the United States chose to harm those who were completely unaffiliated with the attacks,” explained Leahy. “The prize is mercy!” 

Dario Osorio wrote: “My prize is a version of the United States where Justice is equal for all. I am not rich, nor am I white. Though, I have been given opportunities that many people like me typically do not receive. No matter how much I accomplish, the color of my skin will never change. Thus, I would like to grow old in a world where people see me for who I am not what I look like.” 

“We must face the fact we are equal in our humanity (Adler). We must understand that power does not exist in the presence of violence’ (Arendt) and accept that we can’t be human until we care about rights and dignity (Stevenson). Only then, will true justice follow,” wrote Osorio.

“I will proudly wave my flag and serve my country if they need me. However, I will do my very best to make sure I live in the America that my parents dreamed about when they came here from El Salvador. I will not let the color of my skin prevent me from becoming who I want to be. We  are all playing a giant game of poker, we must force those in power to fold, and, lucky for you, I am holding a Royal Flush,” concluded Osorio. 

Kate Oldham wrote: “I now feel like I can tell someone why the stars in Cataract Canyon still so vividly shine in my mind’s eye and why they move me to be diligent in feeding my soul with wilderness and protecting it. I know why I care about formulating my land ethic, which includes the earth as a living thing … ownership is an antiquated relationship.”

Being a teacher has meant that for almost 50 years, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with people who speak with profound clarity and honesty, who more consistently than most of us manifest the “better angels of our nature.”  As Thanksgiving approaches — with all its historical complexities — I want to thank these students for giving me hope, who not only understand the concepts that Bryan Stevenson speaks about but can point to their prize and hold on, beautifully, for however long it takes.