Create Choice, Create Change: Amanda Capstick
Amanda Capstick is a Youth Ambassador for the EY Foundation whilst she is studying at University. We met Amanda in 2018 when she was volunteering at the Northern Power Futures event, she is such an inspiration and we cannot wait to see what more she will achieve in the future!
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Can you give a summary of the change you have created and how?
I’ve created change through my involvement in many of my extra-curricular activity at my college. From leading my debate club to being student ambassador I have created change by expanding the horizons of my peers especially through the ways they can motivate themselves daily and how books are more important to their lives than they think. A result of this is an overall shift in their attitudes with many of my peers striving to achieve goals which they once thought as impossible.
Why did you want to create change?
When focusing on how I encouraged my peers to read more often I initially didn’t think about the impact I was going to make on them but more so how I could encourage the next generation of readers. With public libraries shutting down as well as bookstores I started to aim to make a small change as I feared the loss of places such a libraries and book stores which to me have always been a safe haven to escape the fast paced city life. So by encouraging reading I hoped that one day these places would still exist for someone else who wanted a bit of escapism in their life.
What change would you like to see?
I want to see a shift in the way people perceive books. I feel as if high school leaves a bitter taste in our mouths about books and does the opposite of inspiring students. Hopefully, through introducing my peers to fantastic books I can maybe help them discover a passion that they never realised they had and even motivate someone who may become a future leader or huge figure later on in life. Reading books has most definitely made me aware of other issues in the world such as the state of climate change, so I know hope to make other people aware and educated on these issues through the power of books.
What actions can we take to help create that change?
In terms of action I think the most effective way to do so is to be the change you want to see. One drop of water in a lake creates endless ripples. If you want the world to be more creative for example then showcase your creativeness so you can one day inspire someone to express their own creativity.
Any advice on how to create change
Be involved! But most importantly stay focused on that change...if you want your change to impact the world then you have to be so focused that when you’re not focused it feels as if you’re missing out.
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