Global Dialogues

“I can’t do anything.” That sentence slips into so many minds when the world feels like it’s spinning out of control; the belief that change can only come from someone more powerful, older, or more “qualified.” And while sometimes that’s true, most of the time it isn’t. Studying at Georgetown University in Qatar has taught me that anyone can make an impact. It doesn’t have to be through a massive protest or a global campaign from the very beginning. Sometimes it begins in small, quiet ways as simple as a conversation.

I’ve witnessed how simply sharing ideas with someone can shift their perspective. One person speaks, another responds, and maybe—just maybe—a spark goes off, a moment of realization hits, a thought shifts, or a new path of thinking begins to form. The results aren’t instant or obvious, but conversations can plant seeds. And when people feel safe to exchange ideas without judgment or the pressure to “win” a debate, those seeds can grow into actions. To start taking action, you need confidence—and that’s what so many people lack today. It’s not because they don’t care; it’s because they’re exhausted. People are drained from trying to survive, trying to imagine better futures while feeling crushed by crises, fear, and uncertainty.

Confidence further becomes unstoppable when paired with unity. One ambitious determined voice is powerful, but many voices aligned around a shared goal can move mountains. I’ve seen how unity can defy oppression—how just “being on the same page” saves time, energy, and sparks momentum. Watching from afar, I see this with the 2025 Nepalese Gen Z Protests. I don’t know much about Nepal’s politics, yet I’m so proud of those young people who chose to put their differences aside and stand together. They believed they could make a change, they united, they acted, and they saw results, even with costs and risks.

So maybe that’s where the biggest misunderstanding lies. When we say “I can’t do anything,” maybe the real problem is the I. Alone, none of us can move mountains, but together, encouraged by each other, we can. Confidence grows when it’s shared, and change becomes possible when it’s carried by many hands and not just one.

The truth is, everyone is waiting for everyone else to act. But if we’re all waiting, then who will move first? We keep asking, “When will they do something?” without realizing that we are “they.” Powerlessness ends when we stop waiting for someone else to be “the one,” and start choosing to lead—together.

Carmen Saleh (C'28) is a sophomore at Georgetown University Qatar.