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An event that changed my perspective
Upon my arrival from a holiday trip in a distant Philippine province, I had the opportunity to sit in my car for 5 hours and view the outside world. At first, my limited vision could only recognize the beautiful scenery and sky, an image rarely seen in the city I inhabited. However, a while after taking photos and settling into a comfortable position in my car, I slowly began to notice things that I had never seen before. Among the various scenes I had witnessed, the conditions of people’s houses and living standards were the uttermost shock to my mind. As people mention as slums, there wasn’t a single house with a proper roof, and everything looked like it would fall in a matter of time. Children were packed in small, unhygienic houses and the air was tough to breathe due to pollution from the frequent cars passing by. People were easing their sweat with paper fans, and electricity was nowhere to be found. Although this environment had shocked me the most, everyone seemed to have a normal life, unaware of the inhumane conditions they were living in. This made me wonder, would these people ever know the world that I live in? Most people born in slums are often not even registered as a citizen and do not have birth certificates, implying they cannot receive government facilitation, healthcare, or even voting rights. How did these people live? Was this a normal life? This also made me reconsider what a “normal life” was. Although it depends on perspective, for a long time, I believed what I saw were the standards. Yet, I realized I was wrong. Overall, this experience changed my perspective in viewing the world and made me acknowledge my life with gratitude. I now know that a majority of people do not have the same opportunities or resources that I do, and that it is important to feel grateful about my life.
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