You Were Born To Change The World

Author: Hannah Henry
Work Readiness
Published: Tuesday, 23 Jan 2018

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Being given a purpose in this world is what we are all searching for. Luckily for Malachi Kern, destiny came in the form of a JA volunteer teaching in his third-grade classroom when he was a child in Chicago. The volunteer told Kern during his time teaching the class, "You were born to change the world". This quote resonated with Kern, especially since, at the time, he was struggling to find his way. Unsure of what the future held for him and overcoming pressures from others to be involved in gang activities in his community, he needed someone to encourage and guide him to reach his full potential.

It wasn't until he was a junior in high school that fate brought his third-grade mentor to him again--on a metro bus. It was there that Kern recognized the man that changed him as a child and they began to catch up. The JA volunteer ended up introducing him to a school competition for the title of "Mr. Business." It was with this opportunity that Kern's life changed forever.

Kern won the title of Mr. Business, as well as the full-ride scholarship that came with it. Through destiny, he met a JA volunteer that changed his life and by fate he met him again when he needed guidance the most. Today, Kern is "paying it forward" by being a JA volunteer in his adopted home of Kansas City.

At Junior Achievement we believe that every volunteer opportunity has the chance of changing at least one life. Help a student find their purpose today.

Click to find a life-changing opportunity nearest you!