Around the time that I was interviewing my potential replacement at my last job and applying to a certification course for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (a.k.a. in a holding pattern until I could jump off the cliff of my risky adventure) I visited the Museum of Fine Arts to see Art in Bloom.

The flowers were beautiful and the artwork was impressive as always, but both were overshadowed by a newly installed youth art exhibit called Signs and Symbols. For the project, artist and author Caleb Neelon brought art supplies to local after school programs and invited young people to create their own signs and messages. Some of the results were the expected young kid messages ("Who farted?" "Only feed us candy") but others were very surprising. Of course, I shouldn't have been surprised. If you want the truth about something, ask a kid. Many of the signs grabbed me and my friend as we looked at the wall for half an hour with other curious bystanders, but one caught me the most.

"If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make a change!"

I had a path toward teaching in mind when I saw this sign, but finding it again today (after earning my certification and beginning to teach) reminded me why I took this huge risk and the many changes I get to make in the world as a result.