“Moral leadership provides a vision for the betterment of the future. Ours is a vision that lives for the greater good, with a higher purpose.” -Takae Goto
Global Peace Youth-US features extraordinary young people from across the nation who take ownership of the challenges facing their communities through moral and innovative leadership. Takae Goto is a freshman at the University of Washington in Seattle that exemplifies just that.
As a full time student studying Psychology and Photomedia, Takae still finds time to engage her peers on campus and abroad. An officer for Global Peace Youth UW, Takae is passionate about being a part of a campus movement that uplifts the role of moral and innovative leadership in today’s society. “Humanity needs to continue cooperating together to solve issues around the world, including ethnic, racial, and ideological conflicts,” Takae explained, “Moral leadership provides a vision for the betterment of the future. Ours is a vision that lives for the greater good, with a higher purpose. Innovative leadership inspires creative methods and goals in realizing that vision.”
Takae compared this vision to that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who had a vision for civil rights rooted in the American dream. “He was not just a Baptist minister, but acted based on his beliefs.” Takae continued emphasizing the role of moral and innovative leadership, “Without the two components of leadership, it would be difficult to be an effective leader that motivates and inspires others, especially those who are different from you.”
“I felt responsible to reawaken people’s mentality that everyone is our extended family members.”
Participants walk across ’38th parallel’ to support One Dream One Korea campaign.
Last summer, Takae took this vision abroad to South Korea, where she participated in the One Dream One Korea campaign. Takae shared her experience in her own words:
“I participated in an international program that offers middle and high school students education and experience to change the standard of their life to become moral and innovative leaders. During this program, we held a One Dream One Korea campaign where dozens of us shared our dream for a reunified Korea at a popular tourist location in Insadong. While promoting Korean reunification, I realized I had to own this dream. From meeting and feeling the heart of the North Korean defectors and fundraising for the North Korean children before the event, I felt responsible to reawaken people’s mentality that everyone is our extended family members. Creative ways to communicate to the local residents and foreigners were implemented on the campaign day. I went out dressed in hanbok, cheering for foreigners and local residents that crossed the ’38th parallel line’ that our team made the day before. It was a small action they took for Korean reunification, however, those who participated were encouraged to think about their unknown brothers and sisters they may meet in the future. Within this short two week program, I gained realizations to help my global family and now planning to establish Global Peace Youth at UW so college students my age can have a selfless and public mindset in their life.”
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