Students at United Nations International School (UNIS) in New York City have a unique perspective through which they view the world: they are Global Citizens. The profile of a student at UNIS speaks to their connection with the United Nations: the students represent more than 100 nationalities; many of the children speak two-to-three languages; have lived in multiple countries- often before they are ten years old; and experience learning that is framed through the values of peace, equality, human rights, and sustainability. As the mission statement says, they are being groomed to be an active force in shaping a better world.
With such wide views and a focus on building a peaceful, compassionate, and sustainable world, the children considered what advice they might want to offer the President-elect of the United States of America. Here is what the students, ranging in age from kindergarten to grade 12, had to say.
Bulletin board display for middle school students to share their thoughts.
Dear President-elect of the United States of America,
When you take your place as our 45th president, you will be our next role model. We will look up to you to lead our country in a good direction, to help maintain peace, and to look after the citizens of our country. We know you have a big job in front of you, so we thought we could offer some advice, and to suggest some ideas that we would like you to embrace.
1. Be kind.
2. Build a bridge of peace, not a wall of war.
3. Respect others as much as you respect yourself.
4. Respect people’s differences and how unique they are.
5. Welcome people from all over because they make America great.
6. Keep the US in harmony by being friends and remembering the things that you share.
7. Make fair laws.
8. Keep the water clean from pollution.
9. Protect people from sickness and make sure they see a doctor.
10. Protect the homes of endangered animals.
11. Please work with people who may not share your same opinions and learn from them.
12. Kids all around the world are watching you. Please think before you say or do something that may affect them. Pretend they are right in front of you and think if you would still say what you wanted to? Think of your own children.
Students in grade 2 share their thoughts during a collective writing process
13. Please respect all faiths.
14. Use your power wisely.
15. Respect women.
16. I ask that you set a good example of a responsible, open minded accepting person to my generation and generations to come. Please show us that no matter our gender, sexuality, race, faith, body type or social class, we matter.
17. Be mindful of all the work our country and the world has done to reach marriage equality and please don’t send all of that effort to waste.
18. Work and talk with other world leaders.
19. Remember to use social media respectfully, whether you are announcing a new beneficial law or you're wishing your child a happy birthday. Don't use it to put people down.
20. Always be a good friend!
21. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all!
22. All people should have a house, good medicine, healthy food, and toys.
23. Be peaceful.
24. Help people do right.
25. Protect the world.
Middle school students sharing their ideas
26. Keep the world clean.
27. Work with Congress and consider ideas carefully. Carefully think out the laws that you will try to enact.
28. Respect the work of advocates and activists that came before you. Help us move forward as a country; not backward.
29. Keep the rights of the LGBTQ community as strong as they are now, or make them better.
30. Please work on gun control; make it harder for purchase a gun.
31. Accept people for how they choose to identify.
32. Acknowledge all the people of the USA and their different perspectives. Make humanitarian decisions that reflect the people and what is best for our country.
33. America is a country that was built by immigrants. Please continue to welcome them and respect their right to be here.
34. Please help to take care of our planet; join the discussion on Global Warming and make decisions based on the highest knowledge.
35. Think carefully about the impact of the decisions you make to America and the rest of the world.
36. Remember that one of the things that makes America so great is our diversity.
37. Be kind to people with disabilities.
38. Stop using plastic bags and bottles, please!
39. Our country is filled with many people who immigrated here or were born here; please treat every single one of those people equally.
40. Don’t start wars with any country.
41. Look at the world through others’ points of view.
42. Help take care of the endangered animals in the world.
43. Work with the UN to provide resources to developing countries so everyone has an opportunity to live happy lives.
44. Help all Americans to be happy together.
45. We all rely on you and you are a role model, you have the power to be an inspiration and make a positive influence on everything and everyone in America, please don’t take it lightly.
Now that you are president you are one of the most powerful people in the world. With this power, please help create a future worth living, where all people in our country have the opportunity to make it. Where my generation is not stricken with inequalities and a fractured climate. We need you to create a united country that can make decisions that better the US and foreign relations. Can you not leave our generation with war and hatred but leave us with passion and hope.
Thank you for considering our advice. We wish you all the best in your big endeavor.
Sincerely,
The Students of UNIS
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