Peace means people contributing their individual talents to a common good. When we bring our gifts together, there is a melodious result. Peace does not always mean similar people adjoining on an issue. As musicians in this orchestra of life, we have separate knowledge and experience. However, by not elevating ourselves over our peers, we allow room for a mutually-desired, magnificent, tune to be created.

Peace means sacrifice. In playing a lifesong of peace, we must lay aside desires for our individual voices to be the sole focus. We recognize the value of others’ contributions over our own. If we all refuse to play the accompanying parts, the “song” will be a headache-causing slew of aspiring soloists fighting to be heard. In choosing to step back and survey the orchestra, we can see that peace is established as we lay down our own desires for glory and accept the less-glorious harmonies that contribute to an overall symphony.

Peace is a path, a journey, and a way of life that makes the world a better place. Mahatma Gandhi once stated, “There is no path to peace. Peace is the path.” We must embark on that path in order to expel all negativity in the world. Consistently showing love and acceptance to everyone, regardless of race, religion, or sexuality, is the start to fixing world problems. Although many people say the only solution to modern-day issues, like ISIS, is violence, I believe using violence to defeat violence is like fighting fire with fire -- it makes it worse.

To establish tranquility, one must take the path of peace, a path full of love, understanding, and happiness, and make it a way of living. Based on my weeklong experience with peace in sophomore year, I believe walking the path of peace should not be for just a week, but rather for a lifetime. Maybe if everyone joins the lifelong path, journey, and lifestyle, Earth can finally be a better place.

As an average Muslim girl, I have experienced different kinds of discrimination throughout my 15 years of life. The judgement and assumptions people make about others, based on appearances or religion, derive from the world’s lack of peace. When we come to imagine peace, it seems to be a place close to nature with an environment of happiness. This has just remained a dream for people like me who are living life with insecurities. When the time comes that a man who has a 50 percent chance of winning the presidential elections, decides to kick all Muslims out of the country; this is where you know peace will remain a dream. Establishing harmony throughout the world will make it so every person, regardless of race, religion, or appearance, can feel secure and content in their own homes. There shouldn’t be a reason for a person to feel disrespected for being different; we are all human. Peace, to me, is acceptance.