Students and Young Professionals
Under 30
Essays by speakers who were high school students, college students, or young professionals at the time the essay was presented.
Adams, Julie, 1926-
Actor Julie Adams (also called Julia Adams) describes her decision to pursue acting, and describes the small inner voice that guides her through disappointments, criticism, failures, and success.
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Adler, Irene R.
Irene Adler, a student at Cornell University, discusses the importance of faith in her personal life and in society and explains why it gives her self-confidence to succeed and also why it enables people to work together in society.
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Bagnell, Francis James
Francis Bagnell, quarterback at the University of Pennsylvania, talks about his success in football and the importance of humility that has given him an optimism and openness to make friends with the many people he meets.
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Button, Dick, 1929-
Figure skater Dick Button describes how, during a skating exhibition in Prague in 1948, he was showered with oranges wrapped in messages from the Czech people, messages which underscored his belief in the importance of political freedom.
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Deutsch, Elizabeth
Austrian-born Elizabeth Deutsch, a 16-year-old student from Ohio, describes her youthful search for beliefs, which has brought her into contact with many churches and thinkers, and her conclusion that she would live her life the same way whether a Deity exists or not.
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Eristoff, Anne
Anne Eristoff, a student at Bryn Mawr College, does not believe the concept of Hell should be a motivating factor for good behavior but rather believes that incentive should come from wanting to be a part of the natural harmony of the world through goodness, truth, and beauty.
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Evans, Bob, 1924-
Bob Evans, African-American tackle for the University of Pennsylvania, explains his belief in the individual and the individual’s responsibility to oneself, to one’s community, and to one’s God, emphasizing the importance of equality, self respect and the Ten Commandments.
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Gopalakrishnan, R.
Indian-born Harvard Law student R.Gopalakrishnan describes his awareness, upon coming to America, that the beliefs and dreams of Americans are the same as those of the people of India and that the desire for peace, liberty, brotherhood and cooperation are not limited by national borders.
Merwin, Don, 1928-
Don Merwin, Assistant Producer on This I Believe, describes an incident in his life in which many members of his neighborhood gave blood after a terrible accident, and he explains how this event keeps him from despair and gives him confidence in the eventual triumph of peace and human kindness.
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Norton, Nicholas
Nicholas Norton, a student at Haverford College, describes his belief that beauty is the basic tenant which makes his life feel secure, that religion ought to lead to a feeling of beauty, and that he would be willing to fight and die to prevent oppression and preserve freedom.
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Phipps, Anne
Anne Phipps, a student at Bryn Mawr College, describes her ongoing transition from a belief simply in outward things (such as the beauty to be found in nature, art, dance, and literature) to a belief in her inner soul.
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Whiting, Margaret, 1924-2011
Margaret Whiting describes her belief in the value of human relationships, and recounts an experience in which she had the opportunity to cheer up a veteran who had lost his arms and legs.
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Winston, Helen, 1925-1972
Actor Helen Winston describes her experiences of trying to become an actress (i.e., working as a waitress in order to study people), and states her beliefs that there is a little bit of godliness in every person, that individuals have a basic impulse towards virtue, and that it is important to value the beauty and love available in the present moment.
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