In this moment of profound global transition—marked by political polarization, humanitarian crises, widening inequality, and a deep sense of social fragmentation—the need for unity and compassionate leadership has never been more urgent. Communities across the world are confronting hardship, uncertainty, and division, yet they are also demonstrating extraordinary resilience and a renewed commitment to collective action.
At NEST4US, we believe that real change begins when individuals choose hope over fear and solidarity over silence. To speak to this pivotal moment, our COO, Esha Venkat, penned “superpower,” a poem that reflects both the weight of today’s challenges and the extraordinary potential that lies within every person to help transform their world. The piece captures the emotional landscape of this time: pain and disillusionment, yes, but also courage, empathy, and an unwavering conviction that communities can rise stronger when they rise together.
Esha’s message is clear: no one is powerless. Change is not reserved for those with influence or authority; it belongs to anyone willing to care deeply, act boldly, and stand alongside others in pursuit of a more just, compassionate future. “superpower” invites us to recognize the strength we hold individually and the immense impact we create collectively.
Below is the poem in full, which was also published in Kahani Magazine, a South Asian Literary Magazine for children:
with love, with light, with hope, the globe we could transform,
alone we can only do so much, however.
it takes all of us, i must inform,
it takes me and it takes, yes, you, all in it together.
you see,
these past years started off like any other,
kids, stuck learning, parents, stuck earning.
babies played in parks with the wind softly blowing,
as cars in numbers raced down roadways, glowing.
and then,
silence.
silence on the streets of the weary towns,
silence of those whose head wears the crown,
silence of our neighbors to those of beautiful skin so brown,
silence to those unloved and cast down.
you see,
abruptly, our world broke into shambles.
there was certainty in uncertainty,
faith turned into faithlessness.
there was hope in hopelessness,
justice turned into injustice.
you see,
surviving the rest of the year became a gamble.
there were hardships of all sorts,
people were dying of an enemy that discriminated and one that didn’t,
the news was full of worse and worse reports,
the homes we were confined to, tested our minds to the limit.
how could we move past this?
you see,
we could halt the hatred and curve the crisis,
if only we stepped out of the quiet.
we could subdue the storms and shake the skies,
if only we mustered the courage.
we could endure the night and see the sunrise,
If only we tried to.
we could unite the universe and rally our cries,
If only we dared.
but what do i know, right?
i’m just a kid, barely had my fair share of sights.
but what people don’t know,
is that you don’t have to be an adult or have a job,
have all the fame or the money or be a superhero.
you just need to care, a whole awful lot,
fuel the fire basking oh-so-patiently in your heart.
you just need to love, a whole awful lot,
to not be silent, to simply find a place to start.
that’s a superpower right there.
to make that choice,
to stand up and use your voice.
to make that choice,
to turn years of suffering and pain into purpose.
to make that choice,
to turn so much adversity and obstacle into opportunity.
to make that choice,
of love over hatred, peace over violence, helping over hurting.
to make that choice,
to stand up alongside your brothers and sisters to better the world.
to make that choice,
to turn dreams and wishful thinking into reality.
And look at how much we accomplished.
you see,
we halted the hatred and curved the crisis,
because we stepped out of the quiet.
we subdued the storms and shook the skies,
because we mustered the courage.
we endured the night and saw the sunrise,
because we tried to.
we united the universe and rallied our cries,
because we dared.
we found ourselves this year,
through all of the unclear and the fear.
we weren’t alone, because all of us were alone together,
we didn’t fail, because we grew in those moments we treasured,
we never broke, because with our power, we grew stronger than ever,
we didn’t lose, ‘cause we made this year OUR year to remember!
And Look
At
How
Much
We
Accomplished.
Together.
with love, with light, with hope, the globe we transformed,
all of us, together, me and, yes, you,
because the people who think they can change the world,
are often the ones that do…
—Esha Venkat, NEST4US Founder and COO, June 2021
