This I Believe

High school student Amelia Baxter-Stoltzfus believes in the freedom offered by semi-permanent hair dye. As much as she likes trying a new look, Baxter-Stolzfus knows there are some things worth coming back to, no matter how much her life may change.

Chris Huntington had great hopes of becoming a father someday, but infertility caused him and his wife to rethink how they would make a family together. By embracing adoption, Huntington learned that being a loving parent is about more than biology.

To be true to herself, Nora Lupi believes she must speak up – especially about politics. She developed her opinions during dinner table debates with her parents. Now in college, Lupi is eager to join the dialogue about the future of our country.

When times were tough in Amanda Joseph-Anderson’s home growing up, her mother would pull out her favorite records to play on the stereo. Dancing together, daughter and mother built a bond of happiness that tempered the harsh realities of their lives.

When he was 48 years old, Bob Barret made the difficult choice to tell his family that he is gay. He feared the ramifications of his announcement but ultimately found that the decision to be honest about himself led to opportunities he never imagined.

High school senior Maria Zapetis has a comfortable life, but an experience at summer camp made her realize that many people around the world aren’t as fortunate. Now Zapetis believes it’s time she started doing what she can to fight hunger and poverty.

As the “Father of the Internet,” Vint Cerf has made his career in high-speed electronic communications. But Cerf still values face-to-face interactions. By engaging in civil conversations with those he meets, Cerf finds he can learn new things every day.

Chemist John Warner is proud of the new compounds he’s helped to synthesize. But after his son died from liver failure, Warner began to wonder why he was creating those chemicals at all. Now he believes in challenging the old assumptions of science.

T. Susan Chang once embraced the computer age: she even met her husband and bought a house on the Internet. Yet despite the benefits of her high-tech existence, Chang eventually found herself drawn to the tangible simplicity of an analog lifestyle.

Becoming a stepparent can be a challenge given the sometimes-confusing lines of responsibility and authority. Despite the occasional awkward moments though, Tina Bosha is looking forward to being a stepmother to two daughters for the rest for her life.

Lisa Sandin knows her body isn’t the model of physical beauty our society prefers. But instead of allowing herself to be defined by a birth defect, Sandin believes her brain and soul as well as her words and actions determine the person she truly is.

The “Guinness World Records” book fascinated Juliet Frerking when she was a child. But beyond the unusual accomplishments it listed, the book inspired Frerking to attempt things in her own life that she otherwise might have thought impossible.

Shaken by his brother’s death, Jeffrey Hollender vowed to reconnect with the things he valued. Now, the entrepreneur believes being present in both thought and action isn’t easy but it’s the best way for him to live his life, and to honor his brother.

When she was young, Mary Curran Hackett's father gave her and her siblings frequent speeches about the importance of perseverance. What surprised her as an adult was how much he lived his "never give up" message toward her when she needed him the most.

As a college student, Sarah Culp Searles found her life in turmoil one day. Upon returning home, her family cat taught her a life lesson she still holds dear: that real love is steadfast and unconditional.