TIME: The 100 Most Influential People in the World

TIME: The 100 Most Influential People in the World

These days, <TIME> magazine has selected the 100 most influential people in the world, and I want to highlight several celebrities via this blog.

First I want to highlight an NBA basketball player, you all know his name, Jeremy Lin, the “dreamers’ Most Valuable Player” according to TIME. His story now has become world-famous, “his story is a great lesson for kids everywhere because it debunks and defangs so many prejudices and stereotypes that unfairly hold children back.” Indeed, he has dispelled the idea that Asian-American guards somehow couldn’t hack it in the NBA—and that being a world-class athlete on the court is somehow at odds with being an excellent student off the court. He has proved not an overnight sensation. “In fact, he achieved success the old-fashioned way: he earned it.” He works hard and stays humble; he lives the right way; he plays the right way. “I don’t care whether you are an Asian-American kid, white, black or Hispanic,” said the author, “Jeremy’s story tells you that if you show grit, discipline and integrity, you too can get an opportunity to overcome the odds.”

Another celebrity, I believe you are all familiar with her name, Rihanna, was also worth a mention. Another famous person who nominated Rihanna described her ‘one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today’. To tell the truth, I am also one of her fanatical fans, I know she works very hard and she gives to her fans, friends and foundation not just herself but her energy and spirit. She is one of the few people in that world of fame and celebrity who aren’t all about themselves. She will give a real part of herself to an ordinary person she may meet, which is rare. “This is the beginning of Rihanna—she has so much more to do and to give. She is just getting going, so watch out. She is the Barbados ambassador for youth and culture, and she is coming to a town near you.”

The last person I want to introduce is the brain of one website, named Change.org that transforms the way people tell their stories and make change happen. His name is Ben Rattray. “There are a lot of petition websites, but Change.org is simple to use and supported by a team that provides media-messaging and engineering support.” Ben, 31, created a platform for people to voice their demands and requests. For example, this spring, Trayvon Martin’s mother wrote an amazing narrative on the site that got her son’s story out there, which helped build solidarity with her family and kept pressure on the police and attention on the case. That is momentous. Now Change.org is expanding into other countries, making its website available in different languages and finding solutions for people who live where the Internet might not be widely available or where protests are stopped by governments. That is compelling, as some people in certain countries might not have chances to voice their demands publicly, they may find an outlet to legally and effectively speak out.