On June 12,1942,Anne Frank’s parents gave her a small diary for her 13th birthday.She and her family had been living in Amsterdam for nine years after fleeing their native country in 1933.They could not escape the influence of the war sweeping across Europe.

On July 6,1942,her family was forced to go into hiding.For the next two years,Anne put down her innermost thoughts and feelings to her diary.Her reports of daily life painted a picture of a bright girl.She described her love of writing and her desire to make a career of it one day,saying,“I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people,even those I’ve never met.I want to go on living even after my death.”

She got her wish far too soon.Her diary came to an abrupt end in August of 1944,when she and others hiding in the“Secret Annex”were discovered,arrested,and sent to prison.Tragically,Anne,her sister and her mother,all died there.

Her father,Otto,the only survivor among those who hid in Annex,returned to Amsterdam after the war.He was deeply moved by his daughter’descriptions of life in Annex and her feelings about her family and other residents.He devoted the rest of his life to sharing her story with the world so that the same tragedy that happened to his family might never be repeated.Through her courage,her hope,and her unshakable faith in the goodness of people,her short life left a long legacy(遗产),touching and inspiring generation after generation of people she never met.

I would never forget visiting the Anne Frank House when I was just 23 and thought that I had already been alive eight years longer than she had been.Like millions of people moved by Anne Frank’s story,I have tried my best since then to live my life.We all would do well to remember the wisdom of a young girl who taught us that our differences make life more interesting,but our common men matter more.

If I could give today's young people three wishes, they would be: More hugs. More time outside in nature. More belief in their own power to change the world. While most people understand the importance of the first two wishes, the third one leaves some folks wondering why young people's belief in their own power is so essential.

Let's start with the idea that all of us-especially young people-need heroes. We need them to be our guides on the difficult trail(足迹)we call life and to show us just how far we can go. And we need heroes today more than ever. Our modern society is terribly confused about the difference between a celebrity and a hero. And the difference: is vital. A celebrity is all about fame(名望)-temporary, superficial fame, usually for qualities that are easy to see: a pretty face, a great dance move. A hero，by contrast, is about character-qualities under the surface that aren't visible until they take action.

Heroes are all around us. They truly hold our world together, through their unselfish devotion to helping others, teaching children, and protecting the environment. They don't want fame, or glory; they just want to help. In so many ways, these unsung heroes pilot the boat in which all of us sail.

Yet, young people hear a lot more about celebrities than about heroes in the media. The hidden message they get from all this is that their self-worth comes from what they buy-which shoes, which cell phone--not who they are down inside. What gets lost in this? Young people's sense of their own potential for heroic qualities--their own power to make a positive difference in the world. Truth is, there is a potential hero, a future difference maker, in every young person. Each of them, from whatever background, is a positive force who can do something. All it takes for that to be true is belief.

How do we help young people believe in their own power? The best way is simply to share examples, of other young people who have made a difference.

Ryan, age 11, has worked tirelessly to raise money to provide clean drinking water to African villages. When he first heard about the plight(困苦)of African children who died from impure water, Ryan was only six years old. In the next five years, he raised over $500,000-enough to build over 70 water wells.

Barbara, age 17, grew up on a farm in Texas. When she realized that local farmers were pouring their used motor oil into rivers, causing pollution, she organized the creation of a recycling center for crude(未加提炼的)oil. Her project has grown to include 18 recycling centers in Texas.

The list could continue.These are but a few examples of young people who have discovered that they can build on their own energy to do something great.