Have you ever told anyone or have been told the following expression?
You are too young to do that!
I have been told that, and I had also said that to others when I was the older person.
This expression is, in my opinion, one of the worst things that anyone can say to another person. It’s almost as bad as bullying! — As a matter of fact, it is bullying.
Ok, now let’s be objective about this, of course, that there are some things that we can’t or shouldn’t do when we are, for lack of a better term, too young — driving, experimenting with drugs, drinking alcohol, traveling without our parents, and many others.
However, we are never too young or too old to dream and have ambition or to learn and express our opinion on matters we care deeply about, and this is the point I wish to articulate in this text. Young people are not too young to be the driving force of change.
As a matter of fact, in many instances, it has been young people who have led the charge on meaningful progress and change in our society. I wonder why that is? — What is it about young people that make them fearless and make them see growth and opportunity in places where many others don’t.
“Young people, when informed and empowered, when they realize that what they do truly makes a difference, can indeed change the world”
Jane Goodall
I have always been a person interested in learning and knowing about different subjects. Ever since I was a kid, I was thought of as a know it all. — I remember I would read these books called the World Almanac; in them, there was a ton of data and facts about every country globally, everything from geopolitical facts to current economics and projections on both economics and politics.
I liked being informed, not to rub it in the faces of others or to showcase superior knowledge but because I enjoyed knowing.
Today I still try and do my best to stay informed and to learn about as many things as I can continuously — I remain as curious as ever.
One thing I have discovered, though, is that often is the young people I come in contact with who teach me the most, and not because they know more than me, but because they have a fresh perspective. A perspective that is uncynical and unbias; they see things for what they are and based their perspective on how they feel it is to be correct. There are no agendas or predispositions.
“I see the energy of young people as a real force for positive change”
Rosa Parks
These words from Rosa (yes, I will refer to her on a first-name basis) resonate with me at a very high level, young people have a power inside of them that is capable of genuinely affecting change, and we need more of that in the world.
When I look back at history, it is always some young group of people behind moments when a positive change came about.
I recently watched two documentaries, one on the revolution in Ukraine and one in Egypt. Both of these happened in the past decade, and they were led by young people who sought change. I also think of how many young people have protested and sought a difference in the US to make their voices heard and futures brighter.
So what is this power that motivates young people to want to change the world?
The answer is quite simple — They are selfishly and righteously taking control of their future.
It is up to us to build the world we want to live in, which has been true forever. The young generations of every era have sought a change to make their world a better place.
So let’s listen to the voices of the young generations who are seeking change all over the world because we must listen and be open to change as we too once demanded change.
“My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards”
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
This message is in direct accordance with what I want to say to the young people of today.
You are never too young to dream and fight for the world you envision and deserve. Make your voices heard, and never give up when others say that you are too young or too inexperienced. But also remember that in the future you will have to reciprocate this to the young people that will follow.
If one thing is real, young people know what they want, and we should all pay attention to them. — They hold the hidden power.