Lately, I've been scrolling through social media and I see babies left and right. Quite a few of the people I went to high school with have had children. With the way the world is right now, many new parents are concerned with raising their children in the midst of violence, hatred and corruption. In a little over a decade, these babies will have voices of their own, and be able to change the world. I want to share some advice I wish I would've had as a child and some advice the next generation will need as they grow up.
Adults will try to silence your voice.
Yes, it's true, adults were once in your place, but they will forget what it was like. Even at 20, I find myself dismissing the voices of those only five years younger than me. I know it's not fair, and that I would've hated it when I was that age, but I chalk it up to my belief that they haven't had as much life experience as me. There's no getting around how your elders think, but stand firm in your beliefs and pursue your passions. No one is a better motivator for you than you. If you don't like the way something is, change it. The old saying holds true: the children of your generation are the world's next leaders, and it's never too early to make a difference.
Explore the world, explore your beliefs, and most importantly, explore yourself.
Don't believe something just because you're told to. You are a human with a brain; use it! Think for yourself and don't get lost in the spiderweb of the media. Find out both sides of the story before you form an opinion. Learn as much as you can about the world. Explore other cultures, religions and ways of thinking. Figure out for yourself what you like and who you want to be. Don't be afraid to do something just because your friends don't think it's cool. In a few years, your experiences will matter more than the people who judged you.
Choose love over hate.
There's no question that the world has too much hate in it. The worst thing you can do is contribute to the hatred. Learn to see people as people, not as a skin color, a gender or a religion. This goes hand in hand with learning about the world. When you learn about other cultures, you learn to appreciate why people are the way they are. Don't discriminate. Be open to the views and opinions of others. Agree to disagree.
Don't take your life for granted.
It's the oldest saying in the book, but there's no doubting it's true. Value the life you live. Be thankful you have parents, a roof over your head, and the ability to get an education. Education is the path to progress. Pay attention in school and learn from your teachers and your peers. Use the lessons you learn to improve your life as well as the lives of others.
The world will only become a better place if we make it better. Everyone has the opportunity to change how things are, so don't wait. Gain as much knowledge as you can and always try to achieve more and more. Don't lose hope just because someone shuts down your idea. Things can and will get better, but it's up to us to make that change.
