No matter what happens, don't stop.
Don't stop talking.
Don't sit down.
I know that it's hard right now. I know there have been times when you wanted to quit. There are likely many more difficult times on the horizon.
There will be many people telling you that you will not make a difference.
You may have encountered some of these people already. They have probably told you, or will tell you in the days to come, that you don't have what it takes to create change. They think that our generation doesn't have the power to be influential. They think that the way we communicate our feelings is not enough to make anyone care.
Don’t let anyone tell you that the things you do, don’t count for something. Don’t ever let anyone make you believe that your actions don’t matter. Everything you do, matters.
Never doubt that the even little things you do are courageous.
It takes a lot of courage to go out and march for a cause. It takes a lot of courage to assemble and shout and take up space in public in order to force people to hear you.
It also takes a lot of courage to go to class, or work, or out in public anywhere wearing a t-shirt that states what you feel right on your chest.
It also takes a lot of courage to put together your feelings into words and post them where everyone you know can, and most likely will, read them.
It takes a lot of courage to make art and music that expresses how you feel.
It takes a lot of courage to simply start a conversation about controversial subjects.
It takes a lot of courage to do anything that other people may not agree with.
Don’t let anyone tell you that your actions are not courageous.
If anyone dares to tell you that the things you do don’t matter, it should only ensure you that they definitely do. If anyone ever tells you to be quiet, it means that they must have heard you. They wouldn’t have discouraged your expression if they didn’t notice it in the first place. They wouldn’t have said anything, if you didn’t shake them.
I know that it’s hard. I know that you may have school, or a job, or other things that you just can’t take time away from in order to protest. I know that you have a life that you want to live.
You should continue to live that life.
It is not cowardly to want to continue your life. If the things that are happening in your world frighten you, enrage you, or frustrate you, and you have continued to learn, and live, and thrive… You are protesting in a way already. You could quit everything out of fear, hide in your room, ignore what is happening, or just become complacent. But you have not done that yet, and will not do that even as it gets more difficult to go on. That is pretty brave of you.
So keep talking. Keep sharing. Keep posting. Keep creating art and music. Keep writing.
Keep doing all the little things you can. Do everything that you can and stay educated. Never stop seeking new information. Share the things that you learn with others. Keep reminding others that you are there for them.
And if it feels like you want to do more, figure out what you can do. If you feel powerless now, seek an outlet that will make you feel powerful. Figure out who really needs to hear what you are feeling. Write letters, send emails, make phone calls. Start a conversation with someone that has different ideas than you. Ask them out for coffee. Explain to them why you feel the way you do. Learn why they feel differently. Talk to other people that may be feeling powerless, and assure them that they are not alone.
I hope that if this letter does nothing else, it at least will assure you that you are not alone. Whatever you are feeling right now, know that someone else shares that feeling. Know that there is someone out there that believes in you. There is someone that is proud of you for believing in something. There is someone that admires you for holding strong to those feelings, and for questioning the world you live in, and for saying what you think. There is someone that wants and needs for you to keep doing what you are doing.
You matter.
Please. Don’t stop.
