As an eighteen-year-old member of today's generation, there are a few things that have been on my mind lately.

I recently graduated from high school, and with that diploma comes a million new responsibilities and duties that I've never had before. Soon enough, I'll have to start filing taxes, paying bills, handling my schedule without my parents... and going to the doctor's office by myself. I know, I'm sweating just thinking about it.

And with these brand new, exciting experiences coming my way, I'm realizing now that I have a voice and a say in this world. I have the power to change things just by my actions and awareness. I am able to challenge the status quo in an ever-growing society of complacency and comfort, and I can make decisions for myself. We can remember the constant reminders growing up to "be polite" and "keep your voice down." "Be quiet" and "you'll understand when you're older."

Well now... we're older.

I cannot tell you how many times I've heard people belittle the members of my generation lately, especially now that it's election time. And I understand this is true of any generation and its precedents, but I also understand that in an age of groundbreaking technological advancements and conveniency, it is so easy to underestimate the willpower and the drive that this generation is bringing to the table.

Yes, we are tech-savvy. We are Twitter users, YouTubers and Facebook-ers. We know how to take an incredible Instagram photo and throw together a brilliant six-second Vine... and we sure know how to use an iPhone.

But you know what else?

We are scientists, inventors, engineers and Nobel prize winners.

We are the generation of Malala Yousafzai, Zendaya and Rowan Blanchard.

We are the generation that is finally challenging the destructive mindset of "we've always done it this way."

And still we are dubbed as the lazy, the entitled and the ignorant.

We use Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and every other social media platform you can imagine to bring about changes and movements that are transforming this world as we know it.

We hold the power to potentially "rock the vote" and work together to move toward a brighter future for you, ourselves and those who come after us.

I'm tired of seeing my peers being ignored because of their 1990s birth year. I'm sick of watching so many bright minds being overlooked because they're just so "young." My friends' voices are being silenced because there are people in the generations above us that refuse to accept the fact that we are able to challenge the rules set before us and change the world as we know it.

I look at this generation and the never-before-seen feats that we've accomplished, and I cannot help but feel so much pride and anticipation for the years to come. I am so excited to watch my fellow young adults take this life by the reins and overcome the obstacles being set in front of them. I look forward to the day when all generations can stand together to say "enough is enough." I can't wait to hear the voice of my peers being heard, and being able to say we used it for good.

We are the army of the new age, and we are raising cain.

Ready or not, here we come.