It’s hard not to be cynical when you start to look at some of the things happening in the world around you. All one has to do is watch the news for a few minutes or scroll through Twitter and you will find something alarming and terrifying. You would think that the prejudice, crime, and inequality that was once rampant in past generations would have subsided. Unfortunately, today’s society is still just as full of outrageous politics, ungodly evil, and unbridled materialism.

1. Donald Trump is still a candidate for U.S. presidency.

I am very concerned he is still being considered a viable nominee. What's even more concerning is the fact that he is currently the GOP frontrunner.

2. Forty-four million people follow Kylie Jenner on Instagram.

If only the same amount of people were interested in things that really matter. For some, it seems that her lips and mirror selfies are very significant.

3. Terrorists continue to commit senseless acts of violence.

ISIS remains a large threat to the world and the destruction left in their wake is devastating. Why would anyone carry out these heinous crimes?

4. America is struggling with the issue of police brutality.

There have been countless stories of unarmed African-American men being shot at or killed by police in recent years. It's very grim to see a growing lack of trust between civilians and the very people that were sworn to protect them.

5. There have been 462 people killed in mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone.

What is wrong with the world? Many people think that more gun control and mental health efforts might help.

6. We have developed a crippling digital dependency.

How many hours of the day do you spend on your phone? We have become obsessed with social media and depend on the internet to curate our online persona.

7. There are 63 million girls between the age of 6 and 15 who are not in school.

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head for speaking out against the Taliban. But that didn't stop her from her efforts for educational reform. She hopes that, eventually, 12 years of quality education will be provided for all children worldwide. So many kids are not offered the same educational opportunities that are often taken for granted in the United States.

8. There’s still a gender wage gap.

9. Someone bought a pair of Jordan’s for $37,500.

There seems to be no limit on our compulsion to consume.

10. And people will die over these sneakers.

Why are Americans willing to kill each other over a pair of shoes?

11. Hunters illegally kill endangered and threatened species.

Thousands of animals are poached illegally each year; some vulnerable species are on the verge of being wiped off the face of the earth.

12. An entire airplane went missing along with 239 people who were on board.

You would think with the technology available today, events like this wouldn't be possible. This reason makes me very hesitant to travel and decreases my trust in all aspects of aviation.

There are tons of other reasons I have lost faith. The world just seems to keep spitting them out. However, occasionally I hear a good story that makes everything seem not so bad. Some people are fighting the good fight and making strides in a positive direction. Maybe things aren't as bleak as they seem.