Like most people when I get up in the morning I make myself breakfast, sit down on my couch and turn on the news until it's time to leave. Lately though I have been finding myself skimming past the news channels in search of something lighter to fill my down time. It seems as though every time I turn the news on there is a breaking story about some sort of violence occurring in the world. I want to be up to date on world news just as much as the next girl but excuse me for not wanting my morning to be filled with the latest murder or riot that's taking place.

I realize this makes me sound like an ignorant college kid. Let me explain. I care about the world that I live in. I care that our nation is hurting so badly that people feel the need to riot and protest like they are. I truly do wish that the words, "murder and assault," weren't a part of our every day vocabulary. Yet I have to stop and think has anyone else ever thought about the fact that the media is most people's prime source of information? They have the power and means to put whatever topics they want us to talk about into our heads. They know we want to be informed so they are going to tell us what we need to be informed about. The media heavily focuses on violence in the country. Rarely do we ever talk about accomplishments that have taken place.

Think about how many times you have turned on the television and the first story prompted the news anchor to say something along the lines of, "another sad story coming out of this particular state," or "breaking news, around midnight another murder occurred on the 7800 block of some road." Hardly ever do they start off the news with a story about the good things that do happen in our world. If they mention something in a positive light at all during the segment it's usually a short piece on whatever viral Facebook or Instagram video is trending at the moment or it's about the political party candidate that the network is associated with. If we are lucky we even get a five minute piece of Prince William and Princess Kate. I like to admire celebrities too but there are more important things that need to be discussed.

I would love to see the media focus on things like new found medical treatments and the contributions those discoveries will make to thousands who suffer or talk about different things people are doing in the world to make a difference. Did you know that in 2014 scientists found cells that may lead to curing diabetes? No? Me neither. Or how about they talk a little more about environmental achievements? The EPA has more readily been able to regulate environmental standards in the last decade than ever before. We don't hear about these things because the media thinks they won't bring in the viewers. I say we need to educate ourselves for the better.

Mostly I want young people to be able to sit down in the morning, watch the news and their minds be stimulated in a positive way. We are sending vulnerable minds out into the world first thing in the morning with these thoughts about the violence that plagues our nation. Imagine how today's youth may handle situations if they see these situations handled in a positive light. I'm not saying this is the end all be all to fixing violence but if our world weren't so focused on portraying violence then maybe we wouldn't have so many people trying to get into the limelight.