I, a 26 year old single mother, admire you.
I remember being a teenager. I remember being told that I didn’t know anything and that my opinions on serious issues didn’t matter because, well I was “just a kid” and “kids don’t know anything.” It was because of that attitude that I went out at an early age to educate myself. I read anything and everything I could. I didn’t want to be a “stupid kid”. I wanted to be a knowledgeable kid.
I know you’re told that what you say and do doesn’t matter. It does. Believe me, it does. Your generation is one of the most socially aware generations. You are connected to so many different types of people, ideas, and theories. You are blowing that “Oh well, they are young…” excuse that people use when they see kids saying or doing hateful things out of the water. It’s not a valid excuse anymore. You are living proof of that.
When you are 18 and finally legally vote you will be prepared. You will be armed with knowledge that many previous generations didn’t have or get easily. You are going to make huge changes in this world. Be proud of that.
I admit that when I first started this blog I was a bit weirded out by how many minors started following me. But, then I saw how smart, curious, and open to new ideas you all were. I fell for the “teenagers are all selfish and dumb” way of thinking that society has adopted. I apologize. People like ihatethismess and smashstatusquo have shown me how very capable young people are at grasping politics, sociological issues, and philosophy.
I admire you. I applaud you. Don’t let anyone dismiss your thoughts and actions because of your age. You may not know everything ( Neither do adults, duh. ), but that doesn’t mean you don’t know anything.
Keep learning. Keep thinking. Encourage the generation that is coming in after you to do the same. Break the cycle of ignorance. Destroy the idea that young people can’t or don’t want to learn about these issues. Hold your peers and friends responsible for their actions and words. Educate. Fight.
You’re going to accomplish great things.
