EDITORIAL

Youth provide us with needed hope

Posted 9/15/21

It’s a common cliché to say that “only the youth can save us.” In some ways, such a statement is an oversimplification of the challenges that we face in everyday …

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EDITORIAL

Youth provide us with needed hope

Posted

It’s a common cliché to say that “only the youth can save us.” In some ways, such a statement is an oversimplification of the challenges that we face in everyday life.

While they will be the most affected by problems such as global climate change, wealth inequality and the lack of forward thinking when it comes to our country’s faltering infrastructure, the youth of our world will not (and should not) be the ones responsible for trying to solve these problems now.

The youth have large problems of their own to deal with in the present day, some of which have been caused by forces out of their control but some of which also stem from their own interactions with the world they will one day inherit and run. Social media and an unhealthy proliferation of screen time dominating their attention and shortening their attention span provides a good example of that sort of issue. Young people must learn how to manage a rapidly digital world while not losing sight of the importance of things like getting outside into nature and engaging politically in their local communities.

But one service that the youth can always provide to the world – and to those of us whose youthful days are largely behind us – is to provide as an inspiration of hope, and an example of how hard work and determination is still a ticket to accomplishing incredible feats, regardless of the odds against them.

You can see it in many different ways, from the kids and young adults that populate our schools and universities to those venturing out into the professional world in a variety of industries. They are inventors, investors, out of the box thinkers and innovators. They see the world from a different perspective to those who have been in the world for a long time, which is crucial to our continuing growth as a society.

Even in something as seemingly inconsequential as sports, the young people of this world can provide a large dose of inspiration. Look to the NFL, where 23-year-old Mac Jones started for the New England Patriots and put on an encouragingly professional performance in his first game at the pro level after beating out established veteran, and former MVP, Cam Newton during the offseason.

Look to the U.S. Open in tennis, where an 18-year-old Emma Raducanu beat 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez to win a world title in just her second Grand Slam appearance. These are teenagers performing at the highest level in their field, and they’re excelling.

From the fields of innovative technologies, biotech labs and environmental sciences, to the football field and beyond, the young people of our newest generations provide hope that no matter what type of world we leave them, and whether or not they can ultimately save us, they will be game to rise to challenge and give it their best shot.

future, youth

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