Despite the stereotypes of youth being careless and disengaged, the youth in 麻豆社国产seem to be a bit different. They get involved with projects, they desire equality and equity, and they want to ensure that this planet is alive and well for themselves and future generations. Sure, they also probably care about skateboarding and Riverdale and who likes who, but they’ve also got some pretty big ideas.
Let’s face it, the past couple of years hasn’t brought about a lot of hope. We started with the COVID-19 pandemic then watched as the climate shifted gears seemingly overnight. There were the wildfires, then the heat dome and, now, the flooding.
Each event reverberated across the province, causing dismay and destruction along the way. To say there were some days that I preferred to stay in existential dread at home rather than go to work would be putting it lightly, as these feelings occurred more often than I care to admit.
The youth are just as much affected by these same feelings, yet they’ve continued as usual as possible, adjusting to their new reality as it often changes right beneath their feet. I would argue that they may have even adjusted more quickly and easily than the adults.
And though I’ve been having to ask youth about their feelings of what’s going on around them, and though it’s clear that they sometimes struggle to hold the weight of the world they’re inheriting, they have all been gracious and kind and thoughtful with their ideas and solutions.
Of course, it’s funny to reflect on their solutions because they’re all so seemingly simple on the surface — help, pitch in, be kind to each other and the planet, listen, put yourself in someone else’s shoes — yet they are sometimes things we adults can disregard amid the day-to-day grind. And, believe me, they all have other solutions that are much more intricate and complex, but I will let them shout those from the rooftops when they are ready.
But, truly, it is their simple solutions that actually inspire me, and that help me disregard any lingering existential dread. Not only are the youth all right, but they might actually be better off than the adults.
So I’d say it’s about time we do our best and follow at least one of their solutions: When the youth are speaking, then we ought to be listening.
