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Emily Whitney

Highschool Student,

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How can young America make a difference?

With the role of children and teenagers set up into a consistent apprenticeship of watching and learning from the adults around them it's a lot harder to make a difference and for their ideas and voices to be heard. Personally, as a member of younger America, I have missed out on many wonderful opportunities due to the fact that I am 14. I must wait to mature before I can contribute ideas alongside adults and be taken completely seriously. I believe maturity does not come with age but with mind. I just wonder if there is a proper way for a "child" to pursue their dreams early without the, say, plus 20 years of experience, work, and university. Just a thought! Thank you so much for your time!

Topics: TED Young america change children freedom future teen work
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    David Hamilton 50+

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    Aug 21 2012: I would suggest something very strange to you... It's not that you aren't allowed to contribute and make a difference. It's that most of the adults whom surround you, have worked their entire life, to avoid working, contributing, and making a difference, so they don't actually understand what you want to do. They also apparently have you convinced, that a human being needs all sorts of skills and experience in order to accomplish something.

    Find something that is broken... and fix it. Plant a garden, or fruit trees. Find an abandoned piece of land outside of town, and use the fact that you're a cute kid, to get the person that owns it to let you farm there... You'll do more good than must people with all sorts of degrees and experience ever dream of. You know what people need? Food, water, and energy... You know how to make it? Of course you do, watch some ted videos, and start building things : )
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      Mitch Skiles

      • 0
      Aug 21 2012: This is very good insight that a lot of people don't want to admit exists

    • Emily Whitney

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      Aug 22 2012: Thank you very much David! My sister and I are in fact planting cherry trees around our neighborhood, so that's a start, right?

      Also going back to the first point made in the comment, I really think you hit the nail right on the head. Everyone I had approached in search of a job, or even asking to do volunteer work, had turned me down because of my age. I've found the key to getting around this is independent work, but being a member of young America makes it very hard to acquire investments or help. Anyway, you are spot on with the fact that people don't need a handful of skills to accomplish something. People need to be more trusting!

      Thank you again!

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