This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
How can today's youth get involved and help initiate change in the world?
I am sixteen years old. It is 7AM here in Seattle, and I have not slept all night because I have been watching all of these TED videos. This is one of the most invigorating and inspiring websites I have ever had the fortune of stumbling upon.
As a young citizen, I am constantly trying to determine what role I want to play in my community, my country, and ultimately the world. The trouble is that I don't really know myself. I don't really know what I'm passionate about. I go back and forth between an inspired, i-can-do-anything mentality and a state of complete and utter despair because I have no idea what to do with myself.
TED videos remind me of my desire to initiate change. They encourage me to find what it is that I'm passionate about and to commit myself to the cause, yet it seems like they give us youth very few resources to experiment, discover, and participate in a way that has any significant effects.
What I'm seeking isn't vague, unhelpful (though well-intentioned) encouragement saying, "Don't give up! You can do it!"-type things. What are some specific ways I can get involved? (Ex: Names of some nonprofit organizations I can volunteer/intern at?)
*Edit: I know that, ultimately, I have to find out for myself what I'm passionate about. Perhaps I should be asking for you to share some of your experiences in which you discovered your passion(s).
russell lester
Karina Eisner 10+
At a recent talk, TEDx speaker Brene Brown (also TED 2012 speaker) portrayed a critically ill profile of our current society, but she concluded that there was hope for a change. And it was not going to be in the form of a sweeping storm, it would take setting up small campfires of strength, innovation, good will, authenticity, and resilience.
I second Heather White below, light up your own small fire, surround yourself with people like you, and persevere.
Participate as much as possible, soon the one mission that will drive your life will become evident.
Start with one close by, take up your own.
You don't need to change the whole world right now, just start and let it change you a little too. It all needs time...
Gabriel Corvalan
I am seventeen years old, and I am in a very similar situation right now. I'm finishing highschool this year and I have to decide what I want to study at college. When I started to think what I want to do in my life I realized that I want to do something that makes the world better. So I looked for a career that can give me what I wanted. But then, I understood that there is not such career and waht's more, I didn't need something lke that. I think that I just need to learn more about people and I will do so being with people. So I decided to start doing things for other people, like helping younger students with maths, geography and hystory, for example. And I've learned a lot of things with them and I think they have learned too. So that's the piece of advice I can give you: Help other people with something you're good, and you will learn lots of things that will inspire you to do more and more other things that will make the world better.
I hope this helped a little.
Gabriel
Heather White 20+
If you have a family that talks to each other (!), raise local social, political or environmental issues with them and ask their opinion.
Join a debating society - it will help you identify different opinions, formulate your own point of view and communicate with confidence. A highly valuable life skill.
Visit your local library and ask to speak to the qualified librarian. Ask them for information about local or state trust funds that focus on youth aspirations. You will learn that Librarians know everything - it's like having your own PA for free - and, they're a real live person rather than a computer screen!
Learn how to cook ten nutritionally balanced meals, from scratch, and learn about portion sizes. Swap junk food for real food. Get to know your local farmer’s market. Grow your own veg and herbs in your garden or in pots inside.
Put something into action on a small, local scale…If there’s something your friends want provided in your community - formulate an action plan, gain wider support, and then petition your local council. This happened to me when a group of about 15 local kids and teens descended on my office to ask for a new skate park. It took a while (because of budgets) but we worked with them and they chose the equipment and design of the site.
Have fun and don’t stress about it…your opinions will change in time and with age and experience.
Dede Amanor
the desire to change your community, your nation and the world...is a legitimate desire which when rightly fed will lead to various and great accomplishments! but what i can advise is, first, let us lead ourselves, before we can create that change we want.
by leading ourselves, we are improving ourselves, being the best we can in our homes, schools, wherever we find ourselves and in whatever we find ourselves doing. follow hard after excellence in all you do.
and one very important factor, is not leaving the God-factor out! knowing and trusting God to lead us to accomplish His plan for our lives which is our innermost desires.
Grace, i hope this helped.
Edwin Nazarian 10+
As Mother Teresa said: "Not every one can do Great things, but every one can do little things with great love"
If I say, encourage your generation to stop watching MTV, I might sound a bit old-fashioned.
but where do we get the needed information to become inspired and act on our thoughts/ideas?
Start from there. Take your first step in faith.
I personally think, that we should better start from education.
Financial Education, Sex Education, Drug Education ... Things that makes our society sick and hungry.
School trains us to be good boys and girls, work hard and pay taxes... It makes us doing constantly the same things over and over again, but expect different results... Times changes but Education System stayed the same only adopted some technology to make the work easy.
Watch this, You might get the idea what I am talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-QS7Fo6FTk
bad sound, but I hope you will get the message
Amairani Benavides
I am sixteen, still fighting to figure out what I truly believe in, but I am still reminded at every time I am down, of my favorite Spanish song, probably from Mexico, 'Hay no que llorrar, por que la vida es un carnaval" and then it pretty much goes on to say, we have to go on life singing. I still sometimes face some weird things, and I know what I am passionate about, education for everyone and letting the truth out about mental illness.
Where I live, most of the time language and culture matters, but the one thing that is constantly hidden behind closed windows, and blank eyes is this, mental illness. People forget that everyone is different and at times we break down, and when you break down so bad you need to get help. Though when you do, there is a chance you might get ridiculed and treated differently for it, but I didn't care. I told all my friends I had a mental illness, and hoped that they would treat me the same.
I am a youth, but I am still learning, and hopefully, teens and kids can show that we can make an impact.
I am sixteen, looking at the impossible and hoping I can reach it, I have fun doing the things I do, friends and family matter to me, but still I am passionate about education and the truth behind mental illness.
So follow what you believe to be right and let that guide you.
Sincerly,
Amy
Ashutosh Sonawane
I am a 21 yr old boy, studying engineering. Even I want to do something of that sort, because personally I believe that we youth have the potential. For days I wondered about the right way. I am presently studying, so generally anyone elder around asks me to focus upon studies. I know that they are not wrong because that should be my first priority.
That's why for many days i kept waiting for the right time to come. I kept thinking that once I start earning and be off my studies then I would look towards such things. I expected then, to find some organisation to like some NGO. In effect I was just putting everything in terms of money. Like the only solution to this problem was the availability of money.
One fine day i realised that then I may have money but I will have more responsibilities too. Now, even if i don't have money I have an important resource that's time. So I just started looking around myself for things that need to be improved. Or the the things that are lacking presently. I am studying engineering, and we have different entrance exams to opt for courses of post graduation. This is the world of technology. i realised that there is one exam that doesn't have any sort resource for the students. In college we used to complain that we don't have proper guidance for this exam. The college doesn't support us. But what am I doing for it? nothing. So I thought of creating database of questions that can be used by my juniors to prepare for this exam. Its actually a tedious job since it requires feeding of lots of data. I then put up this idea in front of few friends who liked this idea but were reluctant. I convinced them for it. Now we have a small group that has started the work and are slowly moving in the right direction.
We intend to give this software to our college for free. This requires no monetary investment. Just our time which we were previously wasting. so i suggest look around you n u will find ur inspiration.
Prasad Shetty
Patrick McCarthy
Life ahead is unimaginable, amazing, unpredictable and also scary at times. It is your job to hold onto peace of mind and to know that what ever takes away your peace of mind is distracting you from the real path in life you are called to follow.
So relax, and don't take life too seriously, and the real life you are being called to know will simply unfold.
P.McCarthy
New Zealand
russell lester
I propose that a randomly selected jury of five TED members with at least 5 TED CREDITS for each week be
given a weeks postings by contributors under 18 years in age. These postings separated into 5 lists of links
would go one to each member of the jury.obviously this would be after the week had passed,
the time spent reviewing the huge number of posts would be limited to 5 days
On the sixth day this Jury would select there favorite contribution (one each) then each would rank the list of
contributions from 5 to 1 with 5 being the best. The results could be sent to two(2) volunteer members who have
50 or more TED Credits These volunteers would be placed in rotation each pair serving 6 weeks. They're votes
would finalize the results resolving ties and splits by the casting of there ranked votes. The winners idea would
be posted in a thread titled best of the week ,and along with the original post a message asking the contributor to
send an email with a question that they would like to ask if they could choose anyone who is on the TED site to
answer. The question and the members reply would be posted similarly,
An email and a snail mail paper copy of the reply would be sent as to the weeks winner. Bells and whistles
would be at the responding parties discretion, hand signed? a photo? whatever.
TED might choose to include some sort of standard package as well. Being new
here I don't know how TED as a corporate body chooses its course of action, but I know that somewhere
policies like the rules are worked out and its in that direction I hope this is kicked.
I am recalling the movie "October Sky" the young star was about
space flight and rockets and how meeting Werner Von Bran was his dream, and the ironic scene where he
meets but does not have a chance to recognize or ask him anything. I have a motto that might be apt for
encouraging young TED posters.
Never to old to learn, never to young to teach
Thanks
Russ Lester.
russell lester
"Never to old to learn, never to young to teach."
Kat Haber 500+
1. Immerse yourself in TED talks (1,000) & TEDx talks (10,000 so far) and find ways to bring solutions to teens attention. Watch them also with the sound off, to learn how they communicate effectively.
2. Link with changemaking youth orgs: Ashoka, enviro's, UN, Rotary, find the thing that matters to you. Find the best group that is doing something about it & offer to start a youth advisory council, if they do not already have one.
3. Master a form of expression that brings you joy & then use it to make the world more as you want it to be in the arena that you see could be changed.
4. Enter competitions which will give you greater access to experts, platforms to express yourself, & impact on policy makers.
5. Find your spiritual center. If you are going to step up to be a leader in a world of dramatic disruption, you will need to act from a deep sense of personal grounding.
6. Fill a need. Excellently. This will likely return to you resources which you then can invest in changing more of the world you see needs to be shifted. Learn through by being a social entrepreneur.
7. Practice daily compassion. Learn to listen to the other, as they will be the ones you will need to influence. Use your young voice wisely. Find big stages to speak up on. If you listen carefully, you will learn how compel others to see the world you imagine.
8. Laugh-a lot. When you are happy, others will follow. This magnetic attraction brings help. You will need lots of help if you are really going to change the world. Why not have fun while doing your daily deeds of difference making?
9. Honor your elders. Parents are your biggest advocates. Respect is your key to the kingdom. Find the elders who have dedicated their lives to whatever field you find fascinating.
10. OJT: on the job training. Organize your own TEDxYouth event. Find a team. Set a stage. Gather your tribe. Speak out. Video it. Post it. You are changing your world.
Welcome to being a changemaker, fellow TEDxer!
russell lester
Kat Haber 500+
Can you fill in the details for your idea, Russell?
Beverly Edberg
Use Ted to find people who are doing what you would like to do and find out how they did it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Curiousity is the greatest tool we have. Use websites like http://sixthousand.blogspot.com/ to find out more about someone who maybe is just like you. READ - the library is the best hidden resource that you can have. Spend Saturday there just looking - Read - read - read - Remember "Those who read - Lead." Try these on
* The Google Story
* The Art of the Start
* ReWork
* The Inmates are Running the Asylum
* Book Yourself Solid
* Four Steps to the Epiphany
* Made to Stick
* 22 Laws of Positioning
* 22 Laws of Branding
* Firms of Endearment
Good Luck
Mohammad Marohombsar
I am pleased to say that you are on the right track. Meeting people and getting to know what they're about will help you know what you are about.
I was about nineteen (19) when I started to feel my way to my callings. I can clearly remember. I started out admiring the things I liked. Then I met people who liked the same. Then we formed a group to protect and share the thing we liked. Then somehow it became more than about the things we liked.
They were there for me.
Then that must mean that I was there for them.
I am even more pleased to say that finding your passion can happen much earlier than when I did mine.
Also, if your not an atheist, I'd recommend you join a (good and true) religious org.
Religious orgs can also double as Teen Suicide Prevention orgs you know.
I turn twenty (20) in a few months. :D
Don't worry, we're all in this together.
Bernd Fesel 30+
Here is the engagement and participation which I have worked with in the last two years: streetart turning from a hobby to a national success and show. And still all the students are interested in having fun and doing what they want. if they start earning money or making people happy - or even both... take it as a greatful gift on top of finding yourself.
Now this sounds almost like phrases... ? I better stop now. I hope you enjoy the exampel / video: http://bit.ly/zxNebr
Zohaib Sadiq
Grace Chai
Zohaib Sadiq
My advice to you would be to, just carry on watching motivational videos on the internet, or buy some books which would make you think very deep. Also, i recommend watching a talk on TED, Richard St John, on success and others might be nick vujicic who is a very inspiring and motivational speaker.
i hope this helped.
Grace Chai
It's nice to hear from someone who's in the same boat as me! In general, as long as you keep up with your grades and continue taking classes and participating in activities that interest you, you should end up fine :) Work hard, play hard.
Thanks for the words of advice!
arabesquia arabesquia
Aaron Prince
Grace Chai
Viet Dung Pham 20+
Watch 1 video in the morning, think about idea behind it and come up with the result we got by the end of day.
Jon Miner
I think you can follow your own footsteps. How did you arrive at this mental and emotional state of heightened motivation? TED. Your goal is to use TED to motivate others in your community to become aware of TED.
So study TED and determine which areas are relevant to your personal situation. I was amazed by the story of a boy you built his own windmill. (William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind.) But building your own windmill is probably not relevant to a young woman in Bellevue, WA. is it? So what is relevant? What TED presentations would make a difference to your community? Find them and find a way to share them with others. Become a TED video librarian, a TED expert.
Is there an opportunity at your school to organize a club in which you can watch and discuss TED videos? Perhaps you have a social studies class with a teacher willing to allow extra credit presentations using TED.
This is something that you can do. You can determine what is relevant. You can organize a club in which you share what is relevant. You can make a real contribution to your peers and your community.
Maybe someday you can share your achievements as a TED promoter and advocate and become a speaker at a TED event yourself. "How TED made a difference for..."
Get yourself organized. Don't quit when ides don't just pop into your head very easily. Talk to others about what you want to do. Get help. Work hard. Make something wonderful happen.
Grace Chai
Jorge Andrés Delgado R 10+
It's not only about a movie and hippies, we have a lot of free available materials created in several languages from several members from all over the world, and we don't charge a peny for it. We donate it. :)
www.thezeitgeistmovement.com
manuel ruiz-echarri
Ousmane Camara
I believe that change has started to be the moment you started feeling that need to participate. As everyone has his own sensibility and hopes, the first step for me would be to go through a brainstorming and line up all the point that you find relevant in the life around you: what is disturbing you emotionally in your own life, in your neighborhood, in your society, in your country or around the world? Anything that might come to your mind will surely find its solution too.
You should continue your search patiently until your heart is touched by something that means a lot to you. Keep the search and at each step, you will see answers unveilling to you as magic. You'll be able to take certain actions and you might not feel the power to sort out or reach other situations. But you should always keep in mind that the most important is "DOING YOUR BEST".
A wise man said to his son: " Be a good and charitable person. If you have money power, use it to end pain around you and give hope; if you have no money, then use your hands and time to secure others; if you have no harm nor the required time, then give a compassionate smile as you go accross those who suffer; if that is not possible, then make a good wish that will help end their pain."
Grace Chai
paska rinda
Development technology changing a lot and its influenced youth generation, sometime technology can affect become positive way but sometime it can be negative way, so we should filtering which is good and bad things should we choose. I grateful know you like joined TEDX, Its great site i ever visited too, we can found postive aspect which is can change our point of view and see problem from every perspective its tool to changing opinion and transfer knowledge.
Probably you also can joined some club which is you have passion on it, just explore yourself because if oneday when we getting old we never regret spend our teenage on the positive way. I always support young generation to develop. As senior in university i always make coaching new students to develop their skilled i love to help them because its my duty to shared my knowledge with them.
Dont think how is hard it would be just take your action because you never know what would be happened on the next future, what was you do today will influenced with your next step..
best regards
Viet Dung Pham 20+
tris burns
i hope you dont mind an old git like me passing comment, I grew up as a punk rocker in the UK and the spirit of you can make a change, you're an individual, don't listen to authority seems alive in TED regardless of age, have you listened to Bunker Roy about Barefoot Colleges? stunning stuff...
i think its important to start locally so think about what you buy and how you consume, think about what you wear, eat and how you deal with waste in your own life first. Then check out the next step, you may well find the answers to what you can do are directly linked to the actions above... by being aware of the moral choices inherent in these actions you'll find the types of action you need to follow will be the causes you want to help.
are you at school, college, are you a scientist or an artist? a techie or a poet? a designer or a sculptor? an engineer or a musician? the pathway for you might be in conducting experiments or sending messages...i might sound vague but i don't think the point is to tell you what to do, if you care you'll find a way...just think of what you are good at and what you care about and how to merge the two.
then go online and do the research
good luck
tris
Grace Chai
Alex Wegrzyn
Came across a comment you made saying you worked at youth summer camps-this is an AWESOME place to start! I've been in camping/outdoor education for about 6 years now, working with all age groups, and it truly is the best thing I have ever done. I started at 16, and would spend the summer 110 miles from home. That was my first real taste of independence, as well as living in an environment that wasn't my own. It helps to make you grow as a person, and in turn, help others. Fast forward, I'm now 22, and spent the past summer working with the Chicago Park District. One of the coolest things our program did was have our campers spend a night in their city park, which can be absolutely terrifying for kids who have never been away from home, never slept in a tent before, and, not to mention, sleeping in an area that can be seen as dangerous. BUT, it was an experience that they really took to heart, and being able to provide a positive, new experience for someone who might not get that at home, is truly astounding. It's those kids who'll grow up and become counselors because of what YOU taught them.
Sorry, that was long winded. I get excited when I see other people who are excited about youth empowerment AND summer camp.
Grace Chai
I think youth empowerment is a huge thing that we need to deal with nowadays. By the time we reach around high school age, we start to stop believing that we have the power to really change things. I refuse to forget :)
sarah boardman-miller
Be bold.
If there are a few of the speakers you love and feel a connection with, write to them-email or snail mail. Tell them how you are changed because of their message. With technology we are able to have this incredible platform, yet we can easily not reach out and say hello....in person.
I agree, volunteerism is a great path, though you might find by surrounding yourself with the people you connect with greatness is born.
The elation and despair are incredible vehicles of change. Harness that energy, use it to spring higher.
Grace Chai