I live in a generation where technology has replaced human interaction; where applications have replaced tangible items; where one’s status is determined by how many likes they receive on an Instagram post, and where social media consumes the youth’s minds.

I live in a home where the formerly familiar “come down for dinner” dialogue is replaced with a “dinner is ready” text; where busy schedules make family meals rare; where instead of hearing the doorbell sound when we have company, a “here” text is received.

I live in a world where using and putting others down to get ahead is deemed socially acceptable. I live in a world where too many people are selfish and too few people genuinely care about others.

I live in a society where school is viewed as a hassle; where reading for pleasure is nearly unheard of, and where school is perceived as more of a necessary annoyance than a luxury that we are lucky to have.

I live in a world where the youth grows up too fast; where coloring books are replaced by coloring applications; where Santa is labeled fake by three year olds; where young girls cannot wait to wear makeup and bras; where innocence is lost too early.

I live in a world that is so underratedly beautiful because people are too busy to take in the little things; where snow on the ground is frowned upon because it interferes with our routine tasks; where the leaves falling are a nuisance because we have to rake them up.

I believe my generation needs to slow down. I believe that we need to absorb life and all that it has to offer. We need to put our phones away and socialize with each other. We need to look up at the sky and enjoy the clouds or a starry night. We need to read books and enrich our minds with information because information and education is power. We need to be kind. We need to love each other, and work to help our peers instead of bringing them down. We need to live each moment to the fullest.
We need to be the change that we want to see in the world. I believe that doing so will make my generation powerful, successful, and most importantly, happy.