The Power of Youth
By Olivia Dahdah
![]() Every now and then - which is more often than we’d like, we get asked: “so, sonny, what are you gonna be when you grow up?” or even simply “do you know what you're going to do when you get out of school?” These questions always have us jumping with excitement, now don’t they… Don’t they?
According to stageoflife.com, statistics show 66% of teens are afraid of the future of life after graduation. And honestly, today’s society hasn't helped. Firstly we are told we have to fight for a position in this world, then misled to think that we have to make all our life decisions now and if we don’t make them right, it’s over. First we are told that the stakes are high and then that the chance of our failure higher. The world tells us the youth can’t make a difference. Today’s young people are looked upon as immature amateurs who cannot be counted upon to contribute to society. We’re stereotypically seen as disrespectful, rebellious, self-absorbed, conforming to peer-pressure and indifferent to serious issues. We cant be trusted to with the future, let alone ourselves! But the truth is, God tells us something else. "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 We all know we were made for a purpose; but when we hear the words “God has a plan for us”, we usually dismiss it, thinking it to only concern the future, not the present. But of course, His plan for us incorporates right now, no matter what stage of life were in, what age we are or any of our circumstances. In the recent Hillsong conference No Other Name, a talk was given about the power young people possess. It was discussed that the older people get, the less they can hear higher frequencies of sound; and therefore, there are some sounds that only younger people can hear. In the same way, it’s like there are certain frequencies God sends out that can only be heard by the younger. There are certain callings that God will only present to the young, and therefore certain things, incredible things, that we will only be able to do in our youth. The usual adult expectations for youth are way below what we are actually capable of achieving, and now, many are rising to take up the challenge… At 12 years old, Olivia Bouler raised over $200,000 for environmental causes through her children's book: Olivia's Birds: Saving the Gulf, and artwork at the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art. Kyle Weiss is 19 years old, and is the founder of FUNDaFIELD, an organisation gives youth a chance to play soccer as a therapeutic method for curing trauma and inspiring positive growth. In this way Kyle hopes to support youth in developing countries, making better the lives of children and teens. Madelyn McGlynn, at 12 years old, and with her 4 sisters, after learning that malaria kills a child every 30 seconds, started the organisation NETwork Against Malaria. It is now estimated that 34,500 lives in Uganda have been saved because of the girls raising awareness. And at 15 years old, Christopher Yao founded Kids Change the World, an organisation that empowers and enables youth to start their own fundraisers and charitable programs. Despite what most people might think, we have the power - and maybe even more power because of our age - to change the world. Alex and Brett Harris began their book, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion against Low Expectations with this: “Most people don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And even if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last. Well, we do.” The point is, expectations for today’s youth are low, including our own, but we need to understand that that’s it. The only things holding us back are expectations. The reality is that we truly are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we were made to achieve, to complete God’s masterplan. “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 1:4-8 |
Other pieces by Olivia Dahdah...
Zambia: A Different Reality?Akiane Kramarik: Child ProdigyA Voice in the Wind: Review |