An Open Letter to Young People

If I were to speak to young people today, here’s what I would say (or maybe I’m just talking to my younger self).

I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult growing up in this day and age is. There is a constant barrage of noise coming at you nonstop from every angle. Everyone wants to tell you how to live every minute of your life, what’s cool and what isn’t, how to think, what to believe, what friends you should have, what clothes you should wear, etc. You are connected 24/7. The stress and anxiety seem overwhelming.

But what does an old man know about growing up in today’s world? And what wisdom could I possibly share that will have any meaning for a young person? To the answer the first, I will say that many of the core issues I faced as a young person are not drastically different than what young people face today (bullying, peer pressure, college applications, being cool, and so on). But what is different is how young people deal with those issues when there’s a digital footprint for everything we do. I’d be in a world of trouble if all the things I did by the time I was 18 were documented somewhere. 🫠 

For the second question, the wisdom might be simpler than you think (and strikingly connected to the points above). Do I have all the answers? Not even close. Heck, I might not even have one answer. But I will say there is a consistent thread that weaves its way throughout history. When we forget our humanity and start treating each other as an “other” that is somehow less than human, we descend into dark times (history is full of these examples). When we see each other as equals and as fellow human beings (regardless of our skin color, our beliefs, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the friends we have, our odd quirks), we ascend together (history is also full of these examples).

I won’t lie to you. It’s going to be hard. There will always be people that will test and challenge you (even and especially when you become adults), that will shake your confidence in yourself, that will make you feel small, that will make you feel marginalized, that will make you angry, that will make you feel…well…less than human. In those darkest moments, hold on to the light of your humanity as tightly as you can. Seek out that same light in others. This is your superpower to navigate a world that is more inclined to dismiss you than uplift you. Help others find their light. I promise you it will be far more rewarding than any money you make, title you get, or luxury item you purchase.

Now, go out there and bring your human spirit into the world.

Until next week.

Andy