Whenever I hear “You are the future,” I ask myself, “When does it start?”
As young people in our countries, we are often told that our generation will shape the future of our nations. But I strongly disagree with this concept. Because what we do TODAY forms the TOMORROW.
If we tell our kids, teenagers, and young people, “You’re still a kid. SOMEDAY, you’ll make a difference,” we are setting the wrong example from the start. Young people who have the will to change something are held back by their age, stereotypes, and social norms. I find this dangerous because this narrative can stay with those kids as they grow into adults. Only this time, it is their obligations, status, and fear of social criticism that keep them from making a difference. And as the years go by, SOMEDAY becomes any day but TODAY.
I’m more than sure that if you asked anyone on this planet whether they wanted to live in a better world, they would answer yes. But as it turns out, simply wanting something is not enough. If it were, we would probably already live in a perfect world.
WILL is a powerful thing, so powerful that it can inspire global change. Yet, alone, it cannot drive it.
SKILL is the foundation of our work. Yet, alone and without a purpose, it cannot take us much further than simply getting the work done.
But combined, they have no limits.
When you are equipped with years of experience, knowledge, and the willingness to experiment, you can take meaningful steps toward your goals. And when you have a dream of making a difference, a goal of becoming the best you possibly can, that dream gets you back on your feet every time something makes you fall on the way to success.
KidsKonnectUkraine (KKU) is a place where WILL + SKILL come to life. Intercultural dialogue. Peace advocacy. Diplomacy. Social entrepreneurship. Real media. All of these are at the center of what KKU does. But most importantly, it is the community driven by the idea that youth is the accelerator of a better future world. One of KKU’s projects is the UKnow podcast, which doesn’t hide behind scary news headlines or shy away from injustice and indifference toward teenagers. On the contrary, it gives a voice to thousands of young people, inspiring others with their stories and opinions to speak up and take action.
So, the next time you hear “SOMEDAY,” take it as “TODAY.”
We’ve waited long enough. We’ve been afraid long enough. We’ve ignored opportunities, doubted ourselves, listened to those who told us we were too young, and blamed everything but ourselves for not starting.
We do not have to wait until we are older, more experienced, or finally considered capable by everyone around us. We can start developing our skills, learning from our mistakes, and show that youth is capable of making a difference.
We live in a world full of hate, cruelty, terrorism, and uncertainty. There may never be a perfect time to pursue your passion or start working toward a better future. But maybe, by starting today, we can make the world a better place for someone tomorrow.
So, the next time you hear “Youth is our future,” remember: the future is built by what we do TODAY.
And if you want to see what this looks like in practice, explore KidsKonnectUkraine and the UKnow podcast on social media. These are examples of young people who didn’t wait for SOMEDAY to come.