The Voice of Teenagers

The importance of the voice of teenagers in the world today.

(a dialogue between two friends)

F: Hey, M., look at this news article. It’s a report that shows that in 2022 more than six thousand children were killed or injured in the USA because of school shootings. This is the highest number recorded in a single year since they started these reports, that is, since 2014.

M: Seriously? This is really bad! You know, the other day I saw a news article about teen campaigns against the easy access to weapons.

F: Yeah, I heard that school shootings are very common in the USA, and this has provoked several teen campaigns against the easy access to weapons.

M: Apparently no one listened to these teenagers, and this is the result. It’s always the same thing. Why don't adults ever listen to young people?

F: I know. I’ve heard so many times news about bad things that could have been avoided if others had listened to teenagers. Adults think that just because they are older, they know more, and have the habit of not listening to the opinion of the younger ones. They think that just because we are younger, we don’t know much about the real world.

M: True… it’s not fair though. Firstly, because since they are older, they are supposed to know that they should listen to other people’s opinion and they should set an example for us; secondly, because we DO know a lot about the real world and we care about what is going on in the world. After all, we are the ones who are going to live here and it’s not fair not to let us give our opinion about the place we are going to manage one day. Besides, teenagers have a lot of energy and creativity to show their ideas and find a solution.

F: Plus, we have a vision for global problems. Okay, yes, the older ones deal with important problems but they, by themselves, aren’t always able to think about the difficulties that are currently being talked about daily like climate change, the lack of freedom and rights in some parts of the world, mental issues, sexuality, and the fact that they don’t involve teenagers in issues that are important to them and that they want to get involved in, among many others.

M: I totally agree. Maybe they don’t do it because they don’t have much contact with these issues or because they are not used to reflecting about them from the younger generation’s point of view. Or maybe these topics are not important enough to be defended. If you think about it, some of these problems, and many more, just started to be discussed after teenagers began to express themselves about them. Before people didn’t talk about them. And even now, although there are some adults who also speak out on these issues, it is the adolescents who make them continue to pay attention.

F: I had never thought about that before. You know, actually there is something else that they don’t think about either. Being active is also a good thing for us. For example, it develops our critical thinking as we want to defend our ideas and justify them, it allows us to be well informed too, and by listening to the opinions of others, it can also change our way of thinking. In the process we become more tolerant. As we have to make ourselves heard and find solutions, it develops our creativity and persistence and prepares us for our future. Besides, it makes us aware of and observant about what is going on around us.

M: You are right. Good point! You know, I remember a school assignment that I did about Ridhima Pandey. With 10 years old, Ridhima, Greta and other children presented a complaint to the United Nations Committee against several countries, accusing them of violating the Rights of the Child by not approaching the climate crisis appropriately. I don’t know what happened next but I hope that this has made them deal with this problem as it should be.

F: I know that there are many teenagers who want to make a difference but it’s hard because they don’t have access to do it or are not used to doing it. I think adults should help them in this aspect. Teenagers have hopes and dreams for the future. We are optimistic and we have ambitions to improve the world. We should not be despised nor disregarded for believing that we can make a difference and instead of ignoring us, asking us to stop and presenting obstacles, they should value us, support us and help us. They shouldn’t look at us just based on our age. Many of us are mature and intelligent beyond our years.

M: The other day I saw a post of a teenager that said she hated being 16 because people didn’t take her seriously because of her age and she was higly criticised for the comment, saying that she was complaining and throwing a tantrum just like all teenagers. But if teenagers are all complaining about it, doesn’t it say something about how they don’t let us participate nor give us opportunities to make changes?

F: And the reactions show that she is right. Instead of talking about it, they attacked her just because of her age. How do they want us to be the leaders of the world and take it forward if they don’t listen to our ideas? How do they want us to do something in the future if they don’t let us now? If we do as they want and don’t give our opinion, we won’t be used to doing it in the future. Let alone do it the right way!

M: When adults don’t listen to us, they miss an opportunity to build a better future and understand us. Okay, we are not always right and there are a lot of teenagers who don’t take anything seriously and don’t care at all but not everyone is like that. When that happens, they should teach us and try to change our perspective.

F: I couldn’t agree more. Teenagers have always done amazing things and could do more if they allowed us. You know, there is a lot more we could say. We could spend hours talking about this…

M: No doubt…I really believe young people can be inspiring.

by Francisca and Mariana