School may still be out, but are today’s teens outside? I think teenagers would benefit from going outside and exploring their surroundings.
For me, taking the time to step outside is always worth it. Nothing is quite as good at reminding ourselves we are really and truly alive as the solid ground under our feet, the crisp breeze blowing through our hair and the fragrance of sweetgrass and little bluestem.
“You young people are upset with your government, but that is your strength. I was once in your shoes, and my discontentment laid the foundation of the republic we have today,” the man portraying Thomas Jefferson asserted. His words sent a jolt to my chest, as I realized the immense responsibility I possess as a teenager. My voice is impactful.
You can do anything you set your mind to!” Ah, the phrase we all heard over and over throughout early childhood. Theoretically, this is the best encouragement to tell kids, because it makes them believe they can excel at whatever they choose.
But I was not like most kids, so I didn’t choose. I interpreted this phrase as: “You can do everything you set your mind to!” So, that is exactly what I did – at least for a little while.
I have never known a world without smartphones. The instant I came into this world, my photo was texted to family. As I grew, phones evolved from helpful tools of connection to all-consuming weapons of disconnect.
Eyes became glued to screens, seeking validation from social media, craving easy dopamine in scrolling and relying on the comforts of distraction to escape reality. We have become addicts. But what would happen to the world if we removed the very thing we rely upon?
“Now up to bat, Joanie McCormack!” I step up to the plate and meet the pitcher’s gaze before finding his glove, which is loaded with the baseball. I sense eyes on my ponytail and feminine frame, but I’m accustomed to it by now: I’ve been playing baseball since I was 5 years old. People have always wondered why I play. Honestly, sometimes I do, too.
You’re in English class, trying to concentrate on your work, but you just can’t. All your classmates are chitchatting, laughing and apparently having the most heated debates of their lives, all while you’re trying to stay on task. If only there was a way you could tune them all out! The reality is there is a solution, though a lot of teachers will disagree with it: listening to music.
This year, it was me. Next year, it could be you! Going on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour was the most amazing experience! This trip gave me opportunities upon opportunities.
Last summer, all of North Dakota’s Youth Tour delegates were flown to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., for a week to learn all about the locations and the people who impacted our nation’s rich history. Our amazing chaperones took us all over the place. We went to the Smithsonian museums, the Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the National Mall and more.
