As a young person, have you ever felt like you wanted to say more or do more — but didn’t know where to start?
You’re not alone.
Maybe you’ve watched the news, scrolled through TikTok or Instagram, and felt your stomach twist — another policy, another injustice, another decision made by people who look nothing like you, who don’t live what you live.
You care, you think about posting something, maybe you even draft it. But then you stop.
“Where do I even start?”
That question — the hesitation between wanting to speak up and knowing how — is exactly where change begins.
And as someone who grew up in the projects and always said I didn’t care about politics, I want to invite you to care, because this is about your future. So let's dive in!
Why this matters now
Let’s be real — it’s easy to think politics is something that happens somewhere else, in rooms filled with adults arguing on TV. But politics isn’t just about who sits in office — it’s about you.
It’s in the books your school says you can or can’t read. It’s in the bathrooms that you or your friends are told they can’t use. It’s in how safe you feel walking home, or how supported you feel when you speak up in class.
It’s even in whether your school has enough counselors, lunch options, and after-school programs to help you survive another day.
These aren’t ‘adult’ problems — they’re shaping your world right now. And every decision being made without you has the power to define your future.
Regardless of whether you’re 13 or 22, your voice matters — even if the adults in your life are telling you to sit down, stay quiet, and “wait until you’re older.”
Because here’s the truth: by the time “older” comes, too many of those decisions will already be locked in. The people in power are counting on you not to pay attention yet.
That’s why this matters now — because this generation is already living the impact of policies made by people who never asked for your opinion. Speaking up isn’t rebellion. It’s responsibility. It’s the moment you realize you don’t have to wait to be invited to the conversation — you can start it.
And if you are an adult reading this who cares about the future of the younger generations, share this article, or read it with them.
All of this impacts them; they deserve to have a say in the matter.
They deserve to be heard.
A movement born from that same question
In Sarasota, Florida, a group of young people decided to stop waiting. They built something called the SEE Alliance — short for Social Equity through Education Alliance.
They weren’t seasoned politicians or career activists. They were high schoolers and college students tired of watching the world unfold without their say. So they created a space — literally — called SEE Space — a place for youth and young adults to organize, talk, rest, and act.
They didn’t ask for permission. They just started.
Now, SEE Alliance works on everything from school board elections to youth mental health, to LGBTQ+ rights and housing affordability. They write legislative wishlists, register voters, and hold Community Care Circles for young people who are burned out but still care deeply.
They’re proving something powerful: you don’t have to be old to be bold.
Looking back at my life, I wish that I had said more when I was younger, but I was afraid. Even as an adult, there are times when I still don’t say what I want; it was a habit I learned and kept.
But that stops here. And, hopefully, it does for you, too.
What’s stopping most people?
A lot of us feel stuck for good reason.
We’ve seen performative activism — people shouting online without real follow-through. We’ve been told our generation is too sensitive, too political, too emotional, too everything. We’ve been made to believe that being involved means being perfect, or having all the answers.
But real change doesn’t start with perfection. It starts with questions. It starts with curiosity. It starts with the courage to show up — even when your voice shakes.
It starts when we come together, so we don’t have to do it alone.
Here’s how to start — for real
- Find your space.Look for local hubs like SEE Alliance, youth-led groups, or community centers that focus on action, not just talk. Follow SEE Space’s blueprint — connect with peers who care about something bigger than themselves.
- Pick one issue that actually hits home.It could be the cost of college, book bans, environmental justice, mental health — anything that keeps you up at night. You don’t need to fix everything. Focus builds power.
- Do one small thing this month.Speak at a school board meeting. Help with voter registration. Share a petition you believe in and explain why. SEE Alliance uses peer-to-peer outreach — youth inviting youth to take part.
- Find your people.Activism is hard. Burnout is real. That’s why groups like SEE Alliance hold spaces for reflection and community care. You need support — and you deserve it.
- Keep showing up.You’ll mess up. You’ll say the wrong thing. You’ll question yourself. That’s fine. Change isn’t built on perfection — it’s built on persistence.
- Take your time.This work can be exhausting, especially if you try to do it 24/7. Take time for yourself to do the things you enjoy — go see a movie, or learn something new. You have time, so take it one step at a time.
What change really looks like
Change doesn’t always trend. It doesn’t always go viral or get a million likes.
Sometimes, it’s a 17-year-old standing up at a school board meeting, voice shaking but refusing to sit down. Sometimes, it’s a group of friends spending a Saturday making posters and planning how to register voters before prom season. It’s the student who challenges a rule that doesn’t make sense. It’s the artist who paints what others are afraid to say. It’s the kid who starts a club so their classmates finally have somewhere safe to breathe.
In Sarasota, it’s a group of young people sitting in a circle, writing down the future they want, and handing it straight to lawmakers. They didn’t start with money, influence, or a PR team. They started with frustration, and turned it into movement. Small steps stack up into something powerful.
No permission slips. No waiting for adults to fix it.
Change always looks small until it isn’t. It starts quietly. Then it grows — voice by voice, choice by choice — until it’s impossible to ignore.
Remember that the next time someone tells you that you’re too young to make a difference.
Truth check: it’s not easy
Let’s be honest — change never is.
There will be adults who roll their eyes, telling you “that’s just how the world works.” There will be peers who shrug and say, “It doesn’t matter; nothing ever changes.” And there will be days when you’ll question if your effort is doing anything at all.
That’s part of it. Every movement that’s ever made history started with people who felt the same doubt you do right now.
But they didn’t stop.
Here’s the truth they figured out: Power only shifts when ordinary people keep showing up anyway.
Not perfectly. Not with endless optimism. Just consistently.
When it feels heavy, take a break — rest is part of resistance. Find people who remind you why you care. Talk to the friend who sees the fire in you when you forget it’s there. Then, return to the work — even if it’s small, even if it’s slow. Because that’s how movements last.
Your generation already has the voice, the numbers, and the vision. What will define you isn’t how loud you can shout — it’s how steady you can stay when it gets hard.
Because that’s when real change starts to listen.
Your voice MATTERS
You don’t need to wait for permission to speak truth. You don’t need to wait for ‘someday’. You don’t need to know everything.
What you need is a starting point — and a community that won’t let your fire fade.
Ready to take that first step?
If this speaks to you — if you’ve felt that ache to do more, to say more — start here.
Check out the SEE Alliance at https://www.seeourpower.org
Follow them. Attend one of their weekly meetings on Zoom – every Wednesday.
You’re not in Florida, but you can still reach out! They can help you how to build something like it where you are, and they will be there to provide support and guidance.
Because waiting for someone else to make a difference? That time’s over.
It starts with you. And it starts now.
Stephen is a Richland resident and local small business owner who believes the next generation’s voice matters. Learn how you can take action with the SEE Alliance at https://www.seeourpower.org
