If I were to ask you if the world is a good place, what would your answer be?

Would you respond optimistically? Pessimistically? Realistically? Logically? Is it easy to sum up in a few words? A few sentences? A few paragraphs? Does it depend on the day? On your current mood? On the song that you just listened to? On the friend that you just made? On the family member you just lost? On the vacation you just took? If I were to ask you if the world is a good place 10 years ago, would your answer be the same today? Would it depend on where you were born? What gender you are? What ethnicity you are? What sexual orientation you are?

Do you think your answer would change if you were a different gender? Born in a different country? Born an orphan? Born and raised in the heart of a city? Born on a farm? Born with a disability or incurable disease? If animals, trees, other living creatures could somehow speak, how do you think they would answer?

Is it possible that if I ask you if the world is a good place it is only relevant to your own personal life experiences?

Your own knowledge and interpretation? Your own beliefs? Is it possible that our answer to this question is based on the level of education we each receive? Is it possible that your answer could be different from tens, hundreds, thousands, even millions of others?

If it’s possible that this answer could change from person to person, perspective to perspective, background to background, birth place to birth place, experience to experience, etc. etc. etc…then how can we get everyone to think, feel, believe, and say, this world is a good place.

The idea behind the simple, yet complex question, “is the world a good place?” may be applicable beyond it’s answer. Humans have different beliefs, perspectives, ideas, thoughts, and theories. And sometimes we get stuck with weird choices (subconsciously or consciously) to share what we believe, perceive, feel, and think, or to keep it to ourselves. To stick to what we believe, perceive, feel, and think, or to allow ourselves to be open to changing.

If you’ve ever read any piece of history in your life, you’ve probably noticed that one thing or another has changed since then. It seems as though things keep changing in this world. I’m not sure of a time where things weren’t changing. So, is it possible then that we are changing too? Is it possible that the earth is changing? Is it possible that your phone will change in the next decade?

That the computer you want will change in the next decade? That the clothes you want to wear will change? That how fast you can run a mile will change? That your abilities, talents, knowledge base, etc. will change?

If it’s possible that all of this could change, then why is it so hard for our thinking to change? Why is it so hard for some of our beliefs to change? Why is it so hard for our perspectives to change? Sometimes we fear change. It’s hard to change. It seems like it takes work. It takes effort. It’s constant. The weird thing about it though, is it seems like it keeps happening even if we don’t put in the “effort,” “hard work,” and time.

Time…what an interesting word as we speak of change. Time changes constantly. Time is a measurement of change.

So, if everything is changing, shouldn’t we continue to do the same? If it’s possible we might not have a choice anyway, it could be cool to learn to control our change. Not stop it, but live it, love it, and create it (for the better of course).

Step One: embellish change.

As we enter 2017, I think we all can agree we are due for some changes. No matter which way you voted, what policies you stand for, what nationality or religion you support — we are entering a new year with a nation more divided than ever.

The Divided States of America. United we do not stand.

I am consistently finding myself wondering what positive changes can be made. How might my daily actions help a world so sorely in need? And if you, the world, are anything like my Facebook friends, you are wondering the same.

This isn’t a life-changing story or even one with a moral, but it’s something that’s been on my mind lately, begging to be shared.

Hear me out: I have an idea.

It goes like this: change the world around you and the world around you changes. Think of it like a pebble in a very still pond. You are the pebble, your waves radiate around you in rings, getting larger and larger as they go. Alone, those ripples might seem insignificant. But multiply by a million, and the water moves. Change happens.

This millennial generation, of which I am a part, is one of the most inspired to date. We have access to endless resources and information, and are passionate about improving the world we live in. We know the taste of forward progress towards equality and justice and recognize that moving backward would be unthinkable.

We, as the quickly rising workforce, also hold the most power for change.

I will admit, I frequently get overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. But that’s why I’m embarking on this mission. After all, we each only have power over those around us. Unless you are the next MLK or Mother Teresa (in which case, show yourself please!), your opportunity for impact will be limited to your circle. Make as many ripples on the water as possible. Surround yourself with good people. Challenge the status quo and the prejudices of your loved ones. Kindly explain problems that others may not see. So much of bigotry is, unfortunately, inherent. Shine a light on it and inspire others to do the same. Expand your network beyond those who share your beliefs. Perhaps you too will learn something! The worst thing we can do is to shelter ourselves and do nothing. Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from playing the game.

So let’s get started! Big things start small. They start with us.

This is my resolution for the New Year. And hopefully for all the years that follow.

This past December, young leaders came together in the legendary land of possibility, New York City. AIESEC’s Youth Action Summit summoned the youth world and the business world to the United Nations Headquarters for a three day summit which aims to discuss and create an agenda which will define youth implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As the first day of the summit came to a close, we wanted to highlight four signs that we noticed which indicate that young people are absolutely ready and able to change our world.

Young people are the present, and the future. Here’s why.

1. THERE’S POWER IN OUR NUMBERS

80 million people classify as what we define as “millennial” (born between 1985-1993). This is the largest generation of any in the world. 50% of the world’s population in 2015 is under the age of 30. Statistically speaking, we make up a disproportionately large portion of the global ecosystem. Young people want their opinions and insights to count for something, and we’ve got the numbers to back us up.

2. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATING OUR INFLUENCE

Youth movements are not uncommon. Across the world, young people have shown that they have the ability to make serious changes by using their voices. With the rise of young leaders such as Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan and Joshua Wong in Hong Kong, we have proven that we have the power to make a political difference. Additionally, young people are incredibly active in the digital world, with the rise of YouTube, Instagram, and Vine stars creating a new category of youth leadership: influencer. The digital ecosystem has changed the way youth leaders rise and communicate, leading me to the next point.

3. WE ARE DIGITAL NATIVES

In our increasingly digital age, young people have not only a technological advantage, but a technological lifestyle. We are digital natives – meaning that we have been raised in a world of tweets, Facebook posts, computers, and iPods. Unlike those before us, who are the new “digital immigrants,” tech is unparalleled in our hands, because we are able to easily adapt to and learn new systems. As I mentioned, the power of social platforms is showcased daily by young people. Whether a crowdfunding page for someone’s volunteer project, a tweet which is retweeted by millions, an online petition signed by thousands which leads to political change, or a YouTube video viewed by over 20 million people, young people now have the ability to communicate in mass, globally. And we do.

4. CHANGE AND INNOVATION ARE IN OUR NATURE

As young people, we are often faced with tremendous emotional and social pressure. Whether we are coming of age in a diverse university or college or growing up without the opportunity of higher education, we become incredibly in touch with humanity. We are at the peak of uncomfortable adjustment, and it gives us an incredibly unique perspective. We are not afraid of change. We live change daily. Nothing is certain for us, and that allows us to imagine and ideate things which people who have been settled in routine for years cannot see. We are known for a desire to switch jobs frequently, and for a need to feel that our values connect to our work. For this reason, we are passionate and innovative in a way that no other generation can match.

Do you believe that youth leaders are going to be the ones who shape the world? We do.

I want to change the world. It is not a dream or vision but a reality that I am able to change the world for the better. I figured this out while visiting New York, New York. For my 16th birthday present, my parents took me and my best friend sightseeing for the weekend.

The night before we left to go home, we visited Ray’s Pizza, which had been personally recommended to me. This was, in fact, one of the primary reasons I wanted to visit, for the fabled New York style pizza.

The pizza was delicious, but I made my discovery while walking back to our hotel.

We had gotten three whole pizzas all topped with unique toppings for the four of us to split, and I was carrying the box with the few slices leftover. I was admittedly walking slower than normal because of the large amount of hot cheesy pizza, and so maybe that was what caused me to notice the homeless man half-asleep on the edge of the sidewalk.

Most people in New York City are so busy they don’t notice, or pretend not to notice, the large amount of unfortunate people without homes. I was planning on eating the pizza  I held in my hands for breakfast the next morning.

But seeing someone without anything while I had so much just did not seem right to me.

I was not compelled by guilt nor did I feel any responsibility for his condition, instead I acted on what was an obvious wrong that I could make right. He was hungry. I had food. Our conversation lasted no more than thirty seconds; the look of surprise and gratitude in his eyes stays with me to this day. On that day, I discovered just how easy it is to change a life.

The way the pizza had an effect on the man whom I had not met uncovered a dramatic revelation: I can change lives and by changing lives, I can change the world.

The price of the pizza was not the important part; however, the gesture of giving what I did not need was where I found the breakthrough. Because of my interaction in New York, I have found new discoveries that I want to dive into. I want to know why it is right for me to get an iPhone 6 for Christmas, while other people my age do not have a dinner on Christmas. I want to know why it is acceptable for me to have luxuries yet some do not have necessities.

I am not tackling world hunger or extreme poverty by giving away some pizza, but I do believe I can personally change the world for the better. I want to learn how I can drastically improve the lives of those who I interact with. It now seems like common sense when I tell people that I want to help people. Who doesn’t?

It is logical to dedicate your life to helping people, because the feeling you get from it cannot be expressed in words.

That is something that is best discovered on your own. Today, I give back by participating in Virginia Tech Relay For Life – which has raised over $5 million for cancer research and patient services. Join me today to make a difference in the lives of millions.

(Written by Martinique McCrory)

My junior year at Georgia Southern University was coming to a close and already I was coming down with the early symptoms of the massive plague that is Senioritis. For those unaware, senioritis is defined by the internet dictionary as “a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.”

As illegitimate as it seems, senioritis can be a very real thing for any student finishing up their last year of schooling. After three years of last-minute studying, panic-inducing homework, and tear-inducing grades, many students come up on their senior year feeling either worn out to the point of detachment, or anxious to the brink of depression about the future ahead.

People joke that with senioritis comes sweatpants, numerous absences, and a general IDGAF attitude.

I was feeling very much the same way as junior semester ended and I was looking into internships and post-college job opportunities with little motivation and a lot of anxiety. Something had to be done. As silly as it may sound, something clicked deep within my subconscious and the next day I remembered Jim Carrey’s 2008 movie, Yes Man. A movie based on the premise that saying “yes” to everything opens up more positive and rewarding experiences in life.

Obviously I wasn’t going to say “yes” to literally everything asked of me, but I realized that over the course of three years at the university, I had certainly learned the power of “no” a little too well. No, I do not want to go Claire’s party on a Tuesday. No, professor, I don’t have time to go to French club’s meetings on Fridays. No, I can’t volunteer on Saturday mornings.

I had gotten into the habit of shunning anything that didn’t involve sleep or anything that I didn’t consider to be worth my precious time and effort.

The practice had left me feeling more drained and pessimistic about life. Moreover, I was missing out on the things that made college exciting in the first place. So I challenged myself to never be too tired for anything, and to accept nearly all the invitations that floated my way. This included giving rides to my friends who didn’t have cars and attending more school-sponsored events.

Less than a week later, I was zipping around from place to place like a chicken with its head cut off – it was exhilarating. Every day was new and exciting. I sang, poorly, in the French talent show and scored major points with my Conversational French professor.

I was a trixie in the city’s shadow cast performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and got to throw condoms out to the audience. I accepted a summer internship in Savannah for a political campaign and fell in love with the city immediately. By the time my senior semester ended, I had written for three separate organizations, corresponded with the talented poet Stephen Burt, performed and happily embarrassed myself in two big dance competitions, and cemented stronger connections with my professors and friends guaranteed to last a lifetime.

My advice to anyone catching senioritis, or anyone that finds themselves in a slump, is to challenge yourself to say yes more. Push yourself, even when you’re feeling tired, to go out and do something–anything. The momentum of energy will carry itself to all other aspects of your life and leave you feeling more motivated, more happy, and less afraid.

(Written by Rachel Ehlinger)

Did you ever once have that crazy idea in your head that maybe in possibly the slightest way imaginable could become an incredible venture that takes your life to the place you finally wish it to be?

Maybe you’re just bored sitting in class daydreaming, wondering if the idea in your head has been invented yet. Why let these dreams fade away when the bell rings? Why not make these ideas into realities? Well, that’s what I did.

I decided it was time for some change in my life. I was tired of being bored to death in class disregarding why x should equal z in this equation. Why does it matter that x equals z? Why does anything matter other than the fact that I want to get out of this cliche world and go on an adventure? Make a change. Do something different. Finally follow the path my mind so blatantly paves day after day.

So, I started a company.

A company with my very own idea. My very own mission. My very own goal. With me as my own boss and no one telling me to make sure x equals z or you fail.

It didn’t start out all as fairytales. The reality is, to follow an idea, you have to believe in it. You have to want your dream to succeed more than anything in the world. If you believe that, you will succeed.

What is the idea you ask? … A clothing line. But not just any clothing line. Something unique that no one else has. Something that gives back to the community to help create social change in our world. Something like Ekkos.

Founded in summer of 2015, Ekkos is now a legitimate clothing line that provides secondary education for orphans in Africa. With unique patterns and professional seamstresses that hand craft each product one by one, Ekkos has gone from an idea in my brain in the middle of calc class to a dream that has been more successful than I could have ever imagined.

I made a change in my life that so many young people are afraid to make. But I encourage you. All of you, to roll with the ideas in your head that you so often think of and make something of yourself that the 20 year old you would be proud of.

It doesn’t matter if x equals z. What matters is that your’re living the life you always dreamed of. Whether it be an adventurous one, or a cautious one. Do what makes you happy.

If you enjoyed this article, please take the time to visit Ekkos at ekkos.org and see how we are changing the world through a dream imagined in the middle of calc class.

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