Youth-The Spark That Shapes Tomorrow
“Should I wear the bright shirt or the normal one?” “What if I post this photo online and people laugh?” “Maybe I can start that project… but what if I fail?”
Sounds familiar? If you’re young, you have probably had these little debates inside your head. And here’s the fun thing: every one of those moments, no matter how small, is part of your youth story.
International Youth Day isn’t just about hashtags and Instagram posts. It’s about recognizing that this “in-between” stage of life is where dreams, doubts, courage, and curiosity all live together, and how we choose to shape them will influence the world far beyond today.
Youth is chaotic, unpredictable, and occasionally full of unexpected turns, as we all know. However, it’s also the most thrilling chapter we will ever write. It’s when the world looks just wide enough to explore, ideas seem limitless, and energy seems boundless.
On International Youth Day, we should take a moment to consider that energy as something that may influence change now rather than as something that needs to be “managed” until we are older. Youth is a power, not simply a phase, whether we are organizing a charity event during exam season, transforming a passion into a business, or organizing friends for a cause we care about.
Why Youth Is More Important Than We May Think
Youth is more than just a span of ages. Before an exam, it’s the buzz in a university library at midnight. A bunch of buddies decide that “someone had to do it” and start a community cleanup. August 12 is set aside by the UN to emphasis the importance of youth in resolving conflicts, fostering peace, and envisioning a better future. But we are not only “the future,” but we are also here now.
The language-learning app you use? constructed by youthful developers.
The viral campaign to raise money for a youngster who is ill? initiated by a teenager.
Podcasts about mental health, blood drives, and the climate strike? All driven by young people.
Our ideas may be raw, and our resources may be limited, but what about our ingenuity and courage? Unlimited. Challenges We Face (And Why They Aren’t the End) Being young isn’t just about bright Instagram filters. Many of us are trying to figure out who we are while juggling school, work, and family commitments. There is an expectation to succeed quickly, to have everything worked out, to “be productive.” Sometimes, this pressure becomes a wall. “I’m not as smart as them.” “What is the point?” My voice won’t matter.” “I’m too young to make a difference.”
However, history suggests otherwise. Consider Malala Yousafzai, a 15 year old activist campaigning for girls’ education. Or the countless young innovators who launched game-changing ideas from dorm rooms, kitchens, and park benches.
Being young means we’re allowed to learn, fail, restart, and still have the world ahead of us.
Building a Youth That Matters
So, how do we make sure this phase of life isn’t just a waiting room for adulthood? A few real-life moves:
Say yes to opportunities
Your friend invites you to participate in a street drama for a social cause. Go for it. That “yes” could lead to a skill, a network, or a cause you’ll support. A senior asks you to help at a blood donation camp. Go. You might meet someone who inspires you and changes your perspective on the world. Someone proposes that you attend a session about which you know nothing. Sign up. You may uncover a secret talent for public speaking. A group is searching for someone to write articles, draw posters, or plan events. Try it. Even if it is outside of your comfort zone, it can help you develop skills you were unaware you possessed.
An opportunity does not always come with a sign “This will change your life.” Often, it appears as a minor request, an odd event, or a random note in your mailbox. However, saying yes opens up possibilities that staying “safe” would never provide.
Learn outside the classroom.
Volunteer, join clubs, attend workshops. A lot of real growth happens when you’re not chasing grades but chasing experiences.
Organising a university talent event may teach you more about collaboration and time management than any textbook. Volunteering at a beach cleanup can educate you how one modest action can result in a larger change.
Even if you were the quietest person in class, joining a debating club may give you the courage to speak in front of a crowd. Signing up for a first-aid course may one day help you save someone’s life.
Travelling to a rural village for a social initiative may expose you to realities that cannot be taught in a lecture hall. Shadowing a professional for a day can provide insight into what your ideal career entails. These events add chapters to your personal story.
Be the voice, not the echo.
If something feels wrong whether it’s littering in your neighborhood or unfair treatment in your workplace speak up.
Even small stands matter. If your friend is being excluded from a group chat for no reason, be the one who says, “Hey, that’s not fair.” If you notice someone struggling to carry heavy bags on the bus, offer to help. It’s not always about big speeches sometimes, it is about small actions that send a loud message.
Using your voice can include starting a petition for better pedestrian crossings near your school, criticizing unneeded single use plastics at events, or just reminding your team to recognise everyone’s contribution.
Being the voice indicates that you are willing to stand up, even if your voice shakes slightly. It shows that you care enough to be different, even when it is easier to remain silent.
Lift others up.
If you’ve found your path in something, guide someone who’s still searching. Sharing knowledge is how we multiply impact.
If you’ve figured out how to apply for a scholarship, share the process with a friend who’s still struggling. If you’ve learned a skill whether it’s public speaking, or even making the perfect presentation, teach someone else.
When your partner is worried before a big presentation, remind them of their abilities and encourage them. If a new club member appears lost, be the person who introduces them to others and helps them settle in.
Lifting others up entails not only large heroic acts, but also tiny, constant gestures that say, “I’ve got your back.”
Your support can be the motivation someone needs to take a risk, apply for a job, or believe in themselves again. When we build one other up, success becomes a shared experience rather than a competition. And the best part? Helping others does not make you lesser. It makes the entire community stronger.
A Youth Day Promise
This International Youth Day, let’s remember: youth isn’t just a time in life.It is a mindset.
Whether you’re brainstorming ideas in a university canteen, coding an app in your bedroom, or organizing a blood drive with your friends, you’re contributing to something bigger.
Let us commit to keep the spark alive, to use our energy not only for ourselves, but also to create communities that are kinder, stronger, and more connected. Because one day, someone will ask, “Who made this change possible?” The answer might be: We did.
Perhaps we’ll smile knowing that “we” includes everyone who believed they could make a difference. It will include those who stayed up late to complete a project that no one expected to succeed, those who stood in the rain waving banners for a cause they believed in, those who spoke up when it was easier to remain silent, and those who chose kindness when the world anticipated competitiveness.
It will be the story of a generation that didn’t wait for permission to act, that didn’t let fear win, that dared to dream big and do small things with great love.
And when we look back years from now, we’ll realize that International Youth Day wasn’t just a date on the calendar it was a reminder that our time is now.
Youth serve as a link between what the world is and what it has the potential to become. We are the link between tradition and innovation, between lessons learnt and possibilities still to be discovered. Every action we take, whether it’s planting a tree, mentoring a younger student, launching a social project, or simply choosing to be kind, is a step towards a brighter future. So let us walk that route together, carrying not just our own goals, but also the hopes of the communities we represent. Beca ause our journey is more than merely reaching a destination. Leaving a brighter path for future generations is the goal.
Written By: –
Rtr. Chathuri Imasha
(Junior Blog Team Member 2025-26)
Edited By: –
Rtr. Nethmini Pathirana
(Junior Blog Team Member 2025-26)
