What Young People Need

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What do young people need more from adults in their life? As adults, are we doing a good enough job providing these things? Young people need:

To be seen

To be valued

To be heard

To be accepted

To be cared for

To feel safe

To feel loved

To feel that they matter

To feel a sense of purpose

To have important mentors

To have emotional regulation modeled to them by important adults in their life

To have a safe space to express their emotions

To have boundaries placed on them

To know it’s OK to be angry

To know that anger doesn’t last forever

To know that it’s not OK to hurt others

To know that the words they use with others matters

To know that they are not alone in their hurt

To know that everyone is lonely at times

To know that, despite the chaos and disconnect in the world, it is still a beautiful place

To know that surrounding themselves with the right people matters

To know that their contribution to the world matters

To know they have an important voice

To know that their actions can change another person’s life for  better or worse
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The list could go on and on, but in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas massacre, I can’t help but think we are failing the youth of today.

Can we do better?

I cannot imagine the enormous pain and grief the families of the victims are going through at this moment. 

To the countless teachers, coaches, and other adults who have devoted themselves to providing the conditions described above, keep doing what you are doing. The world needs you more than ever.

To all the victims of the senseless, brutal, and tragic shooting in Texas, may you rest in peace and never be forgotten.