With the rise of the internet it seems like all we hear about is bad news, and with the rise of modern technologies like iPhones and AI people are starting to ring alarm bells for the end of the world. I know people in my own life who believe that we are helpless to change anything.

Despite the existential dread much of Gen-Z feels, when I opened up the New York Times Learning Prompt, which asked how I have hope that my generation can change the world, I realized that I do have faith in the change we can create. Sometimes, it feels like the world is getting so much worse, that things are going wrong and we are powerless to stop them, and maybe we are, but I find it so admirable how I’ve seen people stand up for what they believe. 

The Ames High Student Walkout against ICE in February shows how a small group of people can get together and organize something to defend what they believe. This situation is an excellent demonstration of how our generation, and even just our school, can come together to fight for something that we view as the collective good. 

While these organized protests may seem small and insignificant, the fact is that according to Pew Research Center, “Compared with older adults, Gen Zers and Millennials are talking more about the need for action on climate change; …they are seeing more climate change content online; and they are doing more to get involved with the issue through activities such as volunteering and attending rallies and protests.” 

So while some members of Gen-Z may feel like what we have to say doesn’t matter, I believe that standing up for what you believe in is valuable, and we can change the world.