Everywhere we go, adults say that the youth are the future, that it is the youth's duty to save the world from the miscalculated decisions adults make. Adults say that they have failed, and the youth must succeed.

Frankly, it’s easier said than done. 

When I think of ‘youth’, I think of young people who are burdened by the ‘great expectations’ of adults. Yet, I also believe that this is a generation that is entirely capable of exceeding these expectations. 

As children, we think that we can save the world: stop the production of plastic, save turtles, and reduce air pollution. Yet, as you grow older, the naivety fades away into reality as you realise that the world is structured upon the decisions of adults and that it takes a staggering amount of paperwork, meetings, speeches and statistics to make one simple decision. Then, it takes an equally long time to execute it. In the process of these lengthy tasks, adults have lost sight of the root course of many of the problems our communities have. 

If the youth had to serve one goal of the Commonwealth, it should be education — whether it's through educational institutes, or vocational training on different skills. Without education or vocational training, it's difficult to get a job and earn wages. This leads to struggling families and increased crime. Without a job and a source of income, many lose hope, energy, and determination to do something. One simple act towards improving education in a community goes a long way, and it could change a person’s life.

 Us, youths, are the catalysts of global action, therefore, we should have the ability to display our potential to the world. Sadly, in rural areas, people who are talented in a variety of ways are unable to highlight their potential due to a lack of opportunities, but the youth are known for their stubbornness and purely wilful determination. One way to overcome this issue is through social media. The stereotypical and prejudicial perspective that social media is just a source of bullying and distraction is quenched by the rising number of voices of the youth that educate others on their new ideas and innovations that would have previously gone unnoticed. Social media provides a platform for the youth where their talent and opinions can be showcased, acknowledged, and talked about all over the world.

 For a greater reach and a greater impact around the world, group work and cooperation are needed. Collectively, and by using our full potential, the youth can break down the barriers of language, race and nationality to educate others. For example, designing and driving campaigns and becoming advocates to educate people on issues such as global warming, gender equality, and pollution is a way of collectively acting towards a cause. These platforms are where the youth can voice out their opinions freely, and where bystanders can listen, understand, and learn about the cause. Awareness campaigns such as beach clean-ups are also a welcomed activity where the youth can serve the Commonwealth collectively. 

This just goes on to show that serving the Commonwealth as a youth does not mean attending bland meetings and forcing unfamiliar statistics into your head. It also shows that with the collective effort and the cooperation of group work, the result would have a greater impact. By using the help of associations that are keen to genuinely help the youth, such as the Commonwealth and VoiceBox, the impacts of the youth can even reach the eyes and ears of governments, world leaders and organisations. These associations help the youth by giving them opportunities to talk directly and express their opinions with politicians and leaders of other organisations and countries. In addition, associations like these support and promote the voices of the youth as we advocate for action, education, and peace. 

When the voices of the youth, which used to fall on deaf ears, are finally heard, and their impacts gratefully acknowledged, the world changes its course to global action.

 Which, frankly, seems like a pretty sweet deal to me.