I want to talk to you about a uniquely gutting feeling: letting a young person down.
I'm not a parent, but some of my close friends are. A few times, I've wanted to show up for a young person or group of young people, be there when they needed me, and failed.
The sinking in my stomach is one of the most uniquely painful feelings I've ever experienced.
Young people depend on us to not just support them and guide them through their early life, but to be role models. Not everyone accepts this responsibility, but whether you want to or not, you get looked up to. You set an example with your behavior, your self love, and your attitude towards others.
When Human Centric Media made these photos of students graduating from Open School East, that's what I was thinking about — letting young people down. How I never wanted to feel that way again. How I'd work very hard to never overlook a young person's feelings or experience ever again.
In a community like this, we count on each other. It's a beautiful thing worth defending.
