With everything that’s going on in the world, many people can lose the motivation to get up in the morning. It might feel as though they can’t make a difference or that everything is messed up and full of hate. They might wonder, “what’s the point of doing anything?” Some advice I have for you is that even if there are so many things wrong in the world and so many people filled with hate, why should you let that stop you? Shouldn’t that encourage you to be one of those people that is a light in all this darkness? I have sometimes found myself wondering, “why can’t I do all the things I want to do to help people?” And you know what? A wise man once told me that you may not see it or even know it, but you are making a difference in someone’s life. Just by living and by being there for a person, you are helping them. You don’t have to focus on saving the entire world from destruction, because as much as we all want to, we can’t. However, don’t let that stop you from changing the lives of those around you, the people close to you. Whether you know it or not, the little things you do can make a huge difference. And trust me, there are other people going through what you’re going through. I’ve asked several of our peers, “what motivates you?” Let’s see their answers:

“When I don’t want to do something or just feel unmotivated the thing that motivates me is my expectations for myself and who I want to be.” 

-Ruby Dungan  (10th grade) 

“I like to always remember this quote which is ‘Pain is only temporary, quitting lasts forever’. I play soccer so this quote just keeps me pushing myself to do my best.”

  -Owen McCully (9th grade)

“The thing that motivates me most, is my mom. She motivates me because no matter what the world has thrown at her she has kept on fighting.”

-Bailie Kennady (9th grade)

There is a quote that I’ll never forget. It says, “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.” It helps me realize that I can not be put out, and I can not be diminished. Nothing can keep me from excelling or making a difference in other people’s lives. I hope everyone comes to realize that they too, are worth it. It is worth living. It’s worth living for yourself and to make a difference in the world, even just by visiting your grandma. As small as it may seem, it means the world to her.