Youth have always been the voice of change.

I am not saying that we don’t have a lot to learn from our elders. We do. They have experiences unparalleled to anything we will ever know.

But when it comes to making social advancements in society, it tends to be the younger generation that wants things to change.

Being aware of the problems of society is not necessarily a trait solely associated with youth. But having the energy, perseverance and will to search for solutions is.

When I go home to my predominately white, suburban town, I am reminded just how true that is. After living in the liberal atmosphere of campus, I wonder how I ever put up with the small-town mentalities of the adults in my hometown.

Or how I ever kept quiet about it.

My dad, who I admire, still makes derogatory remarks about people of other races and sexual orientations, despite the fact that he is friends with many of the same people he puts down.

I used to sit back and let him talk. Now the miniature activist in me cannot help but point out his ignorance and words of prejudice to him.

I am amazed at how someone so intelligent and kind could think these things about his fellow human beings. He never even questions why he thinks this way.

And then I realize. It’s not an excuse, but that’s how he grew up. His parents instilled those thoughts in him, as did the society from which he inherited his ideas .

This close-mindedness and unwillingness to accept new ways of thinking is what hinders social progress.

That is why it is up to us. It’s up to us to change the world’s views on what determines someone’s worth.

It is up to us to make affirmative action unnecessary. Not to complain about it - or question its necessity.

We need to create a world where we don’t even have to consider a person’s color.

Changing the mentality of society isn’t easy, but the world has advanced so much already. It is hard to conceive that the travesty of slavery was still in practice just over a hundred years ago.

So another century will pass and hopefully we will make even more of a difference.

We are growing up, and as we do, we are presented with more and more power. At 18, we can vote. A few more years and we will be the ones running the country.

I think this scares some adults. They worry about what this world has come to, the lack of values in our society. But I have hope that we will improve the world, rather than hinder it.

I remember being in high school, and thinking I would never make much of an impact on the world. Maybe I won’t. But that’s why I’m pursuing journalism - at least I will try.

But having a large audience isn’t the only way to make change.

Every day we can change the world around us, one person at a time. Treating every person in our lives with respect has countless rewards. Others will see the example.

Refuse to accept intolerant mentalities and object to racist comments.

I know there are a thousand cheesy quotes about changing the world. I am not talking about idealism or philosophy.

I am talking about values. Making a commitment to live a life based on principles, then sticking to them. It could the youth of the future a different outlook on the world.

In every history class, we hear about the people who changed the world. Those people are not better than you or me. Rather, they stuck to what they believed in at all costs. They saw a vision of the future that others thought was a fantasy. That is what made them extraordinary.

Some people fear change. Others live for it. The only way to improve things is to change them. The world will probably never be perfect, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try.

Conditions grow better with passing time. Each generation has made its contribution to social change. Women can vote. Blacks learn alongside whites. But we have so much more to do.

Now, it is our turn. We get to make our mark on the world. We can choose the changes that are going to occur, and we choose them with each one of our actions.

Live with the intent of improvement. Be the voice of change.

Tara May is a State News intern. Reach her at maytara@msu.edu.