We live in a world where we become interested and involved in issues only if they directly affect our lives and lifestyles. Instead, we should focus on our shared humanity, working to ensure that tomorrow’s headlines don’t involve innocent people losing their lives.

Although many accuse this generation of being hyper focused on social media, we have used this platform to come together, listen to one another and ultimately make a positive change for generations to come. 

Many of us have already experienced the loss of a loved one. We have lived through horrific times: 9/11, school shootings and a global pandemic. COVID-19 may be affecting everyone’s health, but the social injustices that we see—or that we choose to ignore—won’t go away until we face the problem: ourselves.

We should be working to uplift each other. My hope is that one day the University of Delaware will flourish with diversity. Here and now, we have the opportunity to work together for the betterment of the next generation. A single person can initiate the change but it takes a whole society to make the change happen.   

Brenda Juarez earned her degree in human services with a clinical concentration and a minor in Spanish for healthcare. She hopes to take a gap year or two to save up money for graduate school where she plans to earn a master’s degree in social work or public health.