An Open Letter c/o Youth

Guten morgen!

I was about to wait for a response but for me,

What is more important are the words between a greeting and a farewell.

My friend Linda Ellis said, “Your life is made of two dates and a dash.

Make the most of the dash.”

 

The following are true stories of people, stories of making the most of their dashes.

Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein and invented science fiction.

Sir Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravity and invented calculus.

William Shakespeare wrote King Lear.

A teacher wrote her winning piece for a spoken poetry contest addressed to the youth.

 

What is common in these stories? Their state of being when they did these remarkable things.

In isolation. Where are you now?

Youth, where are you now?

At home. Away from the four walls of a classroom.

These are wake-up calls for the youth.

Youth who are already bored in their houses.

Youth who are already in their houses bored.

Youth, think of yourself, your family, and the community.

Learn and help, get something out of your system while finding self-care in forms of productivity.

 

Explore intrinsic learning by discovering what you love and want.

The most difficult question is not “how?” but “when?”

When are you going to hold that microphone,

And sing your favorite songs with your family?

Yes, your family is your backup singers in this stage.

Now is the right time to hit the right note.

Discover who has a green thumb in the family,

Make a garden, hear the green grass grow.

Do household chores without them telling you,

Eat with them, talk with them, play with them,

Make a very long list of the things you want to do with them

Include reading, writing, dancing, drawing, painting, running

until you run out of ideas,

But you will never run out of ideas

Believe me, if you will not forget praying on the list.

 

When are you going to raise your hand, lend a hand,

And support your community?

Yes, your community needs youth like you in this crisis.

You can connect with your neighbors.

Consider donating your extra items, if you are capable.

Volunteer for organizations, use your voice to advocate

For individuals and organizations who need your help.

 

May you not get tired of singing

The happy birthday song while washing your hands.

May you not get tired of pulling yourself together during isolation.

May you not get tired of wearing a smile under your mask.

Be kind so that you’ll have good stories to tell

So that you’ll have great lessons to share.

But when?

 

I bet Mary Shelley, Sir Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare,

And the teacher knew the answer.

But among them, as of now, only the teacher can give you the answer.

The motivation that most of you, the youth need for productivity.

"It’s now or never! Class dismissed.”

I said.

P.S. Carpe diem!