When we think of power, we tend to think of the qualities of greatness and largeness. We may imagine leaders who have built nations from the ground or even lions and tigers that rule the forest. Our minds are not immediately drawn to the smaller things that wield immense power, such as a single match that can burn an entire city or a tiny pinch of salt that can transform a whole meal.
Young people are often easily underestimated by those around them. More often than not, however, they tend to underestimate themselves. When we are constantly surrounded by adults who are much older than us and more experienced in several aspects, it is easy to compare ourselves to them and believe that we do not have anything more to offer. This is especially likely to occur when a young person is entering into a new field for the first time in his/her life. That young person imagines that he/she will have a lot to learn compared to those who have been a part of the field for several years. This manner of thinking can be quite harmful. It may lead us to forget that even small things can be quite powerful, especially when they are growing every minute.
Have you ever heard of the Mantis Shrimp? The Mantis Shrimp is a crustacean that is quite colourful and small. At first glance, it seems like nothing more than a bug-like creature. However, the Mantis Shrimp has some very interesting qualities. For instance, it can pack a punch with speeds up to 60 miles per hour, and is often described as having the force of a 22-calibre bullet. The Mantis Shrimp uses this ability to kill and feed on small animals, but is so powerful that it may even crack the glass of an aquarium. Additionally, research has also suggested that Mantis Shrimp perceive colour in a different way from human beings as they have the ability to see the world through 12 channels of colour while human beings only possess three channels of colour.
Like the Mantis Shrimp, young people are a source of great force and strength that is often overlooked, even by themselves. Not only are they powerful, but they also possess unique qualities that allow them to see the world in a way that those before them could not.
Being the youngest, newest or smallest in a setting can be unsettling, but these very qualities can become your superpower. When we are new, we are more inclined to experiment and explore in our field and are thus more likely to produce innovative solutions to old problems. Malala Yousafzai, was only a teenager when she spoke up for young girls’ right to education and survived an assassination attempt as a result of doing so. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was only five years old when he was composing his first pieces of music. Anne Frank was only 13 years old when she started writing the diary that has educated and moved millions of people today.
We are never too young to start changing the world, so push yourself and seize every opportunity to make a difference. Learn from those who have more experience and offer your ideas without being afraid to do so because your every thought is more valuable than you can ever imagine.
