the first black president
progressiveness and our souls at birth
we are the generation that grew up with
smart boards in our classrooms the
piercing sound of white chalk on a dusty
green board unfamiliar to our ears we
are the generation that grew up and are
still growing with the world at our
fingertips but we are seen as the app
generation the selfie generation the
cynical clicking of keys on a keyboard
iPhones Android smart everything but we
are much more than I stuck to blast
screens a thumb pressing share 140
characters a 10-second photo that
appears then disappears this is
generation we and we are the future I
walk the halls of rye neck high school
rhythm flowing through my ears I walked
to a beat among my peers I see smiles
people constantly embracing one another
I observe the classic weary eyes of a
student that started there sa too late
but I also see students dedicated to
their work I see persistence positivity
glowing curious minds I see beautiful
they say technology changes us and I say
yes they do we connect we inspire and we
empower we aren’t here to play on our
phones not without putting them to good
use to spread the right information not
alternative fact this is the weed
generation not me me me we are an
open-minded generation that builds
bridges between people of different
backgrounds creating incredible
connections around the globe not walls
that will divide us me my peers people
my generation around the world we yearn
to interact we use their social medias
to voice who we are and create welcoming
environments for all so don’t tell us to
put down our phones we’re making a
bigger
difference than you think why elected
officials who are supposed to represent
everyone vote to show that an
individual’s identity is not valid
enough for them to use the bathroom that
they are comfortable with we create an
environment that welcomes them and
reassures them generation we is about
coming together not separation of any
kind our phones video games and laptops
they do not numb us we have access to
everything we learn quickly and we
process fast we are what’s next the 16
year old you see today is the activist
of tomorrow tonight you see curiosity
you see passion you see the remarkable
intelligence that our phones have not
stripped from us generation we is here and what you see tonight is what’s next