2008. 2008 is the year I should have bought my first house. I was five years old that year, wishing like every eager kid to grow up and explore the world. Now, I'm almost 21, wishing for just the opposite. When I was a kid, I was excited for the idea of living the American dream with a nice house and white picket fence. Now when I think about the American dream, I think about a train wreck. I took the time to really sit and think about the last 16 years and all that came with them. In 2008, we had the housing crisis. In 2012, we all thought the world was going to end. 2016 brought us crazy clowns, and 2020, of course, brought us the infamous pandemic. Now it's 2024 and I'm about to graduate college with not a clue what the world has in store for me. This should be the best time of my life, but instead I fear what my future has ready for me. Whether I will find a job or apply to 1,000 and never find a thing. When I think about my future, I think about the very real idea that I won't be able to afford the lifestyle I have always dreamed of. Let's face it. 2024 is not the year that anybody wants to start their life. I would argue that the United States is not the same comforting, safe United States that I grew up in. What the world was, those short 16 years ago is not what we see today. Now it is overrun by political unrest, far leaning opinions, and a prevalent sense of anxiety that permeates every corner of society wreaking havoc in the streets of our country. The great nation that we once claim to be is no hunger. Amidst all of this turmoil and the pandemic, people's mental health has taken a big hit with stress, anxiety, depression, and uncertainty becoming all too common, over 50% of people say that they are overwhelmed and stressed about the thought of their future. If I could write my own future, I would write it back in 2008 and start it there. But since I can't, I guess I will settle for working the hardest I can take action for my life and those around me, advocate for the change I dreamed of when I was five, and grow to be better as a community. I can't control exactly how my future will unfold, but I have the power to shape my present and influence the way I want my future to look. For now, I will start there and see where it takes me.
Who Really Knows What Tomorrow Is by Kaitlyn Sill
From Melissa Betau April 23, 2024
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Third place winner of the 2024 Voices of UD contest: Kaitlyn Sill, a Communication and
Political Science junior, reflects on growing up amidst tumultuous times, from
the housing crisis to the pandemic. She aims to shape her future through hard
work, advocacy, and community building.
This audio recording was submitted for the Voices of UD 2024 audio essay contest for students, hosted by the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. The Voices of UD project is open for all to participate, but the annual contest is open to UD students only. The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Visual editing created at https://app.wavve.co/.
This audio recording was submitted for the Voices of UD 2024 audio essay contest for students, hosted by the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. The Voices of UD project is open for all to participate, but the annual contest is open to UD students only. The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Visual editing created at https://app.wavve.co/.
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- Communication
- Date Established
- March 22, 2024
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