My Thoughts Monday: I am really scared for the general American youth populace. (RANT.)

I'm about to age myself half a century here, but I'm really concerned about kids today.

This is about to get fairly preachy, so...you've been warned. I don't often get so flustered by things, but every now and again, it does happen.

I can only speak for American kids/adolescents because I am one of them. But I definitely think something's amiss, and it sure isn't good.

The fact that I am more informed in current events and politics than a lot of my friends really freaks me out because, to be blatantly honest with you, I am not that informed. I listen to NPR daily and browse a host of newspaper websites daily, but I still only get a smattering of what's actually happening in the world.

I am a college student. I am surrounded by other people on a daily basis who chose to pay huge sums of money to further their educations. The fact that SO MANY of them don't give even a hint of a crap about what's going on outside their personal bubbles terrifies me.

It's not even that they have to be interested in politics or current affairs.

Maybe just...read an interesting article in a magazine.

Or talk about something besides general gossip.

I don't know how this is even possible, but since coming to college, I have been almost entirely starved of intellectual conversation. Thank god for the newspaper staff, because in the midst of generally inappropriate jokes, we would engage in lively, stimulating discussions about things. A wide spectrum of things.

In my classes, I often found I became that annoying girl who raised my hand constantly because I just really wanted to engage in some kind of interesting conversation.

It didn't have to be the global economic system or upheaval in the Middle East.

Just something outside of "So Mary told John that I went out with Jack and I'm so, so pissed about it and I think I will have a drink now."

I have friends who don't know a thing about what's going on politically or in the local news, but they ask great questions about simple things. I cherish the heck out of that because it is horrifically rare.

And if I ask other people questions outside the general "How are you?" or "Have you heard what Sally did on Saturday?" they look at me like I just insulted them in a dead language.

This is not to say I think people are stupid. Talk to a little kid, and you know people aren't stupid.

They have the capability to be curious and intelligent, and to always want to know more.

I just think people limit themselves to a dismal level when they get too immersed in pop culture and the herd mentality. They focus more on clothes and social status and instagramming their breakfast than they do on what's happening beyond their personal realm.

Clothes and social life are important, but only to an extent. At some point, that stuff is totally empty. (By "social life," I mean Facebook and general gossip. True time with family and friends is obviously different, and incredibly beneficial.)
But fresh ideas, and the willingness to always ask "Why?" has no bounds.

Again, this is not to say it's bad to pay attention to your personal life, but I know far too many people who are so terrified of the unknown that they stunt their personal growth before it's really even begun.

And right now, two weeks before graduating and stepping into the "real world,"

I hope to be someone who offers up unique, interesting thoughts and a fresh perspective.