I Am More

Recently, there was an opportunity to attend an event I wanted to go to. Unfortunately, due to financial restraints, I couldn’t.

Of course, this is upsetting and, to some extent, hurtful. I felt excluded and really small. I wanted to attend the event because a) I liked the topic, b) my friends would be there, and c) I would learn a lot about activism and what I wanted to do going forward.

In wallowing and wondering what my next steps in activism and my life are, I realised that this shouldn’t matter. As an activist, we get hung up on the idea of having to be somebody, and that somebody has to be at these types of events. If you’re not there, you’re not valuable. You’re not a young person who is an activist worth knowing, you don’t have a platform or an impact, and no one cares about the silly blogs you write. You have to watch the posts and stories of people who went and had a great time and learnt lessons about the space we’re in.

I guess that there are always other events. But if my status as an activist is tied to what events I am seen at, how worthwhile is the work I do? Is it just to fit in with others and gain recognition?

I don’t want to be that kind of activist. Not being at one event doesn’t make me any less of who I am and what I do. And really, how can I compare myself to those who are in different cities from me? I can only really take advantage of the opportunities that are where I am, and that are free or as cheap as possible.

Activism is about standing up for others, for championing causes that need attention. It doesn’t require attendance at 5 events because other activists are there. And even this, within itself, having activist friends can be challenging because there are different ideas of how to do this role in the best way.

I feel like this applies not only to activists but also to anyone. One event doesn’t define your worth, your contribution, or your status. You are more than that; there will be other opportunities, bigger and better, that you have to look forward to.

I am more than this singular event. There will always be an abundance of events. But there will only ever be me as a person. And that’s the lesson, that we are all more than a singular event.

Author photographed in Germany for a work trip earlier this year

*Photo is owned by the author, all rights reserved 

#activist #activism #youth #youngperson #youngpeople #selfworth