I am 14 years old.

By law and by science, I am still and I am

just a child. Someone who is supposed to be taken cared of
primarily by my parents and to be protected by the community at
large.
In fact, music, television shows, and fashion would be among
the normal and usual things that I should be enjoying. owever,
we all know that life is not always about enjoying the scenery. It is
also about responsibility.
!nd that would bring me to the ne"t thoughts that I will
share to you.
#rogress and development are two $uite abstract words. Big
words. But as a child and a student, who typically hears these
words in school and in other places, I believe I must come to
terms with these concepts amid the fast changing things around
me.
%very one of us here has most likely heard of the problems
that our society has, especially those that involve our
government. &e have the issue about the 'isbursement
!cceleration #rogram and the #riority 'evelopment !ssistance
(und. &e also have the ever)present matters on poverty,
calamities, crimes, and other dilemma that we have to face on a
daily basis.
*hese are serious matters that need serious discussions and
solutions. !nd as a kid, one logical $uestion to ask would be,
+&hat can I do to help solve these despite my tender age,-
*hat is where the ne"t big words would come in. 'ynamic
partnership. *hese words are usually paired when the role of the
youth is related with the functions of the government.
!lthough by law and by science I am but a child whose voice
will be most likely lost in the market of opinions about social ills .
by law and by science, I am also a member of the community
whose idealism is more often than not, a welcome addition to the
discussions on how to make our lives better.
*ake the case of our home city/ *alisay 0ity. It is vying to be
one of the top retirement destinations in the country by the year
1212. &hat can I do as a child,
(irst, I can and I will study harder so that my mind would be
developed toward positive thoughts and actions. *he things that I
learn from the four corners of the classroom and the school
campus would then be useful as I help my parents and siblings
maintain a home that is conducive to a model family life.
*his kind of family life, in turn, would help me become a
dependable member of the community. 3y surroundings would be
clean as I will segregate my trash before properly disposing it.
4aw violators are not safe from my eyes as I will report them to
the proper authorities.
(urther, even as a child, I can contribute to food security as I
will buy snacks from local vendors or sellers so that they will
continue to thrive and be part of our city5s local economy.
*hese and a lot more are the things that I yearn as a child so
that when my parents, teachers, and other people look at me,
they can tell themselves that I am part of the youth who can truly
be the hope of the future.
*hese and a lot more are thoughts that I need to share to
you, especially to you, my fellow children, so that you, too, would
notice that while music, television shows, and fashion are among
the things that we should be enjoying, it certainly would not hurt
if we will also care about being positive partners of the
government. It would not hurt if we will care about more progress
and more development. !fter all, the things that we are enjoying
now came true because many children before us also cared for
the future.
&aswas, bugsay, *alisay6