We sat down with five teens from different neighborhoods, different schools, and different backgrounds. We asked them one question: 'What do you want adults to know about your generation?'
Their answers were honest, surprising, and deeply moving.
'We see what's happening'
'Adults think we're not paying attention,' said 16-year-old Aisha. 'But we see everything. We see the news. We see what's happening in our communities. We're not waiting anymore for someone else to fix it.'
'Stop underestimating us'
'Every time an adult says "you're so mature for your age," what they're really saying is they expected less,' said Marcus, 15. 'Stop underestimating us. We can handle more than you think.'
"We see everything. We're not waiting anymore for someone else to fix it."
"Stop underestimating us. We can handle more than you think."
Why This Matters
When adults truly listen to young people — not to respond, but to understand — everything changes. This conversation is a starting point.
What Happens Next
This roundtable is the first in a series. The next conversation will focus on mental health and social media.