2017 felt like a relentless stream of discouraging news, didn’t it?
Catastrophes, conflicts, anger, and aggression—the news cycle was so troubling and disheartening that it began to weigh on me. I found myself feeling anxious and hopeless. You can only absorb so many grim reports before you start thinking everything is beyond repair. People seem cruel, the planet is in chaos, and we’re heading for disaster. It’s easy to want to shut off the updates, lock the doors, hold your loved ones close, and ignore it all.
But that’s only part of the picture. While the headlines paint a bleak scene, there are countless compassionate individuals—young and old, from all walks of life—doing extraordinary things. Inspiring, selfless, and remarkable deeds. They’re building communities, supporting others, and mending the broken pieces. Hearing such stories fills you with optimism and a drive to contribute to something meaningful. Over the past year, I’ve realized that positive news is abundant if you seek it out. The five examples below from 2017 prove this.
If these young people are any sign, the future shines brightly.
Fifth grader creates device to stop infant hot-car tragedies
Bishop Curry, a 10-year-old inventor, has crafted fun gadgets like a homemade catapult and a ping pong ball launcher. But his 2017 viral invention could save lives. After learning about a local baby who died from being left in a hot car, Bishop devised Oasis—a device that attaches to a car seat, sending alerts to parents when the vehicle’s temperature becomes dangerous. It also includes a fan to cool the child while help arrives. This fifth grader is now raising funds to produce Oasis; his GoFundMe campaign has collected $50,000 since January.
Young girl raises funds to clear school’s hot lunch debt
Fidget spinners dominated toy trends this year, and savvy 11-year-old Lexi Bergeron capitalized on the craze. The Michigan fourth grader made her own fidget toys, selling them to peers for under a dollar. Instead of keeping the earnings, Lexi used them to settle her school’s $188 hot lunch debt. After a local news story spread, Lexi received over $2,000 in donations—enough to cover lunch debts for the entire school district.
16-year-old accepted to Harvard—classmates erupt with joy
With an acceptance rate barely above 5 percent, getting into Harvard University is a massive achievement. So when 16-year-old Ayrton Little from Louisiana learned he’d be attending the Ivy League school, his classmates couldn’t contain their excitement. It’s impossible not to smile watching their pure joy in the video as he receives the news. Ayrton isn’t the only one with big dreams—his brother Alex also got accepted to Stanford. The brothers credit their mother, who raised them alone, for their academic success. They also draw inspiration from their youngest brother, who passed away five years ago from an asthma attack. The siblings aim to launch nonprofits to assist other students. “Kids that grow up like me,” says Ayrton. “With a love of learning, but they may not have the resources to be able to go to Harvard or Stanford.”
Third grader addresses homelessness in Chicago
At just 9 years old, Jahkil Jackson is already a seasoned public speaker. This Chicago grade schooler is the young force behind Project I Am, a campaign to aid the homeless in his community. In 2017, Jahkil assembled and handed out over 3,000 “blessings bags” filled with toiletries, socks, and snacks to those in need, enlisting classmates, friends, and neighbors. As a recipient of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, he now regularly speaks to other children, encouraging them to take action and get involved.
High school ‘lunch club’ ensures no student eats alone
Lunchtime can be challenging for some kids. Outside the classroom, students without a social group may feel lonely and excluded. Florida teen Denis Estimon has many friends but wanted to help classmates who might feel left out. Members of the We Dine Together club circulate during lunch to connect with students eating alone. The initiative has been so successful that it’s set to expand to 200 high schools across the country in 2018. Denis, who immigrated from Haiti with his family in first grade, explains, “To me it’s like, if we don’t try to go make that change, who’s going to do it?”
Well put. Here’s to driving that change and discovering the good in 2018.
Image via iStock
