There are a lot of ideas that come to mind when I think of things that I could do to make the world a better place. However, after some consideration, I concluded that as for me, I will make it my mission to advocate against child marriage in the United States. I believe that child marriage is a phenomenon that should 100% be abolished, not only in the United States but worldwide. Obviously, it is near impossible to create or abolish a law on that scale, however, starting in the United States would be a giant leap nonetheless. To be clear, by child marriage, I am not referring to two 16-year-olds deciding to get married. I am referring to the fact that parents can marry off their daughters who are as young as 12 to adult men. Equality Now reports that child marriage is still legal in 41 out of 50 states. It is a clear-cut violation of the human rights that we all deserve to have as human beings. Several arguments have been made in defense of child marriage. One that I imagine to be popular is the argument that if both parties consent to the union, then there is no problem. However, there is a problem. Almost half of the states in the nation do not have a minimum age for marriage. There is no situation where a 10-year-old child should be put in the position to consent to a marital union. Absolutely none. However, because oftentimes children’s voices are not heard or respected, parents can essentially force their children into marriage with anyone of any age. The part that surprises and disgusts me the most is the fact that it is seldom talked about. As a future attorney, I make it a point to keep up with current events by watching different news channels, listening to NPR, reading the New York Times, etc. However, I had to dig deep to find news about child marriage legislation. This is a problem that needs to be addressed. It is difficult to make change when not enough people are aware of the problem. Not everyone is aware that many young girls out there are essentially being wed to their rapists. It is strong language, however, it holds truth. Of course, there are other ways that I can make a difference in this world: I limit my fast fashion consumption, I try to reduce my meat intake, and I recycle among other things. However, there is just something about the idea and principle behind child marriage that creates this stir inside of me to take action. So that is exactly what I am going to do.

My mother is a powerhouse. I tell that to everyone who asks what she does for a living. Whenever I'm tired or burnt out, I force myself to keep going because that's what she would do, it's what she did for me. My mom is an immigrant. She came here from Cameroon when she was 22 and got pregnant with me three years later. Her dream ever since she was a little girl was to become a doctor. She did some schooling in her home country but came here to get the best education possible. However, life for an immigrant in the United States is never easy. There were times when she was in danger of being deported back to Cameroon. However, in the face of it all, she remained resilient. That's what amazes me the most about my mom. Her resilience, her tenacity. She fights for what she wants. She didn't start medical school until she was 33 years old, but she never stopped fighting along the way. She survived an abusive marriage with my father, she took care of me all on her own for the first couple of years of my life, she took care of my brother whom she gave birth to while in medical school, she made sure I got good grades, and she made sure that I was always fed, even if she didn't get to eat for herself. Oftentimes as a child when my mother was still in medical school, I would wonder why she was doing all of this. Even as a child, I could recognize that my mother was tired down to her bones. She was utterly exhausted. There was a point in time where I never once saw her eat or sleep. I never asked the question in so many words. However, I know that even though she was doing it for herself, to make her dream come true, she was doing it for me as well. She was putting in all of this work so that I could have a good life. My mom inspires me because she is a survivor, She has risen above everything that has happened to her: immigration, an abusive marriage, an unplanned pregnancy, starting medical school late, getting pregnant during medical school, a miscarriage, getting pregnant again, giving birth. She rose above everything that came her way while providing a good life for her two children. And for that, I will always look up to her, because in my eyes, she is the true emblem of strength.

"And when are all my excuses of learning my lessons gonna start to feel sad? / Will I spend all the rest of my years wishin' I could go back?" Ever since GUTS was released, this has been the one song that has been on repeat. I turn 18 this year. It's something that I've been looking forward to for a long, long time. Ever since Covid, it's like this switch has been turned. I'm getting older and hitting all of these milestones. I can drive now, I have a job, I'm going to university. But at the same time, it's like I'm still stuck. In some ways, though I'm excited to grow, I still feel like a kid. I still feel as though I have so many lessons to learn before I'm thrown out into the world. I was always the kid who was beyond excited to grow up and go to university. I had the school picked out when I was thirteen and was accepted in October of my senior year. At the time I was ecstatic, but now it's January and it's becoming real. There's so much I haven't experienced yet, so many people in my current school that I haven't talked to. I feel as though it's almost too late. I get this heaviness in my heart, it's like a weight that appears when I realize that I am going to lose my childhood soon. I feel as though I just didn't do enough, and soon enough I won't have the chance. It's a beautiful song, a beautiful album really, but this song will always get me. There are a lot of songs about 'the teenage dream' and overly romanticized lyrics and poetry about the beauty of being 16, 17, or 18. And while there are some angsty songs out there as well, not many resonate with me as much as Liv's song does. I think that has something to do with the fact that I feel as though I've grown up with her. Not in a parasocial relationship sort of way, but in the sense that in almost any major stage of my childhood, I look back and realize that Olivia Rodrigo was a part of it. Back when I was 8 and playing with American Girl Dolls, I was watching Liv in Grace Stirs Up Success and I wanted to be her. It makes me laugh to think of it now. Then Bizardvark when I was around 11, seeing her shine on screen in HSMTMTS. Hearing her sing her songs now almost makes me feel as though we've all been through life, we've all lived and grown up. Not just me and Liv, but every young person. Since GUTS has come out, Olivia has exited her teenage years, and soon I will do the same, but it's comforting to know that I'm not the only one holding on to my childhood for dear life.