Episode: 324

Episode Title: Do I Matter?

Do I matter? It’s the most fundamental question a young person can ask—and one that requires more than an automatic answer. Find out more, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 324 show:

Hello—you’re now in The Perna Syndicate! All week we’ve been talking about the three silent questions that young people are asking: Do you see me? Do you hear me? Do I matter? In a way, the first two questions really lead up to the final one. 

If you don’t see or hear me, clearly I don’t matter to you. That’s a given. But if you do see and hear me, what then? In what way do I matter? Am I just a box to be checked, a problem to be solved, a number? Do I, as a person, truly matter?

Of course, as parents, educators, and employers, our kneejerk response to this question is, of course you matter! I’m sure that any of us, given that question, would automatically respond with an impassioned flow of words. 

But this is a question that is not often asked in words, and so it can’t be answered that way. Actions speak louder here, as in so many areas of life. Giving them our time, treating them with unfailing respect, sticking with them even when they’re difficult, never giving up on them—you wouldn’t do that for a cause that didn’t matter. And they know it. 

We can make a difference in the life of a young person. We can proactively tell them they’re seen, heard, and valued—and the world is a better place because they’re in it. 

For some young people, we may be the only voice saying this. Our actions speak louder than any words. Let’s make it loud and clear as we let them know: you matter.  

Tomorrow: there’s only way that raising expectations can also raise a person’s performance. Find out more on the next episode of The Perna Syndicate. See you then!