During saddening and stressful times such as these, it is easy to become disheartened and overwhelmed by tragedy. Devastating events can range from injustices in the courts, to death amidst cities and neighborhoods. Each of these events stir up emotions of frustration, discomfort, or sadness. You may feel a want to do something but have no idea where to start, a perfectly understandable situation that we all find ourselves in sometimes. Don’t become settled into hopelessness; take a moment to collect yourself and try to take some of the following actions.
Work towards informing yourself about the situation.
While Instagram infographics can be an easy way to stay informed, try taking your sources of information past social media. News sites like and the can be a thorough source without a strong bias, and local news sources are more likely to provide detailed and specific coverage on incidents that happen within their own areas. As you are researching and learning about recent events, consider similar questions to the following: “Has this happened before in history? “What are the factors that led to this moment occurring?” “Is this event still developing, what information is potentially missing?” Nothing truly exists in a bubble. You could find within your research the historical and political context needed to explain or understand why something may have happened. However, something important to remember is to not exhaust yourself. You do not have to stay plugged into the news constantly; witnessing and learning about distressing subjects can take a toll on your psyche.
Learn and understand what issues mean the most to you.
Similarly to your absorption of news, you cannot be expected to fully understand every issue which becomes relevant to the public. When working to understand which issues mean the most to you, try initial broad learning sweeps, paired with self reflection. What are the key topics that impact and influence you in your everyday life? Do you have a love for nature and the environment? Is race and its workings something that you find yourself contemplating often? It is important to be aware about modern issues; however, when you understand which ones you carry the most passion for, you are able to work towards more nuanced and in depth views on those matters. With the topics that you focus on, you can pursue theory and other relevant literature, but it is important to not forget the ways in which issues can overlap and shape one another.
Look for local organizations, clubs, committees, or events where you can participate.
Education is important, but so is action. Consider looking locally for ways that you can engage with others and work towards the future that you want to see. Social media sites from Instagram to Facebook are home to pages which host and publicize organizations and clubs which are likely working on the issues that you care about. Take some time to do some research on potential matches and see if the efforts they take are something that you agree with and if it is relevant and reasonable for you to join. Not all political participation will look like protests. Groups that you may want to join can range from art-based activism to cooking and mutual aid. You very likely may find one which aligns with the passions you already hold.
Take care of your own mental health.
No one is immune to burnout. While in your frenzy to work towards bettering the world, you may forget to maintain your own mental well-being. Take some time to remember that the world is not made up of only pain and injustice. Look towards the people, ideas, and events which motivate you, and remind yourself the reason why you are fighting for a stronger future. Whether healing looks like disconnecting from news or a long hug from a loved one, do what you feel is necessary for you to be able to be the best self that you can be.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 老司机传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 老司机传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.