SOPHIA CORST

When I think of Our Lives Matter, the first thing that comes to mind is that we share one incredible thing in common, and that is the fact that we are all human. It’s easy to “take sides” in the world around you as a way to make sense of where you land amidst all the chaos, but it closes your mind to questions you might not have even known you had. When you read history textbooks, you get the perspective from where you live. When you follow the news, you retain information from sources you choose to browse! None of us are always right, and no issue is simply black and white. If it really were that simple, nobody would have a reason to argue about it. If we take on the lens that all of our lives carry equal importance, we won’t feel the need to separate ourselves with labels. Instead, we would use our own minds and voices to share what makes us unique, possess the ability to WANT to value the positives in everyone’s opinions, and we’d stop putting down people who aren’t exactly like us. Because let’s face it… nobody is. For that basic principle alone, our lives matter.

My life matters because I think for myself. It is your choice to listen to me, to even to read this comment, but I choose to write this knowing damn well that you haven’t read my words before, and I am humbled by the notion that my prerogative isn’t more important than anyone else’s.