AS a young person who is also a carer, a mother, the First Minister’s mentee, and a Year of Young 2018 Ambassador, 2018 is very important to me.
It is Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 – a year focused on what young people want. It will show everyone that young people have many roles to play, and the stereotypes which I too often hear (“addicted to their phones”, “selfish” and “lazy”) will disappear.
Too often young people are told they will never amount to anything – especially young parents. My hope for 2018 is that every young person living in Scotland is encouraged to use their voice and speak up. We hear, but do we truly listen? There are some amazing ideas and talents hidden away in our young people. Listen, encourage and empower them, and soon you will see them.
Could you imagine a world where every child believed in themselves? I can. Some may say that is an unrealistic hope, but then again so was being mentored by the First Minister, and look at me now.
Being given the support and confidence to able to use my voice has changed my life. Imagine giving other young people a chance to do the same.
Charlotte Liddell (age 20)
Fife
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel