Facing Reality

How many times have you asked yourself, What can I do for my country?

It is hard to answer, especially if you think the way most people do.

The majority of people have thought this. Instead of feeling responsible, they assume that it is not a big deal. They think that someone else is going to take care of the problem, or that others are going to come up with a great invention that is going to save us all. Because of this way of thinking, we are still at the some point of stale progression, and we often do not know all the problems our country is going through. Despite this, we still call our country's youth "Guatemala's Future." It is OUR responsibility to see and create meaningful change in the next generation.

Most of Guatemala's population lives in poor conditions. The much smaller percentage with a higher quality of life is looking forward to leaving the country to seek a better one elsewhere. Statistics show that more than 1.5 million Guatemalans have left the country, mostly searching for better opportunities in the United States. This generates a list of other problems that should be focused on. 8 - 10,000 teenagers are involved with gangs or drugs, which reduces their life expectancy by up to 50%. With the decrease in life expectancy, women are becoming pregnant younger. An average Guatemalan woman is expected to get pregnant at the age of twenty. This is concerning because at that age, it is frequently difficult to have a stable job or complete a formal education. These elements make for a potentially bad home for the children. Children are often born in broken families because of these things, and this causes the child to have a poor perspective on life. Other problems the child will face include limited opportunity for decent education, access to adequate nutrition, and living in poor housing.

Behind all of this darkness, Guatemala "the country of the eternal spring," can be a beautiful place to live. There is perfect weather, a rich cultural heritage left by our Mayan ancestors, and the natural landscapes that we find in each department. We just need to open our eyes to see our opportunities, and try not give up hope on our beautiful country. Stand against corruption, and be the change we want to see among Guatemalans. There is nothing better than to feel proud of where you come from.