The Journey of Voice of the Youth: From Adversity to Empowerment

In July of 2021, a seminar organized by a friend ignited a powerful idea within me: to embark on a five-year journey, traveling to fifty countries. The motivation behind this audacious plan stemmed from a deep desire for adventure and a growing dissatisfaction with my current workplace. Despite investing significant effort into my job, the returns seemed meager. Over the past three years, I had established a platform at work where individuals from diverse backgrounds could raise their voices, striving to create a culture that celebrated and valued the perspectives of people from all walks of life. During the seminar, this thought transformed into a broader vision—a vision to establish a similar platform for youth worldwide, while exploring the globe and working remotely. With the rising popularity of remote work, I envisioned merging the joys of travel with the pursuit of a fulfilling career.

Then in October of 2021, my professional journey took an unexpected turn. In a meeting devoid of any dialogue, my boss, a high-ranking executive, introduced another departmental leader and announced my new role. This experience served as a stark wake-up call, revealing the declining humanity within workplaces and how individuals could be treated in an inhumane manner. Despite the shock, I maintained my composure and embraced the new role. It was at this pivotal moment, amidst adversity, that I resolved to work remotely and set my sights on international destinations that would have minimal impact on my working hours. After consulting with select friends, I chose Guadalajara, Mexico, as my first remote working destination. Inspired by a dear friend whose background had deeply influenced me, I was determined to spend five weeks working remotely from this vibrant city.

Arriving in Guadalajara, I found myself in a city that was both exhilarating and unfamiliar. The language barrier posed a significant challenge, but with the assistance of my daughter and the revolutionary ‘Google Translate’ app, I found a way to bridge the gap. My entire trip depended on this invaluable tool. Over the course of those five weeks, my days were filled with work responsibilities, but the evenings offered an opportunity to immerse myself in the culture of Guadalajara. I strolled through the bustling streets of Guadalajara centro, a vibrant plaza that evoked fond memories of our family trips to Spain when my children were young. During this time, I reached out to local youth, establishing connections and engaging in conversations over lunch, in hotel lobby, and during my evening walks in Guadalajara Centro.

To gain insight into the aspirations and challenges of the youth, I meticulously crafted a set of open-ended questions designed to delve into their minds and understand their perspectives. Beyond the usual inquiries about their name, age, and education, I posed four thought-provoking questions:

1. If the youth had money and power, what would they do with it for their country?
2. If the youth had unlimited resources, how would they use them for their own benefit?
3. What could be done to eradicate poverty in their country or at a global level.
4. Did they have a dream for the youth of their country or the youth of the world?

These questions provided an opportunity for the youth to think beyond the confines of their current circumstances, imagining a world where power and money were already at their disposal. 

Throughout this process, I discovered an immense joy in conversing with and empowering the youth. It was not solely about the outcomes; it was the entire process that energized me. Despite the recent adversity I faced in my professional life, engaging with the younger generation and providing them with a platform to express themselves and be heard filled me with a profound sense of fulfillment. It became a mutually beneficial endeavor, as I experienced personal growth and the youth gained a voice in a world that often dismissed their perspectives.

Upon returning to my workplace, I was disheartened by the lack of professionalism and the absence of the inclusive culture I had hoped to cultivate. The pressures mounted as I transitioned into my new role, with the added expectation of passing the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification within six months. I witnessed a deficiency in people management skills among the department’s leadership. Despite the mounting pressure, I successfully obtained the certification, but the overall dissatisfaction with my work situation led me to ultimately resign in the summer.

During this period of transition, an unexpected opportunity arose. My ex-partner approached me with start-up ideas that had been brewing in his mind. Intrigued by the possibilities, I found myself drawn to India. Although the partnership did not materialize as expected, I seized the chance to travel across India with my parents. This journey served as the impetus for the creation of the ‘Indiareels’ YouTube channel in December 2022. As I interviewed and shared videos of Indian youth on the channel, memories of my interviews in Guadalajara resurfaced. Rather than creating separate channels for different countries such as ‘Mexicoreels’ and ‘Indiareels,’ I decided to manage various countries through playlists, thus giving birth to the ‘Worldreels’ channel.

Returning to the United States from India in mid-February 2023, I dedicated time at a meditation center before embarking on a transformative journey to explore all 48 states of the country. Building upon the success of ‘Voice of the Youth’ in Mexico and India, I initiated the ‘Voice of the Youth USA’ project, aiming to amplify the voices and perspectives of American youth.

Throughout this extraordinary journey, my unwavering inspiration stems from my two children, their friends, and my own childhood experiences. Growing up in India, the prevailing culture emphasized obedience and discouraged active listening to the youth. Our voices were often overshadowed or dismissed. Through my son’s personal struggle with addiction, I realized the dire need to understand the challenges faced by today’s youth. By providing them with a platform, I hoped to empower them, create awareness about their struggles, and shed light on the future they aspire to build—for themselves, their country, and the world at large.

The path I have traveled—from attending a seminar to leaving behind a dissatisfying job and embarking on a global journey—has been one of personal growth, empowerment, and the pursuit of a greater purpose. As ‘Worldreels’ continues to expand and evolve, I remain steadfast in my commitment to promoting understanding, empathy, and a brighter future for the youth, both locally and globally. By giving them a platform to be heard and fostering an environment that values their perspectives, I strive to facilitate positive change and create a world where the voices of the youth resonate loudly and are met with open minds and hearts. While I have covered twenty two states with over thirty five interviews with youth across these states in part one of my journey, part two begins next week.