Adriana Gómez Gómez
Executive Director
Mother of Juan Pablo (18) and Gabriel (15)
We often talk about young people, but not nearly enough with them. Worse still, too often we fail to truly see and hear them.
We notice them when there is a crisis. When mental health concerns are on the rise. When educational outcomes fall short. But perhaps the question we should be asking is this: What are we, as adults, doing to better understand adolescents and young people?
Because behind an “I’m fine” or a one-word answer, there are often questions that haven’t yet found the words to be spoken.
That is why listening must go beyond simply hearing. It must build trust.
Perhaps the best way to celebrate Youth Month is not by talking more about young people, but by listening to them more intentionally.
It is easy to assume that today’s generation has everything: instant access to information, technology, artificial intelligence, and opportunities that seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. Yet many are also facing growing loneliness, anxiety, social pressure, and uncertainty about the future. Having more tools does not always mean feeling more supported.
Adolescence is an extraordinary stage of life. It is a time of creativity, discovery, identity formation, and learning. It is when young people develop the confidence, sense of belonging, life aspirations, and decision-making skills that will shape the rest of their lives.
But none of that happens in isolation.
It happens within families, schools, communities, and digital spaces that can either become powerful protective environments or contribute to risk.
Support and trust change lives. Adolescents do not need perfect adults. They need present adults. Adults who ask questions but also know when to remain silent. Who stay beside them even when they do not have all the answers. Who can laugh with them, encourage them, and remind them that they do not have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
So this Youth Month, my invitation is not simply to celebrate young people for the positive impact they already have on our communities. It is also to reflect on how we relate to them.
Do we approach them with curiosity, or with the fear that they will replace us? Do we keep our distance because we struggle to understand them? Do we dismiss their perspectives simply because they see the world differently?
What if we chose a different path? One rooted in curiosity. In asking genuine questions before making assumptions. In believing in young people’s strengths before defining them by their struggles.
Because the way we, as adults, choose to see young people profoundly shapes the opportunities they have to grow, participate, and build meaningful lives.
JovenSalud, our free mobile app and online platform at jovensalud.net, is designed for adolescents and young adults ages 10 to 24. It offers a safe, trusted, and free space with tools, resources, and support services that empower young people to make informed decisions and strengthen their overall health and wellbeing.
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