Welcome to Mindshift Power podcast, a show for teenagers and the adults who work with them, where we have raw and honest conversations. I'm your host, Fatima Bey, the mind shifter. And welcome, everyone. Today, we have with us we're gonna call her Bobo. She's 14 years old, and we're not here to hear about your opinion or mine.

We're actually here to listen to hers. She represents a huge sentiment across the country from young women right now. I am actually doing this episode because it was brought to me. Just like when I had a young man on a few weeks ago telling us why he was voting for Trump, it wasn't a reflection of my opinion. It was a reflection of listening to our youth.

And like that episode, this is also a reflection of listening to another segment of our population. We need to listen to them instead of us just always talking at them. I I always say that, and I'm representing that, demonstrating that here today. And her generation, it's important that we listen to them because they will have to experience the repercussion of this next administration heavier than us adults because they're growing and developing through it, and then they'll have to deal with the aftereffects as they go into adulthood. So how are you doing today, Bobo?

感覺挺好的。很高興來到這裡。很好。很高興你來。像往常一樣，我喜歡直接投入其中。

So why don't you tell the audience how you were feeling when you found out that Trump actually won? So you see, the funny thing is when I found out it was the morning after the election day. So Wednesday, it's like five something in the morning. And the first thing I do when I get up is search on my phone who won election twenty twenty four. And I found out it was Donald Trump.

Now the election result wasn't the most shocking part. You know, I had kind of foreseen this. It was kind of expected for me, but there's always that sliver of hope that, you know, our country is better than this. There's no way that we could vote for, you know, a liar, a cheat, a felon Mhmm. Frankly.

And, you know, it was disappointing. However, it was more the implications of the election that, bothered me. You know, there are more people willing to try to take away my rights than uplift me and support me. So can you be more specific about what you are? Would you consider the term being afraid as accurate?

是的。我害怕未來。能具體說說你害怕什麼嗎？我害怕失去身為女性，特別是黑人女性的權利。嗯。

你知道，他已經採取了我不認同的反墮胎立場，幾乎針對所有少數族裔都發表了言論。嗯。顯然，身為黑人，我自己也不認同這些。是的，這兩點都是我身分認同的一部分，我覺得受到了威脅。好吧，這可以理解。

How now you're 14 right now. So in four years, you'll be 18. Yeah. How do you see the next four years? Honestly, his if his last time was any indication, it it's going to be rough.

我看到了問題。我看到了混亂。你認為你們這一代現在能做什麼？諸如此類的事情。你知道，我們要挺身而出，確保我們的聲音被聽到。

You know, they are important. We may not be able to vote yet, but, I mean, we are the next generation of voters. And so making sure that we are informed as well as being able to inform others, I think that's really important. What are some more specific things, that your generation can do, on that? And, like, what are some details of what they can do right now?

You know, speaking out, just having dialogue, I think, is so important, making sure our voices are heard, talking to your parents even, you know, doing getting together at schools and local institutions to, you know, really put ourselves out there and make it known how we feel. What if you're told to shut up? Keep going. Just keep on pushing. Yes.

您可以透過哪些方式表達自己的觀點？比如對話之類的。我現在正在播客節目。我以前從未做過這樣的事情，但這是一次非常有趣的經歷，我認為繼續做這樣的事情非常重要。社群媒體呢？

當然。你知道，這裡有很多平台。我認為，如果能用好它們，就能成就一番偉業。是的。那在課堂上呢？

In the classroom, you know, we haven't done much. However, my school did have a mock election Mhmm. Things like this, making sure that, you know, we understand how government works because I think that's also a large part of the issue. An uninformed voter base is Yes. Very dangerous.

It's Can you repeat that, please? An uninformed voter base is a killer of democracy. So, you know, starting off young in high schools, middle schools even, just in children that you have the right to vote. Your ancestors fought for the right to vote. Use it.

發出你的聲音，讓事情發生。你認為高中的政府類社團需要加強他們的活力嗎？我不知道該怎麼表達，但讓更多人參與？我認為這非常重要，尤其是在這樣的時代，你知道，這真的能幫助人們理解。我完全理解你的想法，無知才是我們最終擁有愚蠢領導者的原因。

And ignorance is how we end up making, bad choices. Whether and that's true whether you're talking about politics or otherwise, but, but I think a good majority of our nation and not just people your age is completely clueless as to how the government actually works. And that is a problem, a huge problem. Yes. I do agree.

What do you think is one of the worst things that we adults right now, knowing that, again, you are speaking for yourself, but I also know that you're representing a good portion of your generation right now just because of what's been brought to me. The I've had people tell me they're literally crying about about Trump winning, and they're more scared than you, about what's coming. And it's not again, you represent a lot. You don't represent everyone, obviously, but you do represent a large portion of the mood in this country right now. For adults who are listening right now, what is the worst thing we can do?

我認為成年人最糟糕的做法就是失去希望。你知道，我們必須堅強，必須團結一致。正是在這些艱難時期，我們作為一個社區，作為一個國家，必須團結起來，才能真正向前邁進。另一件事就是，你知道，讓我們這些年輕人閉嘴。我的意思是，告訴我們，我們的意見不重要，而我認為它們很重要。

They do matter. I absolutely agree with you. Can you give us some very specific examples of what an adult shutting you down looks like? Specifically, you don't know what you're talking about. You're not old enough to know.

You know? You don't understand what's going on. And I think that that's actually counterintuitive because we were born into this, and I think that helps us to understand it even better than some older people. I'm gonna reword that. Adults listening.

One of the dumbest things you can do is to shut down your teenager and tell them they don't know nothing and tell them to shut up. You may not use the word shut up. You just be dismissive. I wanna reiterate what Bobo had just said. They are going to have to live and grow.

They're developing humans right now, and they're going to develop in chaos more than we ever did. And they have to try to become an adult in the aftermath of chaos. That is not a small thing. We need to listen to how they feel and what they have to say because there's no way we can come up with solutions for them from inside our heads. We have to listen to them first.

我只是想重申這一點，因為我非常同意你的觀點。這也是我做這個播客的原因之一。我們需要聽聽你們的意見。即使我們並不完全同意，我也不認同所有人的觀點，但我認為聽到你們的聲音很重要，因為你們是下一代。當我們老了，無法工作的時候，你們會照顧我們。

所以我們需要你們好好的。你們明白我的意思嗎？成年人能做什麼？成年人能做哪些好事來幫助你們？嗯，就是他們不該做的事情的反面。你知道，鼓勵我們，傾聽我們，聽取我們的建議，因為就像你說的，我們是下一代。

And so, you know, we have to build the current world into a way that will sustain our futures. What are some of the ways we can lift you up specifically? You know, listening, not shutting us down, very important, you know, having opinions from different people from all walks of life is how we build a better society. Yes. And I wanna reiterate to the adults listening.

Just because you're listening doesn't mean you're gonna agree with with your child or a teenager, doesn't mean they're right. But if you at least take a moment to listen and consider what they have to say, it may actually change how you how you do things. And it's extremely important. Let me ask you this, Bobo. As a 14 year old, if I'm an adult and I'm dismissing everything you say, are you gonna listen to anything I have to say?

可能不是。沒錯。所以，重要的是，我們，以及因為有很多成年人在聽，我們有重要的事情要說，而這些事情絕對正確，絕對正確。但為什麼要聽一個對你不理不睬、把你當傻子的人的話呢？你可能不會說這些話，但你就是這麼做的。

So why would I listen to you? You know? And we have to keep that in mind. Listen to them, and they're more likely doesn't mean they're guaranteed because they're still teenagers. But but, they're more likely to take what you have to say seriously because you took them seriously.

You You know? Again, I'm talking to the adults here. Speak to your peers right now. What do you have to say to your your peers, people your age across this country right now? Stay strong.

Keep doing what you're doing. Keep speaking out. You know, keep advocating for yourselves. I think that giving up is one of the worst things that we can do, especially now. We need to stand together, and we need to stand strong so that we can move forward.

How can how can you guys advocate for yourself? What are some of the other ways you can advocate for yourself? Like, you brought up social media, supporting each other. You know, that's important. Speaking out, again, dialogue with the adults.

不要害怕堅持自己的觀點，要敢於表達自己的想法，你知道，我認為這都非常重要。無論你談論什麼話題，站出來都非常重要。你不能只是躺著，任由事情發展。嗯。我認為我們正在進入一個比以往任何時候都更需要堅持的時代。

Honestly, I think we're gonna start to have an appreciation for what our ancestors went through in civil rights era because I think we're headed back there in many ways. Not in every single way, but in many ways. And I I get the sentiment that you guys are feeling. And there is hope, but only if we don't give up. And I wanna point something else out.

One of the other worst things that we can do as adults or teens is all the stupid fighting. And I'm calling it stupid because most of it is. I don't mean conversations where you disagree. That's not stupid. But fighting and and just cursing people out on social media instead of, like, trying to actually understand somebody different than yourself, that is kinda dumb.

這真是太蠢了。說實話，我還要補充一點，給正在聽的成年人聽。我見過高中生的談話比你們一些成年人更成熟。我見過一些高中生，他們在某些事情上意見分歧很大，即使談話很激烈，他們仍然會努力傾聽對方。而我們遇到的成年人卻會說，哦，你支持川普？

那你就是一群軟弱的羊。哦，你支持左派？那你就是，你知道的，一個傻瓜。隨便你怎麼形容都行。人們之所以會走極端，是因為他們精神失衡。

你同意這個評估嗎，Bobo？我錯了嗎？說實話，我同意。另一個擔憂是，所有這些暴力事件，這些緊張局勢最終都會達到頂峰。我們不希望再次發生叛亂，也不希望再次出現非和平的權力交接，我不希望這種情況成為常態。對吧？

因為這不正常。真的不正常。我真心為你們這一代感到難過，你們不得不在我們這些大人留下的一堆垃圾裡長大。說實話，這個世界變成這樣，並非你們所願。

正如你之前所說，你生來就注定如此。有很多原因，這不是一個人、一件事或一方的錯。這永遠不對。但我們確實創造了你所處的這個世界。而且，你知道，我認為身為成年人，我們應該反思一下到底哪裡出了問題，這樣你們就不會重蹈覆轍。

We can't go back and change the past. It is what it is. But, I think it's important that, again, we really listen to what you guys have to say and know and I want you all out there who are teased to know there are some of us adults who actually do want to hear what you have to say, we want to listen, and we want better for you. I think you just have to find us and make sure you connect with us because we are stronger together. All of us.

We are stronger together. And the worst thing we can do is the fighting. You know, you you're gonna have disagreements. That's normal hue that's normal being human, but to we don't have to let it turn into an explosion. You know, just because you spark a fire doesn't mean it needs to burn down the whole forest.

And I think we sometimes become so self centered because that's what's at root of it that we do. Mhmm. You know? And, I wanna encourage all of you youth out there to make it a point to be better than my generation. Be better than the adults you see acting like freaking kids.

我撒謊了嗎？我是說，要比我們更好。要比我們更成熟。讓我們來看看成熟是什麼樣子的。

別像那些在校園裡像孩子一樣打架的人一樣，我們應該是成年人了。要比我們更好。還有，Bobo，你還有什麼要說的嗎？我完全同意你的觀點。你知道，重要的是我們不能讓這種無關緊要的黨派關係……嗯。

Things come between us. We are all Americans. We all are trying to live our best lives and leave a better future. And I think that all of this, you know, partisanship and separation is what's really it's what's really hurting us right now. It is.

And it's intentionally built in. That's really another conversation. But we are out of balance as a nation, and we're too far on the left or too far on the right. And the truth is there is good and bad in both parties. There are nut jobs in both parties.

說實話，兩黨都領導得一塌糊塗。我們必須打破標籤，開始注意內容。如果我們這樣做，我們看待事物的角度就會不一樣。絕對的。好吧，Bobo，非常感謝你來參加節目，分享你的感受。

And I hope that there are some of your peers who actually listen to this and realize that they are not alone, but also that there there's hope. Yes. And thank you so much for having me. This was, you know, very important. I feel like this is very important, and hopefully this will get to reach a lot of people.

是的。謝謝。再次感謝。現在是時候轉換一下思路了。今天我想再種下一顆思想的種子。

對於現在正在聆聽的成年人們，我希望你們能體會一下身為他們的感受。要知道，你們無法理解，因為你們從未經歷過。你們沒有在現今14、15歲青少年成長的社會中成長。你們還沒有應對過他們現在正在經歷的、以及他們即將經歷的人生境遇。請你們花點時間，傾聽當下青少年世代的心聲。

他們中的許多人遠比你想像的要聰明。他們理解的遠比你想像的多，他們是未來的一代。如果我們不傾聽他們的心聲，就永遠無法找到對他們有用的解決方案，也無法為他們帶來任何更好的結果。花點時間傾聽他們的聲音。感謝您收聽「思維轉變力量」播客。

Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel at the mind shifter. If you have any comments, topic suggestions, or would like to be a guest on the show, please visit FatimaBay.com/podcast. Remember, there's power in shifting your thinking. Tune in for next week.