The events following George Floyd's death in the midst of a global pandemic exposed a number of internal issues. When turning on the news, all of the commotion going on in the media can feel so far away. People are bringing attention to whatever they believe needs changing. There is disagreement. There are people fighting, hurting, and dying.

At the end of the day the world is made up of individuals. Every person and different, which is why the You Matter movement strives to spread the idea of self appreciation and to remind people of their worth. Part of their concept is to "bring hope to those who are discouraged, disenfranchised, or don't know their significance in the world." Though this concept is important regardless, the connection it has to the events of our time is quite interesting.

In order to make an effective difference, everyone has to practice situational awareness, and get in touch with their perspective. It is quite apparent who us just tagging along to show that they support something. They are not clearly not aware of the situation, or what their role is. It even took me a few weeks to speak out on my own platforms because I was not completely sure where I stood. I was forced to take a long look at my background, gender, skin color, and upbringing. I also had to go over my observations, going all the way back as far as I could remember Doing this was very draining. Facing reality can bring on a lot of negative thoughts and feelings, especially when you do not have a large platform or the power to make a change. Seeing people promote and speak about the You Matter movement reminded me that I am not alone.

The You Matter movement is there to remind you that regardless of what is going on, you are important. Every voice matters, and each one has the ability to make a difference. Accepting and nurturing your uniqueness is a part of knowing what you stand for, and finding how to do so in an effective way.