Smile : It's your right to be happy!

Hello ,lovely people of the world!

Today is a new beautiful day, perfect to take a break  from our daily activities and think a little bit about some important issues facing youth all over the world.

First of all, the World Conference on Youth 2014 is just around the corner and this year it will take place in exotic,beautiful  Colombo in Sri Lanka. The conference is a meeting place for youth to discuss and ponder on some important issues such as Youth Rights and Gender Equality.

Speaking of which, young people have a huge impact on culture and sports and all sorts of recreational activities that they get involved in but, at the same time , those activities have a great influence on them, shaping their views which they will use later on in their jobs and personal lives. All the features that people want to find in their friends and that employers ask of their employees can be easily learnt through sports and activities. Sharing your culture with others is also an invaluable "teacher".

What have I learnt from sports?
I am not a professional athlete in any way,shape or form but I go hiking regularly during summer,whether for a couple of hours or for several days, testing my limits and experiencing the greatness that is nature. And let me tell you something : I have learned to be more tolerant with others. When you hike with other people you have to adapt to their walking pace and have patience.You can't really go ahead and leave them behind,can you?(that's just mean)  I've learned to not give up. Countless of times, I genuinely felt like I can't go on but there was that little voice that told me "You might as well go on, there's really nothing to lose. That, or you might become dinner for whatever carnivore creatures roam the forest :D " And guess what? You can take this philosophy and apply it to other aspects of your life, not just hiking.

And of course, team work, endurance and determination are qualities a lot of people strive to have.
When it comes to certain sports in my country , I would also like to bring into discussion gender equality. Growing up, I loved watching football games on TV and attending live games. Most of the people thought it strange that a girl is passionate about a men  sport.But why is it a sport for men? Sure, some countries like Great Britain , the U.S or Germany give a certain amount of attention to women football. But Romania does not and I do hope that in the near future, this" football is for men" stereotype will diminish.

After all,sports should be for everyone, regardless of sex,race or language.

The freedom and chance to get involved in an activity that you love, that's what makes a young person develop into a happy,healthy adult. Whether it be music, dance or knitting ,there should be an equal chance for you to practice what you love. Meeting like-minded people, getting better at your favorite activity and sharing it with the world is something fulfilling for a young adult.

Last but not least, culture. This notion that is often misunderstood. The notion that was defined for the first time by Edward Tylor as such:  "a complex whole which includes knowledge,belief,art,law,morals,custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."
So ,no matter where you live in this world ,you have a culture and a right to share your culture.As a young person, you learn so much about your own culture by sharing it with others but you also learn about the other's culture, so all this exchange brings is more useful knowledge.

Through my travels,I  have encountered many different cultures.Some were easier to adapt to,some were considerably harder.Some nations were very open and you could have mistaken it for a disrespect of personal space and some cultures made you think "They have some very strange habits!"It is scary when you think of it at first, but experiencing life in a different country is a rewarding experience.

In today's society, intercultural exchanges are important means by which youth can grow, learn ,make friends and rise above conflicts and gender inequality.
Because, as it has been said many times, young people are the future of this world! :D