Saving the World- Teens | Teen Ink

Saving the World- Teens

September 28, 2012
By TARDISdriver PLATINUM, Colorado Springs, Colorado
TARDISdriver PLATINUM, Colorado Springs, Colorado
28 articles 2 photos 33 comments

Saving the World- The Teens

We are the teens. We are the ones who grew up with things like Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. We've always looked for our chance to save the world, seeking to have that life that our favorite fiction always seems to depict. There's only one problem with these pursuits. It never seems like the world needs saving. It never seems like there's even anything we could do to help it. I know that there is more to life than just the daily humdrum. SOmething should be happening for a reason. But when you get into the habit of just waking up, going to school, and putting in your time, you forget about those ideas you had as you were growing up.

I thought I was going to have this chance a couple months ago. I was legitimately afraid for my life over and over again. I, however, could have played a worse role. As an observer, I seemed to just stare out my window at the troubles of others. I didn't know how much this was going to stay with me for the rest of my life.

These were the days of the Waldo Canyon Fires in Colorado. I should explain that I live about fifteen minutes from downtown, and just a few more miles from the mountains. I started the day off normally. I went to the gym with my mother, and had a really good day. I remember that the first song I played that day was With a Little Help from my Friends by the Beatles. How sad that that ended up being forced into truth for so many people. When my workout was over, I ran into my lifelong friend and her sisters. Casually, nonchalantly, we just threw jokes about the fires that were already visible. We laughed about how they were getting worse but, well, they seemed so far away. They couldn't harm us way up there on the mountain top. Now I will look back on those minutes and regret everything I said.

Later, as we were driving home, the clouds were turning orange. There was smoke furling and wrapping about the mountains, blocking them from our view. You could start to see the flames. Even from our house, we could look to the west and see everything being destroyed before our eyes. If we went out on our deck, we could smell the smoke, and feel it stinging the back of our throats. As an asthmatic, I was scared to go outside for too long. Still, we thought, it's too far away. Trees burning on the mountain are no concern to us. How wrong we were.

My sister and I have always had a fairly good bond. There's only a two year gap between us, so we grew up with much of the same things. We loved the same books, and movies, and most things. During this time, we stayed together until the fire was gone. We were convinced that now was our chance. With the skies themselves ablaze, the whole city and surrounding areas began to look like Mordor from Lord of the Rings. We knew that to save the world, you always have to have other people with you. We couldn't leave each other's side. Yet despite our very world turning into Hell, we couldn't do much. We knew that this could be our chance to save the world, but there was nothing we could do. And that is something that I never want anyone to experience ever again. We were helpless to the power of this threat.

In the end, the fires were put out, with the loss of several homes, but virtually no fatalities. My sister and I had learned the value of family. Family, and fear. The thing that I want people to learn from my experiences is not that the world is terrifying and there's nothing you can do. Learn what I learned. Learn that from the influences on our lives, we've always wanted to save the world. And sometimes, it seems like you have a chance. No matter how small, just try. We, as teens, are the future of the world. So don't let it get destroyed before we have the chance to make it amazing.


The author's comments:
This is an actual account of my thoughts and feelings during this time in my life. I was terrified, and figured out that writing about it now, months later, has made it more bearable.

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This article has 7 comments.


on Oct. 19 2012 at 3:22 pm
TARDISdriver PLATINUM, Colorado Springs, Colorado
28 articles 2 photos 33 comments
Thank you to both of the VIP's that read my paper. I'm so glad you guys are actually willing to read my stuff!

on Oct. 19 2012 at 3:21 pm
TARDISdriver PLATINUM, Colorado Springs, Colorado
28 articles 2 photos 33 comments
Thanks! I'm glad you like it! I basically put everything that I thought into the article. If it went through my head, it went through the keyboard. Haha. Well, thanks for reading it!  

bagley777 GOLD said...
on Oct. 18 2012 at 1:10 am
bagley777 GOLD, Tucson, Arizona
11 articles 3 photos 62 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love is a two way street. If you find yourself on a one-way road, it's time to take the next turn off.

I really like it(: Personal experiences are always the best thing to write about. It's obvious that you put a lot of emotion into this

on Oct. 17 2012 at 5:29 pm
TARDISdriver PLATINUM, Colorado Springs, Colorado
28 articles 2 photos 33 comments
Thank you, Tess! I'm sorry you had to go through similar experiences. It's rather horrid, isn't it? Well, thatnks for the feedback! As I, hopefully, have more stuff published, I think it will get a lot better because I know what people think is good, and know what will need to be fixed. Thank you so much!!!!! I'm just glad I got submitted!  

on Oct. 17 2012 at 5:26 pm
TARDISdriver PLATINUM, Colorado Springs, Colorado
28 articles 2 photos 33 comments
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the feedback!!!!! I'm so glad that I finally got published to this website, so I'm just glad that it's here. As I write more stuff, and as it hopefully gets published, I think it will start to get better. Thanks though!  

on Oct. 17 2012 at 5:19 pm
Lady_Teribithea GOLD, LaPorte, Colorado
14 articles 3 photos 27 comments
I know how this feels. We had the same issue in the more recent High Park Fire. I felt that this was very moving because of it. It is, as theatregirl said, in need of some more poetic license.

on Oct. 17 2012 at 5:10 pm
theatregirl PLATINUM, Lathrup Village, Michigan
30 articles 12 photos 209 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;To thine own self be true,&quot; -from Hamlet, a play by Shakespeare.<br /> &quot;I have sworn on the altar of god eternal hostility against all forms of tyranny over the mind of man.&quot; - Thomas Jefferson

i like but it could be mor vivid. right like it just happen yesterday and use more poetic liscence. for example, instead of saying "you could just see the flames", say" "I was just starting catch a glispe of fire. I say the orange flames  in distance, they move like wave of destruction, scorking everything in their path. They moved slow, like zombies, their slow movement some to add to erieness of it all. " (they was over the top but I some along that line.) You great ideas, but try make them come to life more.