According to dictionary.com, progress can be defined as "a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage," or as "growth or development; continuous improvement." This is all quite true, but what does this mean for us, as an emerging generation?
Progression is, ultimately, evolution. It is a continuous effort to make change. Each individual forms a set of behaviors and beliefs through his/her environment and inheritance. We are all unique, and as a result, are not perfect.
Progress is not to strive for perfection, however, as perfection is unattainable. Rather, it is a movement. It is a movement that must start with the individual. It must start with the willingness to change; ignorance is not bliss. And often, a willingness to change comes from education and the gaining of knowledge. A well educated individual is more open to the world around him/her, becoming more accepting towards their downfalls.
These individual movements slowly become societal movements, or societal progression. A high school teacher of mine once said, "that which is most personal, is most universal." And that's the truth of it: there are many universals (Jungian psychoanalysis) across cultures and within societies that prove this. Therefore, if something is bothering a particular individual, whether it be a personal problem or a societal one, chances are someone else is dealing with something similar. And so, it takes one educated individual to step up and cause societal progression.
How does one progress? Personally, I think all it takes is a willingness to open your eyes, ears, and mind to the world around you. Read books you wouldn't normally read, do research on ethical issues before you form an opinion, accept people for who they are, love every minute of your life, and question authority. Stop following in your parents footsteps. Holding traditional values is not a completely negative thing, but do take time to examine your own life (i.e: religious beliefs, political associations, career goals, etc) before you leap into it.
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