08/12/2026
International Youth Day calls us to consider what young people are carrying while they are still becoming. Mental health, discrimination, economic uncertainty, social pressures, education, safety, and questions about self are not isolated experiences; each can influence how a young person understands the world, relates to others, and imagines what is possible for the future.
Identity is woven throughout that human experience, especially during adolescence when young people are learning to understand themselves amid messages from family, culture, schools, communities, and society. Mixed and biracial youth may also encounter misidentification, assumptions based on appearance, pressure to choose between parts of themselves, or expectations to explain an identity that belongs to them. Respecting their dignity means creating enough safety for self-understanding to develop without requiring constant defense or explanation.
A vital part of Dear Mixed Girl® is the belief that identity development deserves intentional care because what young people experience—or lack—can follow them into adulthood, workplaces, and leadership. Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, humility, the ability to listen and follow, and respect for diverse perspectives all shape how people lead and the impact they are capable of creating. Supporting young people well today helps cultivate adults who can lead more responsibly tomorrow.
