The European Referendum - A Young Person's Voice

It's Friday the 24th June. 7 am. My overriding emotions are confusion, sadness and anger. Waking up to the news that Britain had voted to leave the European Union was not what I had hoped for and quite frankly I, along with a vast majority of young people, feel that this catastrophic result has put our delicate futures on tenterhooks. To further add insult to injury, I am 17. I had no say in this potentially drastic outcome on my future. 

Now I know that sounds terribly dramatic but, that was the first thought that hit me on Friday morning. No one asked me? 

In a time when social and economic climates are fluctuating, the prospects for young people in Britain seem continually unsettled. Now with our imminent departure from the EU the young people around me are riddled with uncertainty. Within my immediate peers, I know determined young people who are striving to become: linguistics, scientist, journalists, diplomats; who all would have benefitted from an open Europe and EU funding. Many of these educated and motivated 16/17 year olds feel that their futures have been blocked behind a big, dividing wall. One that will take phenomenal effort to climb over. One that was built without their say. One that is backed by the 65+, not the vibrant youth of the UK.

These young people are not only concerned for their individual futures, but also dispute the potential unwanted feeling of hostility demonstrated to Europe from the vote for brexit. Personally, one of the first things I did on Friday was apologize to my Italian friend for any feelings of aversion conveyed. Many Millennials see themselves as European citizens and despite a vote to leave the values of solidarity will remain. It is evident in the huge surge to remain from 73% of 18-24 year olds, that this decision does not represent the majority of young people of Britain; yet, with the 2011 census demonstrating 8,294,000 15-24 year old Brits, we will be the ones left to live and work with the consequences. I am however not naive, and understand that a minority of 27% of 18-24 year olds voted leave. Yet, the young brexit voters I have encountered don't buy into the immigration scaremongering of the mainstream media, so is the view of young brexit supporters also misrepresented? Nonetheless, I am aware of far more young people eager to stay and hence feel somewhat abandoned in wake of the result.   

So what now? The question on everyone's lips. For young voters, and particularly people too young to vote, we are all determined to make our voices heard. Parliament can not ignore us now. At present, these decisions made will affect the young demographic more than any other and it is absolutely imperative that we are represented. We are not the apathetic youth. We are a dedicated youth, who won't be cheated. 

Laura 

(For more opinions from young people, watch a short video by The Guardian, here.)