COMING OF AGE: WHEN POWER MEETS PURPOSE

I remember being a kid in Belize counting down the years, the months, the days until I turned 18. In my mind, 18 was the finish line and the starting block all in one. It was when you became legal, when you could sign your own papers, get a bank loan, start a business, travel freely, work where you want, live where you want. For me, 18 was the gateway to agency, the power to shape life on your own terms.

And if you’ve ever grown up dreaming of more, more stability, more opportunities, more freedom, you understand this hunger. It isn’t just about “being grown.” It’s about stepping into your right to live a life that reflects your values, your vision, and your voice.

Growing up, we watched superheroes. X-Men, Up, Up and Away, Superman, and so many others. These were stories about gifted people coming into their powers, usually as teens. That’s no accident. Even in fiction, there’s a sacred window when you begin to realize who you are and what you’re capable of. Your gifts start showing. Your passions flare up. Your questions get deeper. You start to notice the gaps, the things your childhood lacked, the things your parents couldn’t give, the things you wish existed. You begin to imagine how you might fill those gaps.

That’s agency. That’s power.

But here’s the thing: personal agency isn’t like waking up one day with laser vision or the ability to fly. It’s quieter, deeper. It comes in decisions, big and small. It shows up when you take ownership of your life, even when circumstances aren’t ideal. It shows up when you stop waiting to be rescued or discovered, and instead decide to build.

At The Hydesman Post, and in everything we’re doing at HYDE, we believe in that agency. We believe that youth are not just the future, they are powerful now. The earlier we can help them recognize and steward their power, the stronger our communities become. It’s not enough to just give young people a seat at the table, we must equip them to build their own.

You’re not just coming of age. You’re coming into power. And with that power comes responsibility, not just to yourself, but to your generation. The world may finally recognize your autonomy, but what will you do with it?

Will you heal what was broken?

Will you create what was missing?

Will you lead with integrity?

Will you rise like the heroes you admired?

This is your origin story. And you are not just a spectator. You are the main character. So, step into your power. You have agency now. Use it wisely. Use it boldly. Use it to build the world you’ve always imagined.