Why I'm joining the 'Dispatch'
Gen Z writer Sophia Olechowski explains why her doomscrolling generation needs super-local journalism like the 'Dispatch' as its lifeline back to real connection.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Like most people my age, I’ve carried the double-edged blessing of technology for most of my life. But recently, social media has felt like a burden on my soul. Instead of a place to catch up with friends and laugh at silly videos, I find myself drowning in a sea of politics, natural disasters and tragedies from around the world. I feel guilt, anger and sadness — and want desperately to help in situations that feel urgent but are impossible to fix through a phone screen.
My generation is struggling with this constant bombardment. Social media makes everything seem so overwhelming, throwing a nonstop stream of new headlines in our faces that can make it feel like life as we know it is falling apart. We have the weight of the world on our shoulders because we carry it in our pockets everywhere we go. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to “doomscroll” than to take action, and even when we genuinely want to, it’s hard to know where to start.
I’ve decided to start right here in Saratoga Springs. Change doesn’t happen everywhere all at once; it begins with small steps in our own neighborhoods and communities. It looks like being kind to your neighbor, showing up for the people around you, and using whatever resources you have — no matter how small — to make life a little better. And the most direct path to knowing these neighbors, small businesses and crucial nonprofits is via super-local publications like the Dispatch.
I want to use my writing to shine a light on the good, the bad and the complicated realities of the place I call home. If the world feels overwhelming on a screen, then I want to look up and pay attention to what’s happening right here with the people and stories that shape my community. One of my best resources is my writing, and my goal is to use it to share local Saratoga news in a way that is meaningful, heartfelt and impactful.
Like Michael Jackson said, “I’m starting with the man in the mirror.”
Much like its slogan, “Health, History, and Horses,” Saratoga Springs is a simple yet substantial city. It knows where it came from and cares about where it’s going. Local Saratogians have always put effort into preserving its history without letting it hold the city back from embracing modern ideas and keeping pace with the world. This spirit is reflected through the Saratoga Dispatch, and I’m delighted to join as a contributor.
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Why I’m contributing to the Saratoga Dispatch
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