By Anna Grace Crow
Mia Mercer started Guardian on the Go with a very simple goal in mind: make it cool to care. Guardian on the Go was created in order to produce face masks, but it goes far beyond just that. Everyone, all across the globe, has been affected by this virus, whether it be having to do online school, losing your job, or the unimaginable- losing a loved one.
Mia recognized that when something so devastating is occurring, it's imperative that people step up. Sure, it's easy to sleep in until 3 pm and binge watch Netflix— we’ve all been there. However, none of that translates into positive change. So instead of doing nothing, she decided to do something. But, she needs your help, too. Guardian on the Go makes an active effort to get people involved. This is because without teamwork, change can't be achieved. We all know of the Golden Rule, but I think the “bronze” rule should be something Mia told me when we were discussing Guardian on the Go: “If you see a problem, take action- we can’t just hope it fixes itself.”
In order for any efforts to flatten the curve to succeed, widespread participation is necessary— and that includes the youth. Social media has the ability to spread important messages on a large scale, especially to teens like myself. This is why Guardian on the Go hopes to make active participation trendy. If enough people are talking about it, it's harder to ignore, and definitely more engaging.
Throughout this virus outbreak, we have unfortunately seen the consequences of not stepping up when it’s necessary, and GOTG is hoping to reverse that mindset. With the help of the community, change is possible. So, please, protect yourself, start a conversation, and most importantly: stay home!