Every day, something newsworthy happens. Whether it is in the local community or thousands of miles away on another continent, there is always a story worth telling, a story  worth knowing.

Yet, even in this age of constant connectivity, where we are surrounded by computers, tablets and phones that give us access to so many opportunities to be informed and so many ways to spread news, many of us still fail to be updated on the current events in the world around us, choosing instead to either direct our attention to fluffy stories of little value or simply avoid the news altogether.

Oftentimes it can be very easy for high school students to become absorbed in the events of their own lives, especially with the school year about to start. The constant tests and homework assignments can leave little time for much else, but even so, students need to make the effort to stay updated on news. Taking the time to look beyond what is directly in front of you and educate yourself builds a general foundation of knowledge that helps form a global perspective. Furthermore, if there is one thing that can connect everyone in this world, it is what happens in this world. People can connect and have deep conversations on the issues newsworthy events bring to light, and news has the power to bring people together through that avenue.

Newsworthy events might be depressing, boring or confusing at times, but that doesn’t decrease the value of news or the general worthiness of being cognizant of your surroundings. As high school students who will continue to impact the world as we grow older, the very least we can do now is learn about what impacts the world today.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Katie Long at [email protected]