Let Me Tell You How The World Got Like This
Let Me Tell You How The World Got Like This: Advice And Predictions For The Future was written by the students of 826LA’s Tuesday and Thursday Night tutoring program
In 2025, 826LA celebrates its twentieth anniversary. As 826LA reflects on twenty years of serving and supporting students in Los Angeles, we asked students in our evening tutoring program, TNT, to suggest advice and make predictions about the next twenty years. We were inspired by 826LA’s own growth and transformation in the last twenty years. As the organization and the community changed, we thought this year would be the perfect time to think of advice and visions for the following twenty years.
What is advice, but wanting to change? Students came back with stories of the future, advice for others, and even horoscopes. They explored both real and imagined futures in their writing, while others shared advice on something they are passionate about. All these stories share a common theme, the future, either how to use advice to shape it or using their imagination to share a version of the future for you.
Our TNT students provide advice on learning how to play a musical instrument, learning a new sport, as well as how to be a leader for your community. They share advice while sharing their struggles and perseverance as they learn something new. In writing these stories they also share their passion for what they love. For example, one student, Meggan, wrote about becoming a student athlete and reminding the reader that when you face challenges to remember why you are doing it and how much you’ve already accomplished. Another student, Jamileth, writes about dancing and how it requires not only physical strength, but a mental one. You can get advice from Edna on how to create chaos or get tips on how to start skateboarding by Damian.
Each of these pieces is an opportunity to learn from our students and discover what they see the future holds. You can also finish reading the book by checking your horoscope. Twenty years is a long time to change, learn, and grow. Just like 826LA and our students have grown, we hope that this will inspire you to grow as well.
Pedro R. Estrada
Julia Manilow