How to keep on keepin' on as a young environmental activist.

When you're young, motivated, and raring to go, there's nothing worse than being discouraged just as you're getting started by those who insist they know better. As I plug along, investing time into the work that I care about, I hear:

"Why recycle? Why compost? Why worry? We're not a very sustainable species. We will destroy the Earth. What, do you just want to postpone it a bit?"--my high school English teacher on my efforts to be conscientious

"This is not your responsibility. You take on too much stress. Relax! Sit and study! You're not obliged to do anything."--my father, getting angry at me for getting angry

"Oh ... I was a hippie once."--a college career …