I always knew that I was going be an environmental advocate when

Hear the words of Robert Kennedy, Jr., spoken with the conviction of one whose destiny was felt in the marrow of his bones: “I always knew that I was going be an environmental advocate when I was very young.” In this simple yet profound statement lies the truth of vocation—the mysterious calling that whispers to the heart long before the mind can fully understand it. He speaks of knowing, not as a choice made lightly in adulthood, but as a flame ignited in the innocence of youth, a flame that grew brighter with each passing year.

To be an environmental advocate is to stand as guardian of the earth, to defend rivers, forests, air, and creatures that cannot speak for themselves. Kennedy’s words reveal that this was not an ambition born of circumstance, but of inner necessity. Some are called to war, some to art, some to rule, but he was called to protect creation itself. His knowing was not arrogance, but recognition—like the shepherd who understands his bond with his flock, or the sailor who feels at home upon the sea.

History offers us many examples of such early callings. Consider Rachel Carson, who as a child roamed fields and streams with wonder, listening to birds and studying the delicate patterns of life around her. From that childhood awe grew the strength to write Silent Spring, a book that awakened the world to the dangers of pesticides. Like Kennedy, she felt the summons early, and her life became the vessel through which that calling was fulfilled. From such examples, we see that when one listens to the voice of destiny in youth, it can shape the fate of nations.

Kennedy’s lineage, too, carries weight. Born into a family steeped in politics and public service, he might have chosen the familiar path of power or law. Yet the inner voice directed him elsewhere: toward the defense of the environment, a cause both ancient and urgent. His destiny was not to wield influence for its own sake, but to align it with the greater good—the health of the earth itself. His youthful conviction became the foundation of his adult mission, proving that true callings are not abandoned, only strengthened.

The words also remind us of the importance of youthful vision. For in childhood, before cynicism and compromise take hold, the heart sees clearly. A young person feels injustice keenly, loves beauty instinctively, and longs to protect what is fragile. Kennedy’s remembrance of that early knowing is a call to all of us: to honor the visions of the young, for in them lies the seed of transformation. Too often the wisdom of youth is dismissed as naïve, when in truth it carries the clarity of unclouded sight.

The lesson is clear: if you sense a calling deep within, honor it, even from your earliest years. Do not bury it beneath fear, profit, or convention. For the voice that speaks in youth often speaks the truest, unshaped by the noise of the world. And when that calling is toward the defense of the earth—toward environmental advocacy—it must be heeded with urgency, for the earth is crying out for defenders.

Practical action flows from this teaching. Listen to the stirrings within your own heart, and encourage the same in the hearts of the young. If they speak of protecting the rivers, planting trees, or saving animals, take their words seriously, for such passions may grow into lifetimes of service. Support education that fosters love for the earth. Teach children not only facts of nature, but reverence for it. And as adults, live in such a way that their youthful vision is not betrayed, but affirmed.

Thus, Robert Kennedy Jr.’s words endure as both memory and prophecy: that the path of life is often known in childhood, and that to be an environmental advocate is among the noblest of callings. Let this truth be carried forward: that each generation must listen for its own destiny, and that to hear and follow it faithfully is the highest form of wisdom. For those who defend the earth defend not only themselves, but all life, present and yet to come.