my advocacy in life as a student essay

Essay on My Advocacy As A Student

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Advocacy As A Student in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Advocacy As A Student

My role in school.

As a student, I believe in the power of kindness. In my school, I want everyone to feel safe and happy. I stand up for friends and speak against bullying. I try to help others when they are sad or alone.

Learning for Everyone

I also think that every kid should be able to learn. Some kids need extra help and I think our school should make sure they get it. I talk to teachers and friends about making classes better for everyone.

Green School

Lastly, I care about our planet. I encourage my school to use less paper and recycle more. I started a club for students who want to protect the environment. We are small but we are doing important work.

250 Words Essay on My Advocacy As A Student

My role as a student advocate.

Being a student means more than just going to school and doing homework. It’s about standing up for what I believe is right and important. My main goal is to make sure every student feels safe, respected, and has a chance to learn and grow.

Supporting Education for Everyone

I strongly believe that every child, no matter where they come from, should have access to a good education. I want to encourage my school to provide more books, better technology, and learning tools for everyone. By working with teachers and classmates, I can help make sure all students have what they need to succeed.

Creating a Friendly School Environment

A happy school is one where students are kind to each other. Bullying and loneliness can make school a hard place to be. I want to help by starting clubs or groups where students can make friends, learn new things, and support each other. This way, everyone can feel like they belong.

Encouraging Healthy Habits

Staying healthy is important for doing well in school. I want to promote healthy eating and regular exercise among my friends. We can have fun activities like sports days and healthy snack swaps. When we’re healthy, our minds are ready to learn.

As a student, my mission is to make school a better place for everyone. By focusing on education for all, a friendly environment, and healthy habits, I can help make a difference. It’s not just about what I learn in the classroom, but also about the positive changes I can bring to my school and community.

500 Words Essay on My Advocacy As A Student

Introduction to my advocacy.

As a student, I care deeply about many things. My main goal is to support and encourage learning for everyone. In this essay, I will talk about my advocacy, which is to make sure all students have the chance to learn and grow in a friendly and supportive school environment.

The Importance of Education for All

Education is like a key that can open many doors. It helps us understand the world, teaches us new things, and prepares us for the future. But not everyone gets to hold this key. Some students face problems like not having enough books, living in places where schools are too far away, or not getting help when they find learning hard. I believe that every student should have the chance to go to school and learn without any trouble.

Creating a Supportive Learning Environment

A good place to learn is one where students feel safe and happy. This means no bullying and having friends and teachers who listen and help. I want to make sure that my school is a place where everyone can ask questions, share ideas, and make mistakes without being afraid. By doing this, we can all learn better and enjoy our time at school.

Helping Each Other Out

Sometimes, a student might need a little extra help with their homework or understanding something in class. I think it’s important that we help each other. This could mean setting up study groups, sharing notes, or just being there to explain something in a simple way. By helping each other, we make our school stronger.

Using Technology Wisely

These days, we have computers, tablets, and the internet that can help us learn in fun and interesting ways. I want to make sure that all students know how to use technology to find information, do their work, and learn new skills. It’s also important to remember to stay safe online and not spend too much time on screens.

Respecting Our Planet

Our world is a beautiful place, but it needs our care. As students, we can learn about how to protect the environment and share this knowledge with others. This means doing things like recycling, saving water, and not wasting food. We can also start projects at school to help our planet, like planting trees or cleaning up litter.

Conclusion: We Are the Future

As students, we are the future. What we learn and do now can change the world. My advocacy is all about making sure that every student gets the chance to learn in a happy and safe place. We can all do our part by helping each other, using technology in smart ways, and taking care of our planet. Together, we can make our schools and our world better places to live and grow.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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• Essay on Music Importance In Life

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Self Advocacy: Key to Success by Joshua

Joshuaof Wayland's entry into Varsity Tutor's April 2016 scholarship contest

Self Advocacy: Key to Success by Joshua - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a current senior in Highschool, I am very interested in government/law, and wish to major in Political Science. I am also interested in disadvantaged communities and wish to continue to advocate for them throughout my life. However, to understand why I became interested in these careers, you have to understand what I experienced at my high school, and how I overcame unimaginable challenges.

As immigrants from Jamaica, my parents did not have many options. We did with what we had, and no one complained. They instilled their beliefs into me: hard work + dedication + ambition = success. Because of them, I’ve always had a passion for close-knit communities and been comfortable in diverse settings. I never knew what to do with this passion, however. When I first enrolled in my high school program, located in a wealthy suburban town, I envied my classmates. They had room for error in their lives and many options to choose from where I had few.

Throughout my education, I encountered careless questions like, “Are there gangs where you live?”, “Do you live in the hood?” and “Is the city...like safe?”. I sought comfort from my African-American peers, but they denied me, too. I was too effeminate and wasn’t “black” enough. These encounters shattered me, and I wept. "I wish I was white, then all my problems would go away," I said to myself. My school environment made me feel insignificant and detached from my roots. I struggled with my identity for a very long time. However, being a black male going to a predominantly white school in the suburbs lit a fire in me, and I finally realized what to do with my passion. I collaborated intensively with my two best friends, and started a club called “Helping Hands”.

I created Helping Hands to get more students involved in not only their communities, but also in the communities around them. The club revolves around community service projects that help disadvantaged neighborhoods. We have helped everywhere from nursing homes to soup kitchens to daycare centers in need. We targeted Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods. This was my city, and it hurt to know that my peers at school saw it in a negative light. I traveled back and forth from the city to the suburbs everyday. The differences between my home and the community where my school was located were drastic. My neighborhood consisted of small houses, constricted land, and majority low- to barely middle-class families. Although these environmental differences were drastic, the people in the each place were ultimately the same. I strongly believe that my club breaks these social barriers and encourages all students to learn and embrace diversity in their interactions.

I was nervous at first because I didn’t know if people would ever want to join a club like mine. I feared that people would assume that I was trying to push my culture and beliefs on them. The day of the club fair, however, many people showed interest in my club and signed up. Standing there in front of my club sign, I realized that other people wanted the same thing as me, but couldn’t find a way to express themselves. So, my passion became the fire that lit their way. The club has exceeded my hopes and brought my different communities together.

So, what is my message? What do I want younger students to take away from my story? Well, as I am about to graduate, I have thoroughly reflected on my high school experience. I’ve learned that my most successful attribute in high school was to self-advocate for myself. I did this through creating a club, which represented my voice that was being dismissed over and over again. There will be many situations in life where someone will not believe in you or maybe they will disrespect an aspect of your culture. People face situations like that everyday, however, many do not know how to approach the situation. The first step is to speak up. Speaking up allows for your voice to be heard. High school wasn’t always a smooth ride for me. I faced a lot of ignorant comments and discouragement, but learned to help myself, and consequently educated others while doing so. All you have to do is speak up, and like my experience, you will find people who want the same. I can’t imagine how much I would have transformed as a student if I didn’t advocate for myself. Self-advocacy is the key to success!

Advocacy for Students: Examples and Importance

Advocacy plays a crucial role in ensuring that students’ voices are heard and their needs are met. When students engage in advocacy campaigns, they have the opportunity to address issues that impact their education, well-being, and future. 

This article will explore the concept of advocacy campaigns, their importance for students, what makes them successful, how teachers and parents can collaborate to advocate effectively, the positive impact of student advocacy on outcomes and academic success, and provide examples of successful student advocacy initiatives.

What Is An Advocacy Campaign?

An advocacy campaign refers to organized efforts aimed at promoting a particular cause or influencing policy decisions.  In the context of students, advocacy campaigns are focused on addressing issues that directly affect their educational experiences, such as access to quality education, school safety , mental health support, and more.  These campaigns typically involve raising awareness, mobilizing support, and working toward meaningful change.

Is Advocacy Campaign Important For A Student?

Yes, advocacy campaigns are incredibly important for students. They provide a platform for students to voice their concerns, share their experiences, and actively participate in shaping their educational environment. 

By engaging in advocacy, students develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, public speaking, and teamwork. It empowers them to become active contributors to their communities and fosters a sense of agency and responsibility.

What Makes An Advocacy Campaign Successful?

Several factors contribute to the success of an advocacy campaign:

1. Clear Goals :

A successful campaign starts with well-defined objectives. By setting clear goals, advocates can focus their efforts and measure progress effectively.

2. Research and Preparation :

Thorough research and preparation are key to understanding the issue at hand, identifying potential solutions, and building a compelling case for change.

3. Building Alliances :

Collaborating with like-minded individuals, organizations, and community members strengthens the advocacy campaign by amplifying the collective voice and pooling resources.

4. Effective Communication:

Communication strategies that utilize diverse channels, such as social media , traditional media, and direct engagement, help raise awareness and engage a broader audience.

5. Engagement and Mobilization:

Successful campaigns actively involve the target audience and provide avenues for supporters to take action, such as signing petitions, attending rallies, or contacting policymakers.

6. Persistence :

Advocacy campaigns often face challenges and setbacks. Persistence is crucial to maintaining momentum and pushing for change over an extended period.

How Can Teachers and Parents Collaborate To Advocate For Students Effectively?

Collaboration between teachers and parents is vital in advocating for students effectively. By working together, they can create a stronger support system and drive positive change.  Here are some ways teachers and parents can collaborate:

1. Open and Transparent Communication :

Teachers and parents should establish open lines of communication to share information, concerns, and insights about students’ needs and challenges.

2. Regular Meetings and Conferences :

Conducting regular meetings and conferences allows teachers and parents to discuss individual student progress , address concerns, and identify opportunities for improvement.

3. Sharing Resources and Expertise:

Teachers can provide parents with resources and strategies to support their child’s learning at home, while parents can share their knowledge about the student’s strengths, interests, and unique needs.

4. Advocacy Training:

Teachers can educate parents about advocacy strategies and resources, empowering them to effectively navigate educational systems and advocate for their child’s rights.

5. Collaborative Problem-Solving:

When challenges arise, teachers and parents can work together to find creative solutions that benefit the student , such as implementing individualized education plans or seeking additional support services.

6. Engaging in Joint Advocacy Efforts:

Teachers and parents can join forces in advocacy campaigns at the school, district, or community level to address systemic issues that impact student well-being and academic success.

How Can Student Advocacy Positively Impact Student Outcomes and Academic Success?

Student advocacy has the potential to bring about significant positive changes in student outcomes and academic success. Here’s how:

1. Empowerment and Self-Advocacy :

Engaging in advocacy empowers students to become active participants in their educational journey. It helps them develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge to speak up for themselves and advocate for their needs.

2. Improved School Environment:

By addressing issues such as bullying, discrimination, or lack of resources, student advocacy campaigns contribute to creating a safer, more inclusive, and supportive school environment.

3. Systemic Policy Change :

Successful student advocacy campaigns can influence policy decisions at the school, district, or even national level, leading to systemic changes that benefit all students.

4. Enhanced Resources and Support :

Through advocacy efforts, students can advocate for increased resources, support services, and educational opportunities that directly impact their learning experience and academic success.

5. Promotion of Student Well-Being :

Advocacy campaigns focused on mental health, well-being, and access to appropriate support services contribute to a positive and holistic approach to education, promoting student well-being and resilience.

6. Fostering Active Citizenship:

Engaging in advocacy at an early age fosters a sense of civic responsibility and active citizenship, preparing students to become informed, engaged members of society.

Advocacy Campaigns For Students

Advocacy campaigns for students cover a broad range of issues. Here are some examples:

1. Human Rights:

Student-led campaigns advocating for human rights raise awareness about social justice, equality, and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

2. Animal Rights:

Advocacy campaigns for animal rights focus on promoting compassion, responsible animal care, and ethical treatment of animals within educational institutions and beyond.

3. Climate Change:

Students advocating for climate change raise awareness about environmental issues, promote sustainable practices, and push for policies that address climate change.

4. Gender Equality:

Advocacy campaigns for gender equality strive to eliminate gender-based discrimination, empower marginalized genders, and promote equal opportunities in education and society.

5. Mental Health:

Student-led mental health advocacy campaigns aim to reduce stigma, promote mental well-being, and advocate for accessible and comprehensive mental health services in schools.

6. Education:

Advocacy campaigns for education focus on issues such as equitable access to quality education, adequate school funding, and inclusive educational practices that meet the diverse needs of students .

What Are Some Examples of Successful Student Advocacy Initiatives or Campaigns?

1. march for our lives :.

Following the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students organized the March for Our Lives movement to advocate for stricter gun control measures and safer schools.

2. Greta Thunberg’s School Strike for Climate :

Greta Thunberg, a Swedish student activist, gained global recognition for her school strike for climate change, inspiring students worldwide to take action against climate change.

3. Black Lives Matter in Schools Week of Action :

Students across the United States organized a week of action in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, advocating for racial justice, equity, and inclusive curricula.

4. MeToo Movement:

Although not exclusively student-led, the #MeToo movement brought to light the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, initiating conversations and policy changes aimed at creating safer learning environments.

5. Youth Climate Lawsuits:

In various countries, young activists have taken legal action against governments and corporations for their contributions to climate change, demanding stronger environmental protections.

6. Student Voice in Education Reform:

Students have actively participated in shaping education policies and reforms by voicing their concerns, participating in decision-making processes, and advocating for student-centered approaches.

What Role Can Teachers and Parents Play in Student Advocacy?

Teachers and parents play crucial roles in supporting and fostering student advocacy. Here’s how they can contribute:

1. Guidance and Education:

Teachers and parents can educate students about their rights, responsibilities, and the importance of advocacy. They can explain how advocacy can lead to positive changes and empower students to speak up.

2. Encouragement:

Both teachers and parents should encourage students to express their opinions, ask questions, and voice concerns. Creating an open and non-judgmental environment is essential for students to feel comfortable advocating for themselves.

3. Active Listening:

Teachers and parents should actively listen to students when they express their needs, questions, or problems. This can involve listening to classroom concerns, homework challenges, or broader school-related issues.

4. Empowerment:

Teachers and parents should empower students to take the lead in advocating for themselves. This means providing guidance but also allowing students to drive the process. Encourage them to ask questions, seek clarification, and propose solutions.

5. Collaboration:

Teachers and parents can work together to support the student’s advocacy efforts. They can attend parent-teacher conferences, meetings with school administrators, or IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings as needed. Collaborative efforts can be more effective in addressing students’ needs.

6. Advocating for Accessibility:

If a student requires special accommodations or support, teachers and parents can work together to ensure these needs are met. This might involve creating an IEP or a 504 plan or advocating for accessible resources in the classroom.

7. Teaching Problem-Solving:

Teachers and parents can teach students problem-solving skills, which are essential in effective advocacy. This includes helping students identify issues, gather information, and propose solutions.

8. Modeling Advocacy:

Adults can lead by example. Teachers can demonstrate advocating for better classroom resources or policies, while parents can advocate for their child’s educational needs. Seeing adults engage in advocacy can inspire students to do the same.

9. Feedback and Evaluation:

Teachers and parents can provide constructive feedback to students on their advocacy efforts. This helps students refine their skills and understand how to be more effective in the future.

Q: Why is student advocacy important?

A: Student advocacy is important because it empowers students to actively participate in shaping their educational environment, develop essential skills, and become agents of change.

Q: How can teachers support student advocacy?

A: Teachers can support student advocacy by fostering open communication, providing resources and guidance, facilitating opportunities for student engagement, and integrating advocacy-related topics into the curriculum.

Q: Can student advocacy make a difference?

A: Absolutely. Student advocacy has the potential to bring about significant changes in policies, systems, and outcomes, ultimately improving the educational experience for all students.

Q: How can parents get involved in student advocacy?

A: Parents can get involved in student advocacy by staying informed about educational issues, collaborating with teachers and other parents, joining parent-teacher associations, and participating in advocacy campaigns.

Q: What skills can students develop through advocacy?

A: Students can develop skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, research and analysis, teamwork, problem-solving, empathy, and leadership through advocacy.

Q: Can advocacy campaigns positively impact student well-being?

A: Yes, advocacy campaigns can positively impact student well-being by addressing issues such as mental health support, bullying prevention, inclusive policies , and creating a safe and supportive school environment.

Conclusion:

Student advocacy is a powerful force for change, allowing students to address issues that directly affect their education, well-being, and future.  By engaging in advocacy campaigns, students develop valuable skills, promote positive change, and become active contributors to their communities.  

Examples of successful student advocacy initiatives demonstrate the potential for transformative impact.  By fostering collaboration between teachers, parents, and students, we can create a more inclusive and student-centered educational landscape.

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Stand Up for Your Students with These Small Steps

Every kid needs a champion.

Every child deserves to have someone who believes in them—an adult who facilitates their success, demands that they do their best, and ultimately never gives up on them. As an educator, you are well-placed to be that person for your students. Teachers are in a unique position to both identify and understand the individual needs of the students in their care. With this knowledge, they can advocate for their students and the specific needs required in order to thrive.

But how exactly do you do that? What makes a good advocate? These recommendations can help build your confidence in your ability to stand up for your students effectively.

The best way to understand your students is to listen to them. Good advocates use effective listening strategies. Maintain eye contact, give frequent nonverbal feedback, and wait for a pause to ask clarifying questions. Finding out your students’ talents, interests, needs, and goals will give you the important information necessary to advocate for them. It also shows them you care about their well-being and success.

Focus on the student.

Try to see things from your student’s perspective so you can act in their best interest. Remain sensitive to their feelings and do what’s right for them as an individual. Your school might typically use a “pull-out” program for special education, but a “push-in” model might work better for a particular kid.

Dr. Fran Reed, Senior Faculty, Masters of Education programs at Walden University , says that teachers should remember that “advocacy does not have to be a grand gesture. It is the cumulative, small steps that a teacher takes throughout the day to make life and learning optimal for each student. An important part of this process is helping the students to find their own voice so they can self-advocate in the future.”

Know students’ rights.

Familiarize yourself with relevant laws and policies so you have a leg to stand on as you advocate for your students. For instance, are you familiar with the accommodation on your students’ IEPs and 504 plans? Do you know what kind of student speech is protected by the First Amendment? Can you enumerate your school’s anti-bullying and/or harassment policy?

Advocacy does not have to be a grand gesture. It is the cumulative, small steps that a teacher takes throughout the day to make life and learning optimal for each student.

Focus on long-term goals.

Try not to be discouraged by setbacks along the way. Cultivate an attitude of “bouncing back.” Instead of being caught up in the immediate situation, bring yourself back to considering the long-term impact. Dr. Reed explains:

“It is easy to get caught up in the issues students are having in the immediate. But teachers need to take the time to assess any situation and critically reflect on possible advocacy actions to pursue. Often, the near-term problems are simply barriers to long-term goals. Listening and understanding where the student wants to end up, helps teachers to plan and collaborate on how to best help the student.”

Get support from others.

Fostering strong relationships with school leadership and colleagues is an essential component of effective advocacy. You can’t do it all on your own! Recognize that you may need to partner with your principal, parents, the special education team, and community members if you’re going to meet your goals. For example, if you want to get social supports for a student with anxiety, you’ll need the guidance counselor and/or school psychologist on your side.

Take your advocacy to the next level.

Advocating for students doesn’t stop at the schoolyard gates. Sometimes, doing what’s best for our students means stepping out of our comfort zones and engaging the public and other stakeholders. In order to make your students’ stories heard, you may need to elevate them. Write a blog post. Contact your lawmakers.

According to Dr. Reed, “Becoming familiar with and participating in broader community action and support groups provides teachers with a resource base of caring support options to help them with their advocacy efforts for students. In this way, teachers continually serve as the voice for students and bridge the divide between schools and communities.”

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Follow YES! For Teachers

Eight brilliant student essays on what matters most in life.

Read winning essays from our spring 2019 student writing contest.

For the spring 2019 student writing contest, we invited students to read the YES! article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill. Like the author, students interviewed someone significantly older than them about the three things that matter most in life. Students then wrote about what they learned, and about how their interviewees’ answers compare to their own top priorities.

The Winners

From the hundreds of essays written, these eight were chosen as winners. Be sure to read the author’s response to the essay winners and the literary gems that caught our eye. Plus, we share an essay from teacher Charles Sanderson, who also responded to the writing prompt.

Middle School Winner: Rory Leyva

High School Winner:  Praethong Klomsum

University Winner:  Emily Greenbaum

Powerful Voice Winner: Amanda Schwaben

Powerful Voice Winner: Antonia Mills

Powerful Voice Winner:  Isaac Ziemba

Powerful Voice Winner: Lily Hersch

“Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner: Jonas Buckner

From the Author: Response to Student Winners

Literary Gems

From A Teacher: Charles Sanderson

From the Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Middle School Winner

Village Home Education Resource Center, Portland, Ore.

The Lessons Of Mortality 

“As I’ve aged, things that are more personal to me have become somewhat less important. Perhaps I’ve become less self-centered with the awareness of mortality, how short one person’s life is.” This is how my 72-year-old grandma believes her values have changed over the course of her life. Even though I am only 12 years old, I know my life won’t last forever, and someday I, too, will reflect on my past decisions. We were all born to exist and eventually die, so we have evolved to value things in the context of mortality.

One of the ways I feel most alive is when I play roller derby. I started playing for the Rose City Rollers Juniors two years ago, and this year, I made the Rosebud All-Stars travel team. Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact sport. The physicality and intense training make me feel in control of and present in my body.

My roller derby team is like a second family to me. Adolescence is complicated. We understand each other in ways no one else can. I love my friends more than I love almost anything else. My family would have been higher on my list a few years ago, but as I’ve aged it has been important to make my own social connections.

Music led me to roller derby.  I started out jam skating at the roller rink. Jam skating is all about feeling the music. It integrates gymnastics, breakdancing, figure skating, and modern dance with R & B and hip hop music. When I was younger, I once lay down in the DJ booth at the roller rink and was lulled to sleep by the drawl of wheels rolling in rhythm and people talking about the things they came there to escape. Sometimes, I go up on the roof of my house at night to listen to music and feel the wind rustle my hair. These unique sensations make me feel safe like nothing else ever has.

My grandma tells me, “Being close with family and friends is the most important thing because I haven’t

always had that.” When my grandma was two years old, her father died. Her mother became depressed and moved around a lot, which made it hard for my grandma to make friends. Once my grandma went to college, she made lots of friends. She met my grandfather, Joaquin Leyva when she was working as a park ranger and he was a surfer. They bought two acres of land on the edge of a redwood forest and had a son and a daughter. My grandma created a stable family that was missing throughout her early life.

My grandma is motivated to maintain good health so she can be there for her family. I can relate because I have to be fit and strong for my team. Since she lost my grandfather to cancer, she realizes how lucky she is to have a functional body and no life-threatening illnesses. My grandma tries to eat well and exercise, but she still struggles with depression. Over time, she has learned that reaching out to others is essential to her emotional wellbeing.  

Caring for the earth is also a priority for my grandma I’ve been lucky to learn from my grandma. She’s taught me how to hunt for fossils in the desert and find shells on the beach. Although my grandma grew up with no access to the wilderness, she admired the green open areas of urban cemeteries. In college, she studied geology and hiked in the High Sierras. For years, she’s been an advocate for conserving wildlife habitat and open spaces.

Our priorities may seem different, but it all comes down to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and need to be loved. Like Nancy Hill says in the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” it can be hard to decipher what is important in life. I believe that the constant search for satisfaction and meaning is the only thing everyone has in common. We all want to know what matters, and we walk around this confusing world trying to find it. The lessons I’ve learned from my grandma about forging connections, caring for my body, and getting out in the world inspire me to live my life my way before it’s gone.

Rory Leyva is a seventh-grader from Portland, Oregon. Rory skates for the Rosebuds All-Stars roller derby team. She loves listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

High School Winner

Praethong Klomsum

  Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

Time Only Moves Forward

Sandra Hernandez gazed at the tiny house while her mother’s gentle hands caressed her shoulders. It wasn’t much, especially for a family of five. This was 1960, she was 17, and her family had just moved to Culver City.

Flash forward to 2019. Sandra sits in a rocking chair, knitting a blanket for her latest grandchild, in the same living room. Sandra remembers working hard to feed her eight children. She took many different jobs before settling behind the cash register at a Japanese restaurant called Magos. “It was a struggle, and my husband Augustine, was planning to join the military at that time, too.”

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author Nancy Hill states that one of the most important things is “…connecting with others in general, but in particular with those who have lived long lives.” Sandra feels similarly. It’s been hard for Sandra to keep in contact with her family, which leaves her downhearted some days. “It’s important to maintain that connection you have with your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

Despite her age, Sandra is a daring woman. Taking risks is important to her, and she’ll try anything—from skydiving to hiking. Sandra has some regrets from the past, but nowadays, she doesn’t wonder about the “would have, could have, should haves.” She just goes for it with a smile.

Sandra thought harder about her last important thing, the blue and green blanket now finished and covering

her lap. “I’ve definitely lived a longer life than most, and maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I hope I can see the day my great-grandchildren are born.” She’s laughing, but her eyes look beyond what’s in front of her. Maybe she is reminiscing about the day she held her son for the first time or thinking of her grandchildren becoming parents. I thank her for her time and she waves it off, offering me a styrofoam cup of lemonade before I head for the bus station.

The bus is sparsely filled. A voice in my head reminds me to finish my 10-page history research paper before spring break. I take a window seat and pull out my phone and earbuds. My playlist is already on shuffle, and I push away thoughts of that dreaded paper. Music has been a constant in my life—from singing my lungs out in kindergarten to Barbie’s “I Need To Know,” to jamming out to Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” in sixth grade, to BTS’s “Intro: Never Mind” comforting me when I’m at my lowest. Music is my magic shop, a place where I can trade away my fears for calm.

I’ve always been afraid of doing something wrong—not finishing my homework or getting a C when I can do better. When I was 8, I wanted to be like the big kids. As I got older, I realized that I had exchanged my childhood longing for the 48 pack of crayons for bigger problems, balancing grades, a social life, and mental stability—all at once. I’m going to get older whether I like it or not, so there’s no point forcing myself to grow up faster.  I’m learning to live in the moment.

The bus is approaching my apartment, where I know my comfy bed and a home-cooked meal from my mom are waiting. My mom is hard-working, confident, and very stubborn. I admire her strength of character. She always keeps me in line, even through my rebellious phases.

My best friend sends me a text—an update on how broken her laptop is. She is annoying. She says the stupidest things and loves to state the obvious. Despite this, she never fails to make me laugh until my cheeks feel numb. The rest of my friends are like that too—loud, talkative, and always brightening my day. Even friends I stopped talking to have a place in my heart. Recently, I’ve tried to reconnect with some of them. This interview was possible because a close friend from sixth grade offered to introduce me to Sandra, her grandmother.  

I’m decades younger than Sandra, so my view of what’s important isn’t as broad as hers, but we share similar values, with friends and family at the top. I have a feeling that when Sandra was my age, she used to love music, too. Maybe in a few decades, when I’m sitting in my rocking chair, drawing in my sketchbook, I’ll remember this article and think back fondly to the days when life was simple.

Praethong Klomsum is a tenth-grader at Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California.  Praethong has a strange affinity for rhyme games and is involved in her school’s dance team. She enjoys drawing and writing, hoping to impact people willing to listen to her thoughts and ideas.

University Winner

Emily Greenbaum

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 

The Life-Long War

Every morning we open our eyes, ready for a new day. Some immediately turn to their phones and social media. Others work out or do yoga. For a certain person, a deep breath and the morning sun ground him. He hears the clink-clank of his wife cooking low sodium meat for breakfast—doctor’s orders! He sees that the other side of the bed is already made, the dogs are no longer in the room, and his clothes are set out nicely on the loveseat.

Today, though, this man wakes up to something different: faded cream walls and jello. This person, my hero, is Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James.

I pulled up my chair close to Roger’s vinyl recliner so I could hear him above the noise of the beeping dialysis machine. I noticed Roger would occasionally glance at his wife Susan with sparkly eyes when he would recall memories of the war or their grandkids. He looked at Susan like she walked on water.

Roger James served his country for thirty years. Now, he has enlisted in another type of war. He suffers from a rare blood cancer—the result of the wars he fought in. Roger has good and bad days. He says, “The good outweighs the bad, so I have to be grateful for what I have on those good days.”

When Roger retired, he never thought the effects of the war would reach him. The once shallow wrinkles upon his face become deeper, as he tells me, “It’s just cancer. Others are suffering from far worse. I know I’ll make it.”

Like Nancy Hill did in her article “Three Things that Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I asked Roger, “What are the three most important things to you?” James answered, “My wife Susan, my grandkids, and church.”

Roger and Susan served together in the Vietnam war. She was a nurse who treated his cuts and scrapes one day. I asked Roger why he chose Susan. He said, “Susan told me to look at her while she cleaned me up. ‘This may sting, but don’t be a baby.’ When I looked into her eyes, I felt like she was looking into my soul, and I didn’t want her to leave. She gave me this sense of home. Every day I wake up, she makes me feel the same way, and I fall in love with her all over again.”

Roger and Susan have two kids and four grandkids, with great-grandchildren on the way. He claims that his grandkids give him the youth that he feels slowly escaping from his body. This adoring grandfather is energized by coaching t-ball and playing evening card games with the grandkids.

The last thing on his list was church. His oldest daughter married a pastor. Together they founded a church. Roger said that the connection between his faith and family is important to him because it gave him a reason to want to live again. I learned from Roger that when you’re across the ocean, you tend to lose sight of why you are fighting. When Roger returned, he didn’t have the will to live. Most days were a struggle, adapting back into a society that lacked empathy for the injuries, pain, and psychological trauma carried by returning soldiers. Church changed that for Roger and gave him a sense of purpose.

When I began this project, my attitude was to just get the assignment done. I never thought I could view Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James as more than a role model, but he definitely changed my mind. It’s as if Roger magically lit a fire inside of me and showed me where one’s true passions should lie. I see our similarities and embrace our differences. We both value family and our own connections to home—his home being church and mine being where I can breathe the easiest.

Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me and that every once in a while, I should step back and stop to smell the roses. As we concluded the interview, amidst squeaky clogs and the stale smell of bleach and bedpans, I looked to Roger, his kind, tired eyes, and weathered skin, with a deeper sense of admiration, knowing that his values still run true, no matter what he faces.

Emily Greenbaum is a senior at Kent State University, graduating with a major in Conflict Management and minor in Geography. Emily hopes to use her major to facilitate better conversations, while she works in the Washington, D.C. area.  

Powerful Voice Winner

Amanda Schwaben

Wise Words From Winnie the Pooh

As I read through Nancy Hill’s article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I was comforted by the similar responses given by both children and older adults. The emphasis participants placed on family, social connections, and love was not only heartwarming but hopeful. While the messages in the article filled me with warmth, I felt a twinge of guilt building within me. As a twenty-one-year-old college student weeks from graduation, I honestly don’t think much about the most important things in life. But if I was asked, I would most likely say family, friendship, and love. As much as I hate to admit it, I often find myself obsessing over achieving a successful career and finding a way to “save the world.”

A few weeks ago, I was at my family home watching the new Winnie the Pooh movie Christopher Robin with my mom and younger sister. Well, I wasn’t really watching. I had my laptop in front of me, and I was aggressively typing up an assignment. Halfway through the movie, I realized I left my laptop charger in my car. I walked outside into the brisk March air. Instinctively, I looked up. The sky was perfectly clear, revealing a beautiful array of stars. When my twin sister and I were in high school, we would always take a moment to look up at the sparkling night sky before we came into the house after soccer practice.

I think that was the last time I stood in my driveway and gazed at the stars. I did not get the laptop charger from

my car; instead, I turned around and went back inside. I shut my laptop and watched the rest of the movie. My twin sister loves Winnie the Pooh. So much so that my parents got her a stuffed animal version of him for Christmas. While I thought he was adorable and a token of my childhood, I did not really understand her obsession. However, it was clear to me after watching the movie. Winnie the Pooh certainly had it figured out. He believed that the simple things in life were the most important: love, friendship, and having fun.

I thought about asking my mom right then what the three most important things were to her, but I decided not to. I just wanted to be in the moment. I didn’t want to be doing homework. It was a beautiful thing to just sit there and be present with my mom and sister.

I did ask her, though, a couple of weeks later. Her response was simple.  All she said was family, health, and happiness. When she told me this, I imagined Winnie the Pooh smiling. I think he would be proud of that answer.

I was not surprised by my mom’s reply. It suited her perfectly. I wonder if we relearn what is most important when we grow older—that the pressure to be successful subsides. Could it be that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world?

Amanda Schwaben is a graduating senior from Kent State University with a major in Applied Conflict Management. Amanda also has minors in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication. She hopes to further her education and focus on how museums not only preserve history but also promote peace.

Antonia Mills

Rachel Carson High School, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Decoding The Butterfly

For a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it must first digest itself. The caterpillar, overwhelmed by accumulating tissue, splits its skin open to form its protective shell, the chrysalis, and later becomes the pretty butterfly we all know and love. There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies, and just as every species is different, so is the life of every butterfly. No matter how long and hard a caterpillar has strived to become the colorful and vibrant butterfly that we marvel at on a warm spring day, it does not live a long life. A butterfly can live for a year, six months, two weeks, and even as little as twenty-four hours.

I have often wondered if butterflies live long enough to be blissful of blue skies. Do they take time to feast upon the sweet nectar they crave, midst their hustling life of pollinating pretty flowers? Do they ever take a lull in their itineraries, or are they always rushing towards completing their four-stage metamorphosis? Has anyone asked the butterfly, “Who are you?” instead of “What are you”? Or, How did you get here, on my windowsill?  How did you become ‘you’?

Humans are similar to butterflies. As a caterpillar

Suzanna Ruby/Getty Images

becomes a butterfly, a baby becomes an elder. As a butterfly soars through summer skies, an elder watches summer skies turn into cold winter nights and back toward summer skies yet again.  And as a butterfly flits slowly by the porch light, a passerby makes assumptions about the wrinkled, slow-moving elder, who is sturdier than he appears. These creatures are not seen for who they are—who they were—because people have “better things to do” or they are too busy to ask, “How are you”?

Our world can be a lonely place. Pressured by expectations, haunted by dreams, overpowered by weakness, and drowned out by lofty goals, we tend to forget ourselves—and others. Rather than hang onto the strands of our diminishing sanity, we might benefit from listening to our elders. Many elders have experienced setbacks in their young lives. Overcoming hardship and surviving to old age is wisdom that they carry.  We can learn from them—and can even make their day by taking the time to hear their stories.  

Nancy Hill, who wrote the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” was right: “We live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” I know a lot about my grandmother’s life, and it isn’t as serene as my own. My grandmother, Liza, who cooks every day, bakes bread on holidays for our neighbors, brings gifts to her doctor out of the kindness of her heart, and makes conversation with neighbors even though she is isn’t fluent in English—Russian is her first language—has struggled all her life. Her mother, Anna, a single parent, had tuberculosis, and even though she had an inviolable spirit, she was too frail to care for four children. She passed away when my grandmother was sixteen, so my grandmother and her siblings spent most of their childhood in an orphanage. My grandmother got married at nineteen to my grandfather, Pinhas. He was a man who loved her more than he loved himself and was a godsend to every person he met. Liza was—and still is—always quick to do what was best for others, even if that person treated her poorly. My grandmother has lived with physical pain all her life, yet she pushed herself to climb heights that she wasn’t ready for. Against all odds, she has lived to tell her story to people who are willing to listen. And I always am.

I asked my grandmother, “What are three things most important to you?” Her answer was one that I already expected: One, for everyone to live long healthy lives. Two, for you to graduate from college. Three, for you to always remember that I love you.

What may be basic to you means the world to my grandmother. She just wants what she never had the chance to experience: a healthy life, an education, and the chance to express love to the people she values. The three things that matter most to her may be so simple and ordinary to outsiders, but to her, it is so much more. And who could take that away?

Antonia Mills was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and attends Rachel Carson High School.  Antonia enjoys creative activities, including writing, painting, reading, and baking. She hopes to pursue culinary arts professionally in the future. One of her favorite quotes is, “When you start seeing your worth, you’ll find it harder to stay around people who don’t.” -Emily S.P.  

  Powerful Voice Winner

   Isaac Ziemba

Odyssey Multiage Program, Bainbridge Island, Wash. 

This Former State Trooper Has His Priorities Straight: Family, Climate Change, and Integrity

I have a personal connection to people who served in the military and first responders. My uncle is a first responder on the island I live on, and my dad retired from the Navy. That was what made a man named Glen Tyrell, a state trooper for 25 years, 2 months and 9 days, my first choice to interview about what three things matter in life. In the YES! Magazine article “The Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I learned that old and young people have a great deal in common. I know that’s true because Glen and I care about a lot of the same things.

For Glen, family is at the top of his list of important things. “My wife was, and is, always there for me. My daughters mean the world to me, too, but Penny is my partner,” Glen said. I can understand why Glen’s wife is so important to him. She’s family. Family will always be there for you.

Glen loves his family, and so do I with all my heart. My dad especially means the world to me. He is my top supporter and tells me that if I need help, just “say the word.” When we are fishing or crabbing, sometimes I

think, what if these times were erased from my memory? I wouldn’t be able to describe the horrible feeling that would rush through my mind, and I’m sure that Glen would feel the same about his wife.

My uncle once told me that the world is always going to change over time. It’s what the world has turned out to be that worries me. Both Glen and I are extremely concerned about climate change and the effect that rising temperatures have on animals and their habitats. We’re driving them to extinction. Some people might say, “So what? Animals don’t pay taxes or do any of the things we do.” What we are doing to them is like the Black Death times 100.

Glen is also frustrated by how much plastic we use and where it ends up. He would be shocked that an explorer recently dived to the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean—seven miles!— and discovered a plastic bag and candy wrappers. Glen told me that, unfortunately, his generation did the damage and my generation is here to fix it. We need to take better care of Earth because if we don’t, we, as a species, will have failed.

Both Glen and I care deeply for our families and the earth, but for our third important value, I chose education and Glen chose integrity. My education is super important to me because without it, I would be a blank slate. I wouldn’t know how to figure out problems. I wouldn’t be able to tell right from wrong. I wouldn’t understand the Bill of Rights. I would be stuck. Everyone should be able to go to school, no matter where they’re from or who they are.  It makes me angry and sad to think that some people, especially girls, get shot because they are trying to go to school. I understand how lucky I am.

Integrity is sacred to Glen—I could tell by the serious tone of Glen’s voice when he told me that integrity was the code he lived by as a former state trooper. He knew that he had the power to change a person’s life, and he was committed to not abusing that power.  When Glen put someone under arrest—and my uncle says the same—his judgment and integrity were paramount. “Either you’re right or you’re wrong.” You can’t judge a person by what you think, you can only judge a person from what you know.”

I learned many things about Glen and what’s important in life, but there is one thing that stands out—something Glen always does and does well. Glen helps people. He did it as a state trooper, and he does it in our school, where he works on construction projects. Glen told me that he believes that our most powerful tools are writing and listening to others. I think those tools are important, too, but I also believe there are other tools to help solve many of our problems and create a better future: to be compassionate, to create caring relationships, and to help others. Just like Glen Tyrell does each and every day.

Isaac Ziemba is in seventh grade at the Odyssey Multiage Program on a small island called Bainbridge near Seattle, Washington. Isaac’s favorite subject in school is history because he has always been interested in how the past affects the future. In his spare time, you can find Isaac hunting for crab with his Dad, looking for artifacts around his house with his metal detector, and having fun with his younger cousin, Conner.     

Lily Hersch

 The Crest Academy, Salida, Colo.

The Phone Call

Dear Grandpa,

In my short span of life—12 years so far—you’ve taught me a lot of important life lessons that I’ll always have with me. Some of the values I talk about in this writing I’ve learned from you.

Dedicated to my Gramps.

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author and photographer Nancy Hill asked people to name the three things that mattered most to them. After reading the essay prompt for the article, I immediately knew who I wanted to interview: my grandpa Gil.      

My grandpa was born on January 25, 1942. He lived in a minuscule tenement in The Bronx with his mother,

father, and brother. His father wasn’t around much, and, when he was, he was reticent and would snap occasionally, revealing his constrained mental pain. My grandpa says this happened because my great grandfather did not have a father figure in his life. His mother was a classy, sharp lady who was the head secretary at a local police district station. My grandpa and his brother Larry did not care for each other. Gramps said he was very close to his mother, and Larry wasn’t. Perhaps Larry was envious for what he didn’t have.

Decades after little to no communication with his brother, my grandpa decided to spontaneously visit him in Florida, where he resided with his wife. Larry was taken aback at the sudden reappearance of his brother and told him to leave. Since then, the two brothers have not been in contact. My grandpa doesn’t even know if Larry is alive.         

My grandpa is now a retired lawyer, married to my wonderful grandma, and living in a pretty house with an ugly dog named BoBo.

So, what’s important to you, Gramps?

He paused a second, then replied, “Family, kindness, and empathy.”

“Family, because it’s my family. It’s important to stay connected with your family. My brother, father, and I never connected in the way I wished, and sometimes I contemplated what could’ve happened.  But you can’t change the past. So, that’s why family’s important to me.”

Family will always be on my “Top Three Most Important Things” list, too. I can’t imagine not having my older brother, Zeke, or my grandma in my life. I wonder how other kids feel about their families? How do kids trapped and separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border feel?  What about orphans? Too many questions, too few answers.

“Kindness, because growing up and not seeing a lot of kindness made me realize how important it is to have that in the world. Kindness makes the world go round.”

What is kindness? Helping my brother, Eli, who has Down syndrome, get ready in the morning? Telling people what they need to hear, rather than what they want to hear? Maybe, for now, I’ll put wisdom, not kindness, on my list.

“Empathy, because of all the killings and shootings [in this country.] We also need to care for people—people who are not living in as good circumstances as I have. Donald Trump and other people I’ve met have no empathy. Empathy is very important.”

Empathy is something I’ve felt my whole life. It’ll always be important to me like it is important to my grandpa. My grandpa shows his empathy when he works with disabled children. Once he took a disabled child to a Christina Aguilera concert because that child was too young to go by himself. The moments I feel the most empathy are when Eli gets those looks from people. Seeing Eli wonder why people stare at him like he’s a freak makes me sad, and annoyed that they have the audacity to stare.

After this 2 minute and 36-second phone call, my grandpa has helped me define what’s most important to me at this time in my life: family, wisdom, and empathy. Although these things are important now, I realize they can change and most likely will.

When I’m an old woman, I envision myself scrambling through a stack of storage boxes and finding this paper. Perhaps after reading words from my 12-year-old self, I’ll ask myself “What’s important to me?”

Lily Hersch is a sixth-grader at Crest Academy in Salida, Colorado. Lily is an avid indoorsman, finding joy in competitive spelling, art, and of course, writing. She does not like Swiss cheese.

  “Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner

Jonas Buckner

KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory, Gaston, N.C.

Lessons My Nana Taught Me

I walked into the house. In the other room, I heard my cousin screaming at his game. There were a lot of Pioneer Woman dishes everywhere. The room had the television on max volume. The fan in the other room was on. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to learn something powerful.

I was in my Nana’s house, and when I walked in, she said, “Hey Monkey Butt.”

I said, “Hey Nana.”

Before the interview, I was talking to her about what I was gonna interview her on. Also, I had asked her why I might have wanted to interview her, and she responded with, “Because you love me, and I love you too.”

Now, it was time to start the interview. The first

question I asked was the main and most important question ever: “What three things matter most to you and you only?”

She thought of it very thoughtfully and responded with, “My grandchildren, my children, and my health.”

Then, I said, “OK, can you please tell me more about your health?”

She responded with, “My health is bad right now. I have heart problems, blood sugar, and that’s about it.” When she said it, she looked at me and smiled because she loved me and was happy I chose her to interview.

I replied with, “K um, why is it important to you?”

She smiled and said, “Why is it…Why is my health important? Well, because I want to live a long time and see my grandchildren grow up.”

I was scared when she said that, but she still smiled. I was so happy, and then I said, “Has your health always been important to you.”

She responded with “Nah.”

Then, I asked, “Do you happen to have a story to help me understand your reasoning?”

She said, “No, not really.”

Now we were getting into the next set of questions. I said, “Remember how you said that your grandchildren matter to you? Can you please tell me why they matter to you?”

Then, she responded with, “So I can spend time with them, play with them, and everything.”

Next, I asked the same question I did before: “Have you always loved your grandchildren?” 

She responded with, “Yes, they have always been important to me.”

Then, the next two questions I asked she had no response to at all. She was very happy until I asked, “Why do your children matter most to you?”

She had a frown on and responded, “My daughter Tammy died a long time ago.”

Then, at this point, the other questions were answered the same as the other ones. When I left to go home I was thinking about how her answers were similar to mine. She said health, and I care about my health a lot, and I didn’t say, but I wanted to. She also didn’t have answers for the last two questions on each thing, and I was like that too.

The lesson I learned was that no matter what, always keep pushing because even though my aunt or my Nana’s daughter died, she kept on pushing and loving everyone. I also learned that everything should matter to us. Once again, I chose to interview my Nana because she matters to me, and I know when she was younger she had a lot of things happen to her, so I wanted to know what she would say. The point I’m trying to make is that be grateful for what you have and what you have done in life.

Jonas Buckner is a sixth-grader at KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory in Gaston, North Carolina. Jonas’ favorite activities are drawing, writing, math, piano, and playing AltSpace VR. He found his passion for writing in fourth grade when he wrote a quick autobiography. Jonas hopes to become a horror writer someday.

From The Author: Responses to Student Winners

Dear Emily, Isaac, Antonia, Rory, Praethong, Amanda, Lily, and Jonas,

Your thought-provoking essays sent my head spinning. The more I read, the more impressed I was with the depth of thought, beauty of expression, and originality. It left me wondering just how to capture all of my reactions in a single letter. After multiple false starts, I’ve landed on this: I will stick to the theme of three most important things.

The three things I found most inspirational about your essays:

You listened.

You connected.

We live in troubled times. Tensions mount between countries, cultures, genders, religious beliefs, and generations. If we fail to find a way to understand each other, to see similarities between us, the future will be fraught with increased hostility.

You all took critical steps toward connecting with someone who might not value the same things you do by asking a person who is generations older than you what matters to them. Then, you listened to their answers. You saw connections between what is important to them and what is important to you. Many of you noted similarities, others wondered if your own list of the three most important things would change as you go through life. You all saw the validity of the responses you received and looked for reasons why your interviewees have come to value what they have.

It is through these things—asking, listening, and connecting—that we can begin to bridge the differences in experiences and beliefs that are currently dividing us.

Individual observations

Each one of you made observations that all of us, regardless of age or experience, would do well to keep in mind. I chose one quote from each person and trust those reading your essays will discover more valuable insights.

“Our priorities may seem different, but they come back to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and work to make a positive impact.” 

“You can’t judge a person by what you think , you can only judge a person by what you know .”

Emily (referencing your interviewee, who is battling cancer):

“Master Chief Petty Officer James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me.”

Lily (quoting your grandfather):

“Kindness makes the world go round.”

“Everything should matter to us.”

Praethong (quoting your interviewee, Sandra, on the importance of family):

“It’s important to always maintain that connection you have with each other, your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

“I wonder if maybe we relearn what is most important when we grow older. That the pressure to be successful subsides and that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world.”

“Listen to what others have to say. Listen to the people who have already experienced hardship. You will learn from them and you can even make their day by giving them a chance to voice their thoughts.”

I end this letter to you with the hope that you never stop asking others what is most important to them and that you to continue to take time to reflect on what matters most to you…and why. May you never stop asking, listening, and connecting with others, especially those who may seem to be unlike you. Keep writing, and keep sharing your thoughts and observations with others, for your ideas are awe-inspiring.

I also want to thank the more than 1,000 students who submitted essays. Together, by sharing what’s important to us with others, especially those who may believe or act differently, we can fill the world with joy, peace, beauty, and love.

We received many outstanding essays for the Winter 2019 Student Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we’d like to share some excerpts that caught our eye:

Whether it is a painting on a milky canvas with watercolors or pasting photos onto a scrapbook with her granddaughters, it is always a piece of artwork to her. She values the things in life that keep her in the moment, while still exploring things she may not have initially thought would bring her joy.

—Ondine Grant-Krasno, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif.

“Ganas”… It means “desire” in Spanish. My ganas is fueled by my family’s belief in me. I cannot and will not fail them. 

—Adan Rios, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I hope when I grow up I can have the love for my kids like my grandma has for her kids. She makes being a mother even more of a beautiful thing than it already is.

—Ashley Shaw, Columbus City Prep School for Girls, Grove City, Ohio

You become a collage of little pieces of your friends and family. They also encourage you to be the best you can be. They lift you up onto the seat of your bike, they give you the first push, and they don’t hesitate to remind you that everything will be alright when you fall off and scrape your knee.

— Cecilia Stanton, Bellafonte Area Middle School, Bellafonte, Pa.

Without good friends, I wouldn’t know what I would do to endure the brutal machine of public education.

—Kenneth Jenkins, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.

My dog, as ridiculous as it may seem, is a beautiful example of what we all should aspire to be. We should live in the moment, not stress, and make it our goal to lift someone’s spirits, even just a little.

—Kate Garland, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif. 

I strongly hope that every child can spare more time to accompany their elderly parents when they are struggling, and moving forward, and give them more care and patience. so as to truly achieve the goal of “you accompany me to grow up, and I will accompany you to grow old.”

—Taiyi Li, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I have three cats, and they are my brothers and sisters. We share a special bond that I think would not be possible if they were human. Since they do not speak English, we have to find other ways to connect, and I think that those other ways can be more powerful than language.

—Maya Dombroskie, Delta Program Middle School, Boulsburg, Pa.

We are made to love and be loved. To have joy and be relational. As a member of the loneliest generation in possibly all of history, I feel keenly aware of the need for relationships and authentic connection. That is why I decided to talk to my grandmother.

—Luke Steinkamp, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

After interviewing my grandma and writing my paper, I realized that as we grow older, the things that are important to us don’t change, what changes is why those things are important to us.

—Emily Giffer, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

The media works to marginalize elders, often isolating them and their stories, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with their additional years of lived experiences. It also undermines the depth of children’s curiosity and capacity to learn and understand. When the worlds of elders and children collide, a classroom opens.

—Cristina Reitano, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.

My values, although similar to my dad, only looked the same in the sense that a shadow is similar to the object it was cast on.

—Timofey Lisenskiy, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

I can release my anger through writing without having to take it out on someone. I can escape and be a different person; it feels good not to be myself for a while. I can make up my own characters, so I can be someone different every day, and I think that’s pretty cool.

—Jasua Carillo, Wellness, Business, and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

Notice how all the important things in his life are people: the people who he loves and who love him back. This is because “people are more important than things like money or possessions, and families are treasures,” says grandpa Pat. And I couldn’t agree more.

—Brody Hartley, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.  

Curiosity for other people’s stories could be what is needed to save the world.

—Noah Smith, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Peace to me is a calm lake without a ripple in sight. It’s a starry night with a gentle breeze that pillows upon your face. It’s the absence of arguments, fighting, or war. It’s when egos stop working against each other and finally begin working with each other. Peace is free from fear, anxiety, and depression. To me, peace is an important ingredient in the recipe of life.

—JP Bogan, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

From A Teacher

Charles Sanderson

Wellness, Business and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

The Birthday Gift

I’ve known Jodelle for years, watching her grow from a quiet and timid twelve-year-old to a young woman who just returned from India, where she played Kabaddi, a kind of rugby meets Red Rover.

One of my core beliefs as an educator is to show up for the things that matter to kids, so I go to their games, watch their plays, and eat the strawberry jam they make for the county fair. On this occasion, I met Jodelle at a robotics competition to watch her little sister Abby compete. Think Nerd Paradise: more hats made from traffic cones than Golden State Warrior ball caps, more unicorn capes than Nike swooshes, more fanny packs with Legos than clutches with eyeliner.

We started chatting as the crowd chanted and waved six-foot flags for teams like Mystic Biscuits, Shrek, and everyone’s nemesis The Mean Machine. Apparently, when it’s time for lunch at a robotics competition, they don’t mess around. The once-packed gym was left to Jodelle and me, and we kept talking and talking. I eventually asked her about the three things that matter to her most.

She told me about her mom, her sister, and her addiction—to horses. I’ve read enough of her writing to know that horses were her drug of choice and her mom and sister were her support network.

I learned about her desire to become a teacher and how hours at the barn with her horse, Heart, recharge her when she’s exhausted. At one point, our rambling conversation turned to a topic I’ve known far too well—her father.

Later that evening, I received an email from Jodelle, and she had a lot to say. One line really struck me: “In so many movies, I have seen a dad wanting to protect his daughter from the world, but I’ve only understood the scene cognitively. Yesterday, I felt it.”

Long ago, I decided that I would never be a dad. I had seen movies with fathers and daughters, and for me, those movies might as well have been Star Wars, ET, or Alien—worlds filled with creatures I’d never know. However, over the years, I’ve attended Jodelle’s parent-teacher conferences, gone to her graduation, and driven hours to watch her ride Heart at horse shows. Simply, I showed up. I listened. I supported.

Jodelle shared a series of dad poems, as well. I had read the first two poems in their original form when Jodelle was my student. The revised versions revealed new graphic details of her past. The third poem, however, was something entirely different.

She called the poems my early birthday present. When I read the lines “You are my father figure/Who I look up to/Without being looked down on,” I froze for an instant and had to reread the lines. After fifty years of consciously deciding not to be a dad, I was seen as one—and it felt incredible. Jodelle’s poem and recognition were two of the best presents I’ve ever received.

I  know that I was the language arts teacher that Jodelle needed at the time, but her poem revealed things I never knew I taught her: “My father figure/ Who taught me/ That listening is for observing the world/ That listening is for learning/Not obeying/Writing is for connecting/Healing with others.”

Teaching is often a thankless job, one that frequently brings more stress and anxiety than joy and hope. Stress erodes my patience. Anxiety curtails my ability to enter each interaction with every student with the grace they deserve. However, my time with Jodelle reminds me of the importance of leaning in and listening.

In the article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill, she illuminates how we “live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” For the last twenty years, I’ve had the privilege to work with countless of these “remarkable people,” and I’ve done my best to listen, and, in so doing, I hope my students will realize what I’ve known for a long time; their voices matter and deserve to be heard, but the voices of their tias and abuelitos and babushkas are equally important. When we take the time to listen, I believe we do more than affirm the humanity of others; we affirm our own as well.

Charles Sanderson has grounded his nineteen-year teaching career in a philosophy he describes as “Mirror, Window, Bridge.” Charles seeks to ensure all students see themselves, see others, and begin to learn the skills to build bridges of empathy, affinity, and understanding between communities and cultures that may seem vastly different. He proudly teaches at the Wellness, Business and Sports School in Woodburn, Oregon, a school and community that brings him joy and hope on a daily basis.

From   The Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Dear Charles Sanderson,

Thank you for submitting an essay of your own in addition to encouraging your students to participate in YES! Magazine’s essay contest.

Your essay focused not on what is important to you, but rather on what is important to one of your students. You took what mattered to her to heart, acting upon it by going beyond the school day and creating a connection that has helped fill a huge gap in her life. Your efforts will affect her far beyond her years in school. It is clear that your involvement with this student is far from the only time you have gone beyond the classroom, and while you are not seeking personal acknowledgment, I cannot help but applaud you.

In an ideal world, every teacher, every adult, would show the same interest in our children and adolescents that you do. By taking the time to listen to what is important to our youth, we can help them grow into compassionate, caring adults, capable of making our world a better place.

Your concerted efforts to guide our youth to success not only as students but also as human beings is commendable. May others be inspired by your insights, concerns, and actions. You define excellence in teaching.

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Advocacy Essays Examples

Advocacy essays are powerful tools for raising awareness about important issues and inspiring positive change. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own advocacy essay, there are many examples out there that can serve as a starting point.

One effective way to approach writing an advocacy essay is to choose a topic that you are passionate about and research it thoroughly. Some potential advocacy essay topics might include climate change, human rights, healthcare reform, or gender equality, just to name a few.

Once you’ve chosen a topic, it’s important to craft a compelling argument that will persuade your readers to take action. This might involve presenting statistics, personal anecdotes, or expert opinions to support your position.

To make your advocacy essay even more powerful, consider including real-life examples of individuals or organizations that have successfully advocated for change in your chosen area. These examples can help illustrate the impact that advocacy can have and inspire your readers to take action themselves.

For those who are new to advocacy writing, it can be helpful to look at some advocacy essays examples for guidance. Our platform offers a wide range of free essay samples on various topics, including advocacy essays. These examples can provide inspiration for your own writing and help you understand the elements that make a successful advocacy essay.

In conclusion, writing an advocacy essay can be a rewarding experience that can help raise awareness about important issues and inspire positive change. By choosing a topic that you are passionate about, researching it thoroughly, and crafting a compelling argument, you can make a real difference in the world.

Virtue Ethics Frameworks as Drivers of Teacher’s Systems Advocacy

In early education children's interests are not at the forefront of the ecce policy; instead, policy is aligned to providing 'childcare” to encourage economic growth and the expandsiion of the workforce and this leads to increasing national productivity. Moving on now to consider the ethical...

Advocacy and Inquiry Model as A Communication Tool

Advocacy and inquiry model is a tool of communication which includes different skills; “listen to understand, suspend judgment, respect all and speak your voice.” It facilitates the conversation and task to move forward. Advocacy means to be a voice of someone which helps to provide...

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Helen Keller: A Symbol of Strength and Perseverance in Human Advocacy

Helen Keller, an American author, disability rights advocate, and lecturer, has left an indelible mark on history as a symbol of strength and perseverance. Despite being both deaf and blind, she was able to achieve remarkable success and became a powerful voice for human rights....

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The Definition of Culture of Advocacy

Sam Frankel in, Giving Children a Voice, defines advocacy as, “reflected in a setting which children’s voices are acknowledged and valued” (Frankel, p. 11, 2018). Advocacy is vital as it allows children to be involved in the community in things that affect them as active...

Advocacy as a Way to Promote Organization's Goal

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1. Virtue Ethics Frameworks as Drivers of Teacher’s Systems Advocacy

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3. Helen Keller: A Symbol of Strength and Perseverance in Human Advocacy

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5. Advocacy as a Way to Promote Organization’s Goal

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• Cole Hasserjian
• Apr 28, 2021

Why I Self-advocate: A Personal Essay

Updated: Jun 22, 2021

By Cole Hasserjian

It was my first interview with a large corporation, and a summer finance internship opportunity was on the line. The interviewer’s initial questions were straightforward, and I thought I had a strong chance to move on to the second round. At the conclusion of the interview, I was asked: “Why is there so much autism on your resume?” I nervously responded, “I was diagnosed at 3…” and before I could relate my experiences of overcoming the struggles that autism has presented to my motivations to work in finance, the interviewer uttered a condescending “oh.”

I knew what the interviewer insinuated by his reaction — that my character as a candidate had been reduced to the negative stereotype of individuals on the autism spectrum. That’s why I have to self-advocate for others on the spectrum and myself.

According to a study by Drexel University, only 58 percent of people on the autism spectrum have ever been employed after high school, and a large percentage of individuals are overqualified for the jobs. In my experience with networking sessions and the interview process, it is more difficult for someone with the knowledge, skills and abilities to receive a job offer with a competitive firm when the recruiting process has a greater emphasis on social skills.

Candidates on the spectrum such as myself find it more difficult to get through the interview process because of its dependency on picking up on unspoken social cues, such as when to ask questions and how to answer particular questions without being too personal. My opinion is that if somebody can effectively communicate with managers and members of the team, these should be the only social requirements initially for a candidate with strong technical skills.

Since I was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, my family has provided all of the help to assure that I’m able to perform to a high level. As often noted, the Mayo Clinic defines autism as a “serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others,” although this does not mean it cannot be improved.

In my unique case, I had extreme problems with communication skills to the point where I needed a script to converse with anyone, even my own family. I still experience social anxiety today, where I sometimes repeatedly knock my knees together to calm myself down and prevent getting rashes on my skin. My family has given me the resources to make me a person who can be independent and formulate his own ideas and perspectives.

I have a unique opportunity to self-advocate because I have been fortunate enough to have access to resources to help combat the challenges that autism has presented for me. I am cognizant that I have a unique opportunity to have a platform to potentially change the perceptions of those who influence the private sector. I have begun to become more of an advocate for potential candidates with disabilities with the company I had an internship with for the past summer. Earlier this semester, I connected one of the company’s recruiters with the Disabled Students’ Program so that the company will have greater access to talented individuals who happen to have disabilities.

I would like to see the unemployment rate for college graduates with autism drop below 50 percent in my lifetime alongside more individuals on the spectrum having a more significant influence on corporate America. I also don’t want individuals on the spectrum to feel like they have to hide their diagnosis and feel ashamed to share their story with future employers, as I have done in the past.

My story is a part of me — I will not hide it any longer. What I gained through those experiences is why I am in this position today. I am aware that more companies are making conscious efforts to increase the pool of candidates with special needs, but the employment data and the prevalent negative stigmas suggest that there is more work to do. I am confident that the experiences on my resume make me qualified, and my autism is a strength rather than a weakness because those experiences have taught me what it takes to overcome obstacles. I know that changes in perception take time and patience, and I believe that if my journey to UC Berkeley has taught me anything, it would be that progress takes time, and there will be setbacks along the way.

Find the original article here.

Cover photo courtesy of Cole Hasserjian.

Open Minds Silicon Valley provides platforms to elevate the voices of diverse students, professionals, and families. We encourage writing submission to be emailed to [email protected]. We look forward to being in touch about possible feature options.

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College Success

Self-Advocacy For Students & Its Importance

06.26.2023 • 10 min read

Jennifer Rivera

Subject Matter Expert

Learn why self-advocacy for students is important, the benefits it has for college students, and frequently asked questions about self-advocacy.

In This Article

What Is Self-Advocacy?

Why is self-advocacy important for college students, 3 benefits when you speak up, 3 tips to boost self-advocacy skills, frequently asked questions.

When you see an unfair or unjust act, you want to do something about it. That’s called advocacy.

But what if an unjust situation is happening to you? If you’re a college student with a learning disability, your professors might not know you need accommodations. And you might not know what your options are.

For many students, college is the first time you have to step up and publicly vocalize your own needs. Your parents are no longer there to hold your hand through challenges or solve problems for you. You have to solve them yourself.

That’s called self-advocacy.

Understanding your needs, researching your rights, and voicing your solutions are all part of self-advocacy—and crucial skills to develop as a college student.

“Speak up, even if your voice shakes” perfectly describes self-advocacy. Your voice matters, and you matter. Even if you’re nervous, it’s essential to communicate any educational needs you have. This can make all the difference in your college career.

We'll go over what self-advocacy is, why it's important, the benefits of self-advocacy, and ways to develop self-advocacy skills as a college student.

Self-advocacy is when a person communicates to others what they need. In other words, you're speaking up for yourself and your own interests.

You may already think you’re great at self-advocacy. You can talk with professors, advisors, financial aid officers, and others in positions of knowledge at your school. Excellent! That’s a great start.

In college, self-advocacy becomes a big deal because your parents are no longer helping you navigate challenging situations. Instead of getting information from other students—which may be wrong—learn to research and stand up for yourself. This holds true with course information related to graduation, financial aid, or student health services.

This is why you need to develop self-advocacy skills.

This is especially true for students with:

Mental health diagnoses

Auditory processing issues

Blindness or low vision issues

Learning challenges such as ADHD or dyslexia

Self-advocacy is critical for all students to be successful in college. They can do well, no matter their background or the unique academic needs they have.

Here are a few specific areas where you should voice your needs.

Student Accommodations

Unless you speak out for your own needs, colleges don’t know you might need help. Most ‌college students with disabilities do not inform their college of their disability.

Many learners think they will be fine without these tools in college. But you are much better off setting up any services or assistance you may need ahead of time. You can always choose not to use them if you don’t need them.

If you have a learning disability or had Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings in high school, connect with the Disabilities Services Office to see what accommodations you’re eligible for in college. These services can take time to set up; they may not be available right away. Don’t wait until you ‌need them.

Graduation and Academic Advising

Most universities require a certain number of credits to graduate, even if you have all the classes in your major completed. Some majors—and most universities—also have GPA requirements to graduate.

Advocate for yourself by talking to your advisor and finding out what requirements you’re missing. Work out a plan together to make sure you stay on track. And follow up regularly as your college career progresses.

These offices can also help with learning strategies and other skills to assist with any learning difficulties you might have.

Financial Aid

Some students assume they’re getting all the aid they can, even when it’s not enough to cover everything. But other opportunities to get financial awards are available, such as scholarships. Many go unclaimed. Connect with your Financial Aid Office to make sure you’re getting everything you’re entitled to. Scholarships and loans are game-changers.

Most students wait until their senior year to start thinking about careers. Don’t wait. You can connect with career services early and ask for guidance. They can help you decide on a career path if you're undecided or changing majors. With assessments for aptitude, personality, and career fields, the counselors can guide you to areas that are a fit if you’re undecided.

By advocating for your career goals , you can target your studies to a specific professional path. Then, you won’t waste time on courses you don’t need. You’ll have a much better chance of being hired before graduation. And you can probably line up an internship to gain experience—all because you didn’t wait until the last minute and asked for help.

Developing self-advocacy skills as a college student will help you throughout your life. You’ll learn problem-solving strategies that will help in many situations.

Here are 3 powerful benefits to self-advocacy in college:

1. Shape Your Path

Only you know what you need. By reaching out specifically for the services that will most benefit you, you can tailor your college experience to work for you. Everyone’s college journey is unique. Advocating for your priorities will help you reach your goals and ultimately succeed in college.

2. Increase Self-Awareness

If you really pay attention to what you need, this will help in many areas of your life: career, relationships, even parenting! Being aware of your own learning needs and taking care of them also helps you pay attention to the needs of others.

3. Gain Self-Confidence

According to Psychology Today, we can increase our confidence by following the 3 C’s. When you speak up for yourself in college, you touch one or more of these areas:

Connection - A sense of belonging that makes a person more secure. This can happen as you align your studies with your career path, and you work with like-minded peers.

Competence - Developing meaningful skills in certain areas. Speaking up and articulating your needs involves the skill of communication. This grows with self-advocacy among the other life and academic skills you develop in college.

Choice - The ability to make decisions about important issues. Choosing to advocate for yourself in college is one of the many big choices you’ll face.

Clearly, self-advocacy is a must for college students. But how can you develop your self-advocacy skills? Whether you’re in college now or preparing to apply , boost your self-advocacy skills with these tips.

1. Know Your Strengths & Weaknesses

The more you know about yourself , the easier it is to voice your needs. Are you a whiz at math? Great! Consider tutoring your classmates in math. Do you struggle with math? That’s fine. Plan accordingly by spending more time studying that area.

Understanding how you learn can make you successful as a college student. Are you a morning person? Go for those 8 am classes. Not so much? Avoid them where you can, but use success strategies to keep awake and alert if you have to attend one.

Also, keep your supportive family members in the loop. Your support system can help you identify your strengths.

2. Set Up Appointments

To grow in self-advocacy, you have to practice speaking up for yourself. In high school, attend teacher meetings both with and without your parents, so you learn to speak to teachers on your own. In college, make appointments with your professors and Disability Services. Knowing the resources at your disposal allows you to take control and be a more effective self-advocate.

If you get nervous or insecure when speaking to authority figures, try this tip: prepare a “script” of your main goals and claims before important discussions. You can rely on these points if you lose confidence during the meeting.

3. Reframe Your Perspective

Sometimes you need to change your perception of yourself to focus on your own positive traits. In one study, scientists interviewed high-achieving adults with learning disabilities. They identified several qualities linked to successful self-advocacy. One is the ability to reframe your perception with positive self-talk.

Individuals who did this developed a positive mindset that helped them establish healthy goals, find jobs that were a good fit for their skill set, and build a positive social network.

Developing a positive mindset can help you through challenging times. Remind yourself that things won’t always be bad. Practice positive self-talk and engage in small acts of kindness to help you develop this skill. Not only will you have a more positive mindset, but you’ll also grow your self-advocacy confidence.

4. Problem-Solve Creatively

Anyone struggling with a challenge is more likely to overcome it when they develop critical thinking and creative solutions. Self-advocacy is about discovering these creative solutions and voicing your ideas.

To begin problem-solving, ask questions about what’s happening to you or around you. Questions like: “What is happening here?” “What perspective is this information coming from?” “How well do I know this area, and what might I be overlooking?” Once you’ve gathered the facts, get creative about solving problems.

Having a wealth of information about yourself and your surroundings will make you a stronger self-advocate.

What is an example of self-advocacy?

If you know you have a difficult time with a subject, self-advocacy looks like going to the instructor ahead of time (at the beginning of the semester) to ask for resources that might help you better understand the information.

Another example of self-advocacy is going to the Student Health Center and setting up a regular counseling appointment to continue improving your mental health, especially if that has worked for you in the past.

What are different types of advocacy?

In addition to self-advocacy, 2 other types of advocacy exist:

Individual advocacy

Systems advocacy

One is individual advocacy, where you advocate for another individual—usually only 1 or 2 people. Enhancing this skill not only increases your self-advocacy skills, but it can also increase your positive mindset!

The other type of advocacy is systems advocacy. This is where you advocate for change in law, policy, or some other system.

What are 5 different steps of self-advocacy?

Follow these 5 steps to advocate for yourself as a college student:

1. Know your resources

Find the student health, career counseling, financial aid, and advising offices at your school.

2. Explain your issues

Don’t hesitate to explain pertinent issues to people like mental health counselors, professors, and advisors.

3. Know your rights

Most postsecondary education is covered under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act). Both laws dictate who can know and share your information under what circumstances. Connect with campus resources to find out more about these.

4. Join a student organization or other group

Whether it’s a group that directly addresses your advocacy issues or interactions where you can talk about a particular topic, you can practice advocating for yourself in low-risk situations. It will also help your social skills.

5. Think about the future

Staying self-aware will help you think about where you want to go in the future and how your current actions can help you to get there. Sticking up for yourself allows you to see bumps in the road and prepare for them or avoid them altogether. Speak up. Take initiative. Your confidence and journey in college—and in life—will be better for it.

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Student Essay: The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders

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Maya S. is a Muslim, Egyptian and student athlete who has lived in Saudi Arabia for most of her life. She is 16 and a junior at the American International School of Riyadh, where she is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program.

In this Student Essay of the Week, Maya talks about how building a platform for others to share their stories has helped her understand why welcoming diversity of thought and experience will make her a stronger, more empathetic leader.

Three steps forward and two steps back. That was my reality during the privilege walk.

In October 2018, I was selected along with 50 other high school students to attend a leadership trip to a farm outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We believed that we were all going to learn about how to become leaders with strong voices. However, the trip took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. Instead, we left knowing how to listen first and speak second.

At the farm, we participated in an activity called a privilege walk , where we were asked to step forward or backward in response to certain questions. From the responses, it became obvious that all of us were struggling with something that those around us knew nothing about.

I learned that the girl beside me once wondered where her next meal would come from. The girl beside her was afraid to leave the house at night because she had been assaulted. The boy to my left had been held at gunpoint. And the boy beside him had a mental disorder. This realization hit me hard. I was able to understand that although it’s impossible for us all to experience the same things, it is possible for us to try and listen to each other and understand each other’s differences. I began to appreciate the meaning of finding beauty in diversity. During that trip I learned that true leaders listen to the voices of others, and as a result they are able to enrich their own points of view.

“Living with anxiety is like feeling alive through the motions of life, but never freely living. It’s being aware of my surroundings, but lost in another world inside my head.”

During the summer of that year, someone I loved dearly was faced with medical issues, and my family began dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Even when it was all over, I felt lost and changed. I couldn’t explain it, but I wished that someone understood. I then began thinking of the people standing around me that day in Riyadh during the privilege walk, and everyone around the world like us. Did we all feel the same desire to be understood? How could we all feel seen and valued, regardless of our stories? I wanted to hear more about the stories of all those kids I met that day in line. I wanted to understand how we all ended up there, despite our different paths. I wanted to create something that would allow them to express their stories.

That summer, I started Voice of Change , a weblog that allows other teenagers to contribute writing that reflects the experiences that have shaped them. The first story I received was “Purpose,” from a girl struggling with depression. She wrote, “Purpose: a reason, a given, motivation , a point. We all live life because we have a purpose. We realize that there is a point, we have motivation and a reason to live. We look forward to things and create opportunities for ourselves. We see a future. Imagine living life feeling as though you have no purpose… That means no reason, no motivation, simply no point… the best way to describe this feeling is as if [you’re] dead. This feeling is depression.”

After I posted the article, which talked about how depression impacted the author’s life, I received comments, emails and texts from others saying that the article communicated what they needed to hear and couldn’t put into words. This initial response fueled the rest of my work. I began receiving other stories about challenging experiences, ranging from sexual assault and racial discrimination, to losing a loved one and struggling with body image. Here are a few powerful quotes from these articles:

“I’m not sure who or what I’m living for, but I’d never want to risk my family members feeling as I do right now. It’s okay that I’m suffering right now, because I have faith that it will pass, eventually it will.” – “Live On”

“I am not ignorant because I’m Arab. I’m not a terrorist because I’m Muslim. I am not a thug because I’m black. I am not who I am because of what you see on the news. I am who I am because of what I’ve been through, and what I have become.” – “Assume”

“Living with anxiety is like feeling alive through the motions of life, but never freely living. It’s being aware of my surroundings but lost in another world inside my head.” – “I Choose Life”

I see my Voice of Change journey as having so much to do with becoming a better leader. It has helped me to see clearly the type of leader I hope to become. I have developed a stronger perspective by understanding the voices and stories of others. I have become more empathetic to other people’s struggles, a quality I will need when I run my own business one day. You can’t understand your customers’ wants or your employees’ needs if you don’t listen and appreciate where they’re coming from. Also, Voice of Change has shown me how much our experiences shape us and contribute to how we see the world and solve problems. Each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective – all powerful and important in their own way.

Related Links

• The Privilege Walk
• What Is Empathy? (Sesame Street)
• Knowledge@Wharton: The Emotional Intelligence Deficit
• Wharton’s McNulty Leadership Program

Conversation Starters

What is empathy and why is it such an important leadership quality? How is empathy related to storytelling? Use the Related Links with this article if you need to better understand empathy.

How have your experiences shaped you? Share your story in the Comment section of this article.

Maya writes that she has come to appreciate “how much our experiences shape us and contribute to how we see the world and solve problems.” Diversity of thought is incredibly powerful in the business world. Why does it hold such value? How does it enrich the team dynamic and important outcomes?

6 comments on “ Student Essay: The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders ”

Hi Maya, Thank you for sharing your fantastic story with us. Being able to appreciate the people around you and, in first place, yourself is one of the major keys to success and, most importantly, happiness in life, at least according to my experience. We all come from different environments and experiences, the same ones which make us who we are, in our uniqueness and diversity, as you clearly and beautifully stated in your essay. Appreciation is one of those emotions, if that’s how we want to define it, I have learned to consider and embrace later in life, but it is surely the one all the rest comes down to: appreciation for life, appreciation for love from our beloved ones… Having dealt throughout life with friends who coped with depression and anxiety, I can say I have experienced the emotional upheaval that tends to follow this kind of acknowledgements. It gives you a completely different perspective on the world, on the people that surround you and on the way you look at your very own life. On the other hand, I’ve been lucky enough to feel the wonderful sense of relief and joy which comes after helping this people, which taught me the value of the word, indeed, appreciation. In the same way I’ve been able to help my dearest friends deal with these horrible feelings and find a way out of them, I find what you have done with this very same individuals awesome: not only giving them a voice through the blog, but giving their peers the chance to find sympathy and reassurance in their words. Keep it up! And take care.

Sonder – n. The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness (The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows).

I believe that sonder, a short and simple made-up word to describe a complex feeling, perfectly captures the spirit of Maya and her article. Maya realized the complexity of the lives of those around her, that every stranger on the leadership trip had their own unique story to tell, filled with their personal struggles. She reaches the conclusion that “each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective – all powerful and important in their own way.”

Sonder, and more broadly, empathy, is a crucial element of being a good leader. I had my own moment of sonder last summer when I had the opportunity to volunteer at my local Chinese senior center. I started volunteering there because I had to fill my school’s requirement for service hours but ended up gaining much more out of it than that. At first, I was wary of taking on the job because my Chinese conversational skills were acceptable at best and rudimentary at worst. However, I quickly found that the seniors were very welcoming and were just happy that someone was willing to sacrifice their time to help out. I performed tasks such as preparing and serving food as well as helped teach ESL and citizenship classes. I learned about the hard work ethic of the workers and volunteers around me while washing apples. I learned about the amiability and habits of the seniors in the lunchroom. There would always be those in the back table playing cards, the younger seniors chatting in the front, and the seasoned mahjong players upstairs. I even had the chance to hear some of their rich stories, stories of their journeys of emigrating from communist China, stories of their successful children, stories of their war experiences, and stories of their hope in America. I truly understood that these seniors, whom I would not have given a second glance on the street, lived such deep and meaningful lives, each of which would be a thrilling standalone novel.

Just like Maya learned to understand those from different backgrounds, I was able to empathize with these seniors and develop an appreciation for their experiences. We should all have empathy for each other in this world full of division and hatred. Sonder helps us have that empathy not only with those close to us but with everyone around us.

When I became the youngest Student Council President of my school, my idea of a strong leader was someone who could command and lead a group of people with total authority the way they like it. So, that’s what I tried to do during my early days as a leader. I thought I would be a strong leader by commanding the student council and demonstrating my full authority over the rest. But after the first month, like Maya, the experience of being a leader took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. I learned, like Maya, that you have to listen first and speak second. It is by listening to others that makes you a stronger leader because it is easier to command and display your authority. But it is harder to swallow your pride and listen to others when their opinions or stories differ from yours.

Therefore, in the Student Council that I am in, I launched an initiative called “Listen Monday” with the purpose of listening to everyone’s opinions and views in the student council and utilizing them for the betterment of the school.

By understanding the voices of others it has helped me develop a better perspective. I have become more empathetic to others. Listening to others has allowed me to see the full picture that I have never seen. And because I see the bigger picture, I realized that other’s experiences can help shape how I see the world and solve problems. As Maya said, each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective, all-powerful and important in their own way.

I want to thank Maya for inspiring me.

When I became the youngest Student Council President of my school, my idea of a strong leader was someone who could command and lead a group of people with total authority the way they like it. So, that’s what I tried to do during my early days as a leader. I thought I would be a strong leader by commanding the student council and demonstrating my full authority over the rest. But after the first month, like Maya, the experience of being a leader took a completely unexpected and inspiring turn. I learned, like Maya, that you have to listen first and speak second. It is by listening to others that makes you a stronger leader because it is easier to command and display your authority. But it is harder to swallow your pride and listen to others when their opinions or stories differ from yours.

Therefore, in the Student Council that I am in, I launched an initiative called “Listen Monday” with the purpose of listening to everyone’s opinions and views in the student council and utilizing them for the betterment of the school.

By understanding the voices of others it has helped me develop a better perspective. I have become more empathetic to others. Listening to others has allowed me to see the full picture that I have never seen. And because I see the bigger picture, I realized that other’s experiences can help shape how I see the world and solve problems. As Maya said, each person offers a unique voice and a different perspective, all-powerful and important in their own way. I realized exhaustively now that a strong leader is someone that listens first and speak second.

I want to thank Maya for inspiring me to become a better leader.

Hello L Dau K!

Thank you for sharing your experience and lessons as a student council president. Listening to your implementation of listening Mondays has brought me back to a time when I was the storyteller, pouring my life out, not to a student council president, but to my mother.

Before the story begins, I must tell you about my mother. She is a very successful corporate leader of hundreds of people. Of course, when it comes to life, she’s never lost her footing when it comes to parenting. Her dogma for me was always the same as that for her employees. She required me to write a time schedule and reflect on life every day and report my academic progress to her with a PowerPoint presentation every week. Similar to your listening Mondays, but coerced. Of course, these rules also apply to her employees. I argued with her countless times, berating her for treating me, at the time, a 12-year-old, as her employee. Perhaps you have already begun to detest my mother’s parenting philosophy, or that she is just another derelict mother who neglects her children’s emotional needs to give her career 100%. But she was a mother for the first time, and I as her oldest child witnessed her growth and how she became a leader, both to her employees and to me.

Where should I begin my story with this leader? As I counted the episodes that flashed through my mind, neither the long conversation in the evening breeze nor the laughing conversation in the dark living room seemed like the most appropriate beginning of the story. Puzzled, I put down my thoughts and sat down to recall the beginning of our conversations. There’s no longer nameless fear and tension when she approaches me, dreading to hear what she has to say. Instead, I always walked up to her when I found her alone, and the dialogue always began with a sigh. I told her many stories about young love, friends, hobbies, and self-reflection, all parts of me that I was reluctant to reveal in PowerPoints. She is busy all day but never said no when I started a conversation. I could feel that she valued every part of our communication, regardless of how nonsensical it was, taking it wholeheartedly. She would sit down and listen to every word I had to say, and she would take to heart every hint of emotion I tried to convey. She did her best to understand my passions, cater to my needs, and embrace my sentiments. And that’s one of the most valuable lessons she’s taught me as a leader.

My mother’s growth as a leader came naturally to her as she listened to every ebullient story and every heart-wrenching sob. She did what many leaders, even in family relationships, fail to do: give the most attention to her children and subordinates, dwelling on their stories, bringing herself into their emotions, and living their experiences. Simply receiving a comment differentiates from understanding the root of their feedback. Through sharing stories with my mother, as my thoughts became words and leaped out of my mouth, my thoughts received a carrier. The stories I told were imparted with meaning through the process of communication. These words made me who I am and marked every footprint of mine. Not only giving her a chance to guide me but giving me a chance to recourse, bonding two unknown souls by building emotional bridges rather than giving ice-cold PowerPoint presentations. I myself am walking on those bridges, and I will be learning to build them up. Through open communication, we can build bridges high enough to see the world from a bigger view, see the tips of Mt. Everest, hear the mumbles of rhinoceros and vaquitas, and unveil a side of the world that we have never seen before.

In her essay “The Power of Stories to Inspire Strong Leaders”, Maya S. quotes “I was able to understand that although it’s impossible for us to all experience the same things, it is possible for us to try and listen to each other and understand each other’s differences. I began to appreciate the meaning of finding beauty in diversity. During that trip I learned that true leaders listen to the voices of others, and as a result they are able to enrich their own points of view.” This quote taught me that in order to be understood, one must learn to understand.

As an international student living in the states, my school days were certainly different from most of my classmates. There were a lot more plane rides, more hours of memorizing English vocabulary, and less people that paid attention to the struggles I went through. It was hard to focus on the upside of life when I knew that my comfort zone was about 6800 miles away. I felt like I was drowning in my own world, and was unsure of what I needed to do to get out of it.

As time passed, I did learn to embrace my new home. That started with a simple step: Learning about how people here lived. I added Kendrick Lamar and Olivia Rodrigo to my playlist, started to watch the NBA, and reached out for corrections when I didn’t recognize an English word. As I began to understand and appreciate what was around me, it was way easier to fit in. My struggles started to pay off as I received multiple honors and varsity MVP awards. Apart from Academics, I also became much more active in the social circle. I learned more about life here from my new friends, and also taught them some parts of life that I left behind back in Korea. After these changes, I could proudly say that I’m definitely leading my own life.

Maya’s story of the privilege walk reminded me of the change in my perspective before and after trying to understand American culture. At first I was hesitant in getting to know the new environment, but now I see the hidden value of entirely different customs, just like how Maya was able to understand the children with more depth. Furthermore, something Maya did that I greatly appreciate is that she didn’t just stop from enlightenment and took action to advocate for her beliefs. I believe that Maya’s propulsion of creating the “Voice of Change” weblog exemplifies what leaders do to promote their voice to the world. As a person aspiring to be a global leader and a businessman, I was greatly inspired by Maya’s quotes of insight and her action to spread her words.

Our world today is heavily interconnected, and the effects of collaborating across diverse backgrounds have never been more apparent. As I reflect on Maya’s quote and my own understanding, I am reminded that true leaders are distinguished by their ability to seek harmony in differences. My journey from a foreign student drowning in isolation to a confident participant in a global community underscores the transformative power of understanding others to be understood. Of course there are still customs that I cannot resonate with, like pineapple on pizza. But as I step forward into a world of connections and communications, I carry with me the invaluable lesson that true understanding is the cornerstone of meaningful process.

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Advocacy Campaign Examples for Students

• March 20, 2022

From empowering victims of racial inequality through the Black Lives Matter movement to protecting mental health with the semicolon butterfly, and more—advocacy campaigns have changed the way the world thinks.

Today’s youth are at the forefront of these campaigns, as they’re a lot more conscious about the injustices around them. They’ve also mastered the power of social media, strengthening their voices in the advocacy sphere.

As a student, you may want to do your part in protecting a cause that’s close to your heart. For inspiration, check out these advocacy campaign examples for students.

What is an Advocacy Campaign?

An advocacy campaign is an organized set of actions designed to raise awareness on issues and influence change. They’re often led by a group of leaders—such as students—who mobilize volunteers to support a particular issue or call for new policies.

Advocacies don’t have to be grand to become relevant. Many campaigns aim to address a small subset of a much larger issue. For example, rather than dreaming of a huge goal to lobby against worldwide drought, focusing on a core location can make your advocacy more achievable. This approach is also a lot easier to commit to for students.

What Makes an Advocacy Campaign Successful?

To help you promote your cause, here are five critical elements of successful campaigns. Make sure to include all these in your campaign to cover all your bases.

SMART Goals

Goal-setting is one of the first things you should do when planning an advocacy campaign. Using the SMART format allows you to cover all corners and ensure that you’re starting the project prepared.

• Specific . Specify what you want to achieve with the campaign. Let’s say you’re starting a campaign to raise awareness on the climate change problem. Instead of aiming to “raise awareness,” rewrite your goal to be more specific. For example, you can say, “Create an advocacy video to depict the climate crisis in the Philippines.”
• Measurable . You should quantify your goal with a metric to track the campaign’s performance. Student-led campaigns are usually measurable through the number of donations you collect from fundraising or the number of supporters you reach through engagement.
• Achievable . It’s easy to be ambitious when planning an advocacy campaign, but it’s more important to set goals that you can achieve. That can mean scaling down to reach a small community before coming up with a city-wide project.
• Realistic . Advocacies don’t need to involve huge funding or have a massive following to achieve success. One of the most frustrating things about being a student is the lack of accessibility to resources. Thus, you’ll need to tiptoe around to work toward goals that you can achieve.
• Time-bound . Your campaign should have a reasonable timeline. Think of it as a deadline to finish all the steps needed before implementation.

Good Stakeholder Knowledge

When designing an advocacy campaign, you need to understand your target audience to reach them effectively. To do this, you should conduct a stakeholder analysis. This involves identifying individuals who can empower or hinder you from achieving your goals, assessing how much influence they can have on your campaign, then thinking of ways to engage with them.

Work With a Reliable Core Team

Planning an advocacy campaign involves a lot of work. While you might be able to power through them all with enough tenacity, you’ll likely get burnt out, especially with studies on the side. So get a team to help you out and distribute tasks based on everyone’s skillsets. For starters, fill up the roles for the lead organizer, campaign marketer, and volunteer head—then branch out from there.

Send Out a Clear Message

Regardless of what your campaign is about, you need to send the right message to your audience. Most campaigns’ success depends on the amount of support they can amass. But that starts with creating a compelling narrative that the audience can relate to. Be clear about your message and remove white noise.

For example, if your advocacy campaign focuses on increasing the pet adoption rates in a certain area, it makes no sense to dedicate placements to talking about global warming. Likewise, you want to curate your social media feed to reinforce the campaign’s big idea.

Implementation Plan

Once you have the basics down, you can design an implementation plan outlining your main activities and timeline. Cover the content you’ll be posting, the outreach programs you’ll be initiating, and others. This plan will serve as your roadmap to success.

Advocacy Campaigns For Students

Advocacy campaigns may sound daunting at first, but they don’t have to be. Check out these ten advocacy campaign examples for students to give you an idea of how you can help make a difference, whether big or small.

Human Rights

For years, the UN has been vocal about the growing number of human rights violations in the Philippines. As a result, more and more NGOs are stepping in to defend this cause. As a student, you can focus on a human rights issue that resonates strongly with you and use your favorite platform to spread the word. That can be through art, social media, or volunteer efforts.

Animal Rights

Animal advocacy campaigns focus on providing shelters for stray animals and preventing animal cruelty. The most prominent NGO for this cause would be The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). It actively lobbies for animal protection laws and educates people about taking care of their pets. If this advocacy is close to your heart, you can help by educating your classmates, switching to cruelty-free products, and organizing a donation drive for local shelters.

Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most pressing global issues today. Based on a 2019 report by the Institute for Economics and Peace , the Philippines has the highest climate risk in the world, particularly because of its geography. As such, it’s essential to take action now to prevent irreversible consequences. If you’re passionate about the environment and want to help protect the planet, this advocacy will be suitable for you.

Gender Equality

The discourse of gender equality remains strained in the country. As a basic human right and sustainable development goal, gender equality promotes equal resources, opportunities, and participation for all genders. Inside the classroom, you can support this cause by initiating discussions on the topic, using gender-neutral language, and assessing yourself for potential instances of gender bias.

Mental Health

Mental health efforts are highly relevant to students today. There are so many factors that could contribute to the deteriorating mental health among youth. As someone from the same generational cohort, you can send a powerful message by talking about these factors. The louder the conversations are, the higher the chances of normalizing mental illnesses and reducing the stigma surrounding them.

Despite the country’s high literacy rate, many students cannot receive adequate quality education due to financial constraints and the lack of accessibility. There are many ways you can approach this advocacy, such as fighting for accessibility rolling out educational tools to reach students in remote areas.

In 2018, 16.7% of the Philippine population lived below the poverty line. This meant over 17 million people couldn’t sustain their lives as they don’t have access to food, housing, and other needs. Given how complex this issue is, it’s not likely for any advocacy campaigns addressing this issue to create a significant impact. But lending a hand with tangible efforts like donation drives and food programs can make a huge difference to the individuals suffering from poverty.

One of the major effects of poverty is the lack of adequate housing, forcing millions of people to live in unsanitary conditions. To help support those in need and provide better living conditions, you can start housing projects or amass support for similar initiatives.

Habitat for Humanity advocates for this cause by working with local communities to build houses and provide decent housing for all. If you’re interested in supporting housing initiatives, you can start by volunteering in their activities. Doing this will give you a clearer idea of how to draft your advocacy campaign.

Senior Care

Taking care of the elderly is an innate part of Filipino culture, but there’s a dire lack of infrastructure that caters to the elderly. As a result, many senior citizens aren’t aware of the rights and benefits they’re entitled to. There’s also the issue of the lack of healthcare facilities outside of the city. There are plenty of ways to approach this problem and empower the nation’s older humans.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the Philippines, yet the survival rate is only at about 57% . Given the high incidence of breast cancer in the country, spreading awareness on the issue can help people spot early signs of cancer and prevent a full-on medical battle. Early diagnosis is a powerful prevention tool—but proper education surrounding this issue remains quiet.

Examples of Successful Advocacy Campaigns

To give you more ideas on how you can advocate your cause, here are five examples of successful advocacy campaigns in the Philippines.

Healthy Pilipinas COVID-19 Campaigns

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, fake news and misinformation became rampant on the internet. As a countermeasure, the Department of Health (DOH) partnered with marketing agency Evident to launch two online campaigns: “COVID Alis Sa Pamilyang Wais” and “Family Smarts Keep COVID Away.”

The campaigns provided facts about the virus and shared tips to enhance people’s safety. These were launched on the Healthy Pilipinas Facebook page —DOH’s main platform for promoting health information. After just a month, the page saw an 82% increase in followers due to the timely campaign and use of creative content with digestible information.

CEED’s #VIPforVIP Campaign

In celebration of World Tourism Day, the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development launched the #VIPforVIP campaign on September 27, 2021. It called for the preservation of Verde Island Passage (VIP), given the alarming issues posed by the potential establishment of fossil fuel plants in Batangas. 

As a marine biodiversity hotspot, VIP houses almost 60% of the fish species in the world. Thus, if the fossil gas projects pushed through, marine life on the island would be severely threatened and people would lose their source of livelihood.

Given this premise, CEED initiated an online petition in Change.org calling on the local and national government to not issue the permits for the projects. By October 5—just eight days after the campaign’s launch—the petition garnered 270 signatures , surpassing its target of 200.

Save Philippine Seas’ Shark Shelter Project

Save Philippine Seas (SPS) advocates for the conservation of marine resources and life. From 2012 to 2015, it ran the Shark Shelter Project to help preserve the thresher shark in Malapascua Island, Cebu.

SPS provided teachers with marine science education training and gave phones to the Bantay Dagats or sea watchers to stay connected with local officials. By 2015, Malapascua Island and Gato Island became the Philippines’ first shark and ray sanctuary via Executive Order 16-2015 .

The participation of many stakeholders, ranging from teachers to students and boat crew, ultimately led to the campaign’s success. Having them on board encouraged more private businesses to donate funds to support the Bantay Dagats.

Climate Reality Project Philippines’s Niche Campaign

In July 2021, the Climate Reality Project Philippines partnered with East-West Center and Wavefarers to launch the Niche campaign . This initiative invited the youth to submit proposals on project ideas to promote climate change action.

Over 20 proposals were submitted, and five teams moved to the project incubator round, where they received seed funding for their projects. The winning ideas included the following:

• Solar-powered irrigation system for farmers
• Floating apparatus to address river pollution from waste
• K-12 game to educate Filipino students on climate change
• Hydroponic garden
• Community waste collection system

The campaign was a success as it empowered youth advocates to stand against climate change. It also showed that many individuals had bright ideas and just needed the proper support to bring their projects to life.

Habitat for Humanity’s WeBuild

Habitat for Humanity Philippines launched the WeBuild campaign in 2015 to build more homes for individuals with no access to them. With over four million Filipinos living in unsafe and unsanitary places, Habitat aimed to rehouse 20% of this demographic category by 2020. This translated to around 800,000 families, which they hoped to help by raising PHP 5 million and organizing one million volunteers.

By September 2016, Habitat managed to build 3,176 houses throughout Bohol and 2,546 houses in the areas affected by typhoon Yolanda. While this is still far from their target, their progress in one year was notable.

FAQs About Advocacy Campaigns

What is the best advocacy for the youth.

In reality, there’s no one “best” advocacy since all social issues are equally important. To give you an idea, some of the most relevant advocacies for the youth include climate change, mental health, education, and gender equality. However, it’s also important to remember that the best advocacy will be one that you’re passionate about. At the end of the day, a successful advocacy campaign is only possible if you have the heart for the cause you’re supporting.

How do I start an advocacy campaign?

To start an advocacy campaign, you first need to identify what advocacy you want to focus on. From there, you can set goals and determine your target audience. Get to know each of your stakeholder’s positions, interests, and needs so that you can plan your implementation. Once that’s settled, build a team, craft a strong message, establish proper metrics to track your campaign’s performance, and stay consistent in churning content.

How Can Students Become Advocates For The Environment?

As a student, you might think that you can’t do anything to help the planet in its current state, but that can’t be further from the truth. Even the most minor actions can make a huge difference. For example, doing something as simple as recycling trash or conserving water use at home can already contribute to a healthier environment.

If you’re willing to put in more effort to advocate for the planet, you can take it a step further by volunteering for an environment-focused NGO before trying any of the advocacy campaign examples for students discussed above. For example, Rights of Nature , an organization promoting nature preservation, is currently looking for volunteers. You can contact them at x to learn more about their activities and initiatives.

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How Advocacy Can Help College Students Become Leaders

Advocacy , In Real Life

For many, college is a time to explore the issues they care about. In high school, students tend to be restricted by rigid schedules, and rarely get the opportunity to lend their voices to issues they care about in an academic setting. Most higher education institutions have clubs, classes, and events that support the development of advocacy and policy skills for students. It is important for students to develop skills in advocacy because it allows them to take a stand for the things they believe in socially, professionally, and in their personal lives.

Supporting young people’s exploration of advocacy allows them to be agents of themselves and of the future. In other words, advocacy is a critical part of preparing young people to take on leadership roles. Dr. Torie Weiston Serdan’s book “ Critical Mentoring ” talks about the importance of framing mentoring in a way that considers race, ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality when creating programs for youth. “Critical Mentoring” also discusses making this work youth-centric, so that young people can take control of their agency and voices while filling leadership roles in their communities. By actively involving youth in advocacy through critical mentoring practices, we are showing young people that their voices are important.

This summer, I arrived in Washington, D.C. to serve as the Government Relations Intern at MENTOR. I was lucky to have one of my professor’s serve as a mentor during my college career, and understanding the basics of advocacy and having my own agency before coming to D.C. greatly prepared me to enter the world of policy. It can sometimes be hard for college students to know what steps are necessary to advocate but mentors can support students by providing them with resources about the issues that ignite their passions.

Peer mentoring is also a great way for first-year students to learn about advocacy in college. Upperclassmen can be great resources for new students if they have experience in advocacy themselves. For example, if an incoming student wants to join a club that supports one of the issues that concern them, one of the older members can teach them how the group advocates for the issue on campus, to school leadership or even to their member of Congress. Mentoring from professors and other staff is also a great way for students to gain advocacy skills. If a professor and student share a passion about a certain issue, the professor can share how they previously — or still do — advocate for that issue, and by doing so, the professor is helping ensure that a student is prepared to lead advocacy efforts for that issue in the future.

Some of the advice I was given was to thoroughly know the issue I care about and to have some general talking points that convey to others why you care about the issue and why it should concern others too. My mentor also taught me how to reach out to state and federal legislators, which has been an important tool for me. I think if I had come to D.C. without some knowledge of how to advocate for myself and the issues I believe in, my transition into the advocacy realm would have taken longer and I wouldn’t have felt as comfortable leading in this area. Every young person should have the support and training they need to advocate for themselves, for their communities, and for the world.

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Advocacy Essay Examples

An advocacy essay is a powerful form of writing that aims to persuade and influence readers to support a particular cause, idea, or course of action. This type of essay serves a crucial role in raising awareness, driving change, and promoting social justice by presenting well-researched arguments and compelling evidence. Advocacy essays are not just about expressing opinions; they are about effecting positive change in society.

The Purpose and Significance of an Advocacy Essay

One of the primary purposes of an advocacy essay is to raise awareness about an issue that might be overlooked or misunderstood. By presenting accurate information, statistics, and real-life examples, the essay informs readers about the significance of the cause and the impact it has on individuals and communities.

Advocacy essay examples are carefully constructed to build a persuasive argument that convinces readers to support the cause. This involves presenting compelling reasons, backed by credible sources, for why the cause is important and deserving of attention.

The ultimate goal of an advocacy essay is to mobilize support and action. By presenting a clear case for the cause, the essay encourages readers to take steps such as signing petitions, participating in rallies, or supporting relevant organizations. The essay empowers readers to become advocates themselves.

An advocacy essay serves as a catalyst for change, inspiring readers to take action and support a meaningful cause. By presenting well-researched arguments, real-world examples, and a persuasive narrative, this type of essay has the power to make a significant impact on society, policies, and attitudes, ultimately contributing to positive social change.

Anti-bullying Advocacy: Support for Bullied Victims

For twenty-one years, The World of Children has advocated for children around the world who are at high risk at becoming a bullied victim. Through private and public funding vulnerable children have been elevated in spirits, educated and those children become effective future change makers...

My Advocacy for Animals and Their Rights

In the "My Advocacy For Animals Essay" paper, we will research the topic of advocacy for animals in more detail. Animal rights are the laws just for animals. Animals are created to be free, that is free from medical research, hunting and other services to...

Expanding My Legal Prowess to Accomplish a Career in Advocacy

“The most important part of this job is listening” is a piece of advice I received from a prominent litigator within the firm early on in my career at Morgan & Morgan, P. A. The phrase seems simple to follow, yet it is a skill...

The Major Types of Advocacy and the Role of Advocacy in Promoting Social Change

Advocacy is defined as acting on behalf of a disadvantaged individual or group, with minimal conflict of interest, for purposes of defending, protecting, and promoting justice and their welfare, while remaining accountable and loyal to them in a manner that is spirited and insistent. Justice...

Advocacy for New Recycling Policies in Singapore

Over the past few years a great emphasis has been placed on recycling, with most of these efforts targeted at making recycling more convenient. For instance, we have blue recycling bins placed at easily accessible locations, some even right outside one’s house. Furthermore, in the...

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About Advocacy

Advocacy is the profession or work of a legal advocate.

Instructed advocacy, Non-instructed advocacy, Statutory advocacy., Non-statutory advocacy, Self-advocacy, Paid Relevant Person's Representatives (PRPR)

Advocacy tactics are the actions or activities that you conduct to push toward your advocacy goal or your desired change. There are four main types information politics, symbolic politicsm leverage politics, accountability politics.

Civil rights, domestic and sexual violence, and housing, LGBT rights, women's rights, environmentalism, veganism, poverty, human trafficking, mental health and substance use, abortion, same-sex marriage, academic cheating, etc.

18 % of social media users decided to take action involving a social or political issue because of something they read on social media. It takes only 10 percent of the population holding an unshakable belief to convince the remaining population to adopt the same belief. Radio/TV remains the main public opinion influencer. 43 % of social media users decided to learn more about a political or social issue because of something they read on social media.

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