We marched with purpose and passion, turning heads and cameras, and a man who didn’t have anything better to do than yell “Elon!” That moment, the amalgamation of multiple I’s into a single “we” stirred the power of collaboration into conversation. In-person lobby day for the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition (MYCC) brought in more than 400 students representing multiple constituencies of Massachusetts, advocating for climate bills and more governmental transparency. It was a chance for students to tell their stories, shout their emotions, and participate in the civic responsibility of discourse and activism. Students persevering through the cold Massachusetts breeze of mid-February held banners written “Provide Sunlight to Congress,” “Clean Water Access for All,” and “Save Our Planet Before It Is Too Late.”
Each word was carefully written out, each color and font carefully chosen, and every message spoke for different cultural and socioeconomic viewpoints. This diversity reflects American democracy and represents its ideology: regardless of background, we all have a voice. America offers an opportunity for all. Through the countless chants of the MYCC lobby students that day in the Boston streets, a simple cry stuck with me: “Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like!”
What I found most intriguing was that the representation of diversity in the group of MYCC students mirrored the student body of Andover. Diversity in discourse and activism is directly correlated to the cause’s effectiveness and emotional storytelling. It was this diversity, the variety of perspectives and experiences in water cleanliness, air quality, and governmental transparency, that gave students at MYCC the power to shout against environmental injustice. This moment helped me realize the importance of genuine and personal activism at Phillips Academy. Andover prides itself on having a diverse student body and recognizes diversity as a core part of learning. School is not only a haven for education but also a place that represents part of the American Experiment, the idea that every person can reach success and comfort if they work hard enough. The idea is that inclusion and variety are a gift and a necessary part of social development. Putting 1,100 students from different places around the globe in a single student body at Andover forces everyone to broaden their outlook on the world, which is reflected in my group of friends from New York, South Korea, Singapore, Georgia, and Brazil. This diversity is within reach and is a privilege provided by an environment like Andover.
Strangely enough, however, I often find Andover to be lacking in activism and discourse. More often than not, our busy environment prevents students from expressing themselves or looking past their purview. The courses are jam-packed with content with almost no rest in between, providing efficiency but often giving students less time to ponder upon the “why” of ongoing social issues. Further, in a culture of conformity that focuses heavily on excellence in intellectual, social, and athletic capabilities, it is often difficult to express thoughts that might go against the dominant trend. Students must engage in their education outside the classroom, be aware of the injustices they turn a blind eye to, and try to make a case against those issues. It is further a duty of every student at PA as part of the school’s “intentionally diverse community” to encourage and educate others about discourse and activism. The intentionally diverse community of MYCC specifically led to its broad reach in legislative power, with a notable policy being Bill H.496, also known as the Interdisciplinary Climate Justice Education Bill, that suggests more climate content and education in the public school curriculum. Andover’s diverse range of students similarly have the unique capabilities of effective storytelling and can work to reform many dimensions of the society that they live in today despite students’ differing experiences and motivations. We are all different leaves, but we must look at ourselves not as separate leaves but as branches connected to the roots of a single tree. The impact will be broad: more youth participants in activism better reflects a transformative world, and a diverse youth further provides the best possible lens for the government to provide necessary policy changes.
Though we all take different courses, enjoy different interests, and have different personal characteristics, we are all part of the forward momentum necessary for change. This sense of “community” is what the school tries to achieve, woven in with a thirsty desire for positive change that uses our voices to participate in American democracy. We all have those silent chants in our hearts, those colorful banners in our minds, and a purpose in our feet. So I invite every student at Andover to show me, yourself, and every person around you that this is what democracy looks like.
