I sat there nervously, legs jittering in anticipation, simply waiting to learn what was in store for this year’s Congressional Youth Cabinet.
Written by Areej Shuja, Pulaski Academy
I choked back a cough to clear my dry throat and positioned myself to listen carefully to all that Senator Boozman’s staff had to say on how I, a high school student, could make tangible changes in my community. This experience showed me how important it is to make youth feel heard and to give them the chance to actively participate in policies that strive to create change.
Living in a diverse community such as Little Rock, I have firsthand witnessed the necessity of ensuring that each person feels a sense of belonging. To foster that sense of social cohesion, I recognize the need to include younger generations in local matters and made it my goal to ensure our voices are heard.
I urge my peers to attend each and every event, whether that be a meeting with individuals running for office or simply a school meeting for Model United Nations. I vividly remember dragging one of my friends to meet Judge Wendell Griffin when he visited our mosque during Ramadan, and how, later the next day, she was by my side, handing out stickers urging people to vote in the primary elections.
Change starts by first being informed about the most pressing issues we face, and in today’s day and age, ignorance is the opposite of bliss. It perpetuates insensitivity and apathy, and I strive each and every day to dismantle those ideas being spread by unregulated sources.
Each person deserves to feel a sense of belonging regardless of their cultural or racial identity.
Fostering civic engagement helps pave the way for a future in which people are informed about the issues they are voting on, the ones that directly affect them in their daily lives. Simultaneously, it works to create a stronger community, one based on the fundamental principles of humanity: compassion and empathy.
I make a difference in my community by constantly involving myself in upcoming events, ranging from attending lectures regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to urging my friends and classmates to come with me. At the same time, I talk to the elderly women who’ve seen me grow up about just how much their vote matters.
Making a difference starts by first recognizing the systemic barriers that exist, preventing the existence of a true sense of community, where all are heard and represented. After I’ve come face to face with the harsh realities of the region, from the unfortunately high homeless population we have to the lack of healthcare access, I realized that if I diverted my energy, I could make a difference, one felt by those who need it.
I hope that the effort I have put into making a difference in my community continues to have positive benefits long after I have gone to college, to truly make my community a place accepting of all.
