Student leaders stand on the shoulders of giants. For nearly 70 years, college students have helped fuel social movements that have driven positive change in our world. Students were front and center during the Greensboro, N.C., sit-ins in 1960, fighting for African American civil rights.
We were there at the Vietnam War protests at Ohio’s Kent State University, in 1970. We were there when the International Indigenous Youth Council organized at Standing Rock in 2016, and we came out in force for the “March for Our Lives” protest against gun violence in 2018. We showed up strong at #RedForEd rallies across the country over the last two years. And, today, students are still marching for justice. Together, we are powerful.
Public education is the most effective agent of change for our democracy. As educators, we have the power to make our world a more just society and fix a broken system that limits the success of all students. And we can provide opportunities for students and communities to use their privilege and power.
Like many of you, I joined my local NEA chapter for professional development, networking, and a resume booster. Little did I know that within a year, I would be speaking into a microphone at the Kentucky Education Association convention, organizing and lobbying for an increase in chapter funding.
That day, I learned to use my voice. It was a pivotal moment, in both my life and my career. Everyone has a voice, but not everyone has the privilege to use it. As NEA Aspiring Educators, we do! When our world gives us an opportunity for a microphone, we take it. Our voices must be heard.
This profession is so rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. But we have the collective strength of more than 3 million educators lifting us up each and every moment of the day. And we have the support of millions of students and communities standing alongside us. When we stand together, there is nothing we can’t do.
If you want to change the world, join our union, grow our union, and be union proud every single day. We are here to make a difference for our students.
Every day, no matter how challenging college courses and student teaching are, we intentionally choose to put our students first. Inside and outside of the classroom, we share the collective responsibility to change the world and make a better place for the next generation.
Today is your opportunity to create positive change in our world. Get involved in your chapter, create a new community event, mentor an emerging leader, or help elect pro-public education candidates up and down the ballot.
Embrace the power of educators and our union to lift your voice. Like those giants who came before us, we’re not waiting for someone to hand us the microphone. What will you do with it?
“When we stand together, there is nothing we can’t do.”
