Written by: Lily (Li)
Edited by: Alexis
Right now, thousands of young people are mobilizing across the world, amplifying the voices of Palestinians, just as was once done during the Vietnam-American war, the Soweto uprising, and in Tiananmen square. Students, we are fundamental to social change, and our part in youth movements historically catalyzes on college campuses: the biggest step of our academic career.
I write this message for students in all walks of life, as the finish line usually tends towards university, but for my fellow juniors especially. As we log our CAS hours, run to club interviews, and break out over the stress of finals, college applications loom – but there’s more to think about than building a great transcript or going to the most prestigious university. What do you stand for? What do you want your university to stand for? Are you willing to fund an institution that does not support your freedom of expression? One that sends police to brutalize you and your peers?
I know we all face what feels like an already impossible decision; that wherever we choose to go to college will determine the rest of our lives. While I can’t say for certain whether or not that is true – whether or not you will live a better life if you go to an elite university rather than a community college, or opt out of college entirely, I can say that your choice matters. Your choice to attend a school that cares about ‘people over profit’ and prioritizes your right to speak out against injustice. Because without the power of student voices, the world will remain stagnant, encumbered by authorities who would rather beat you into submission than address the roots of injustice from which they benefit.
