There are many things that come to my mind when I am asked, “What are you passionate about?” Some being: family, friends, happiness; these all hold strong meaning to me. But something that stood out from my list was social inclusion. Extended into social equality, I went to Quaker school for eleven years. During my time as a Friend, I was schooled in the principles of equality and the ways of respect. New Garden Friends was much different from your average school. The students helped create the guidelines and called their teachers by their first names. The notion of respect for one another was at the heart of every action we took. Even in the lunch room it was important for us to live out our principles. Every Thursday was “mix it up” day which was created so that students would avoid becoming cliquish. Our english teacher mandated that we could not sit with people from our regular group of friends. These “mix it up” days were vital to our growth because they helped instill in us the principle of inclusion. We learned the value of hearing multiple perspectives and that the combination of diverse influences can produce the best outcomes. Then I went to high school. Transitioning into the “real” world, I was greeted with the harsh reality that not everyone held such open values. I noticed as cliques developed, members became complacent, and there was no mechanism to introduce change. Even though we attended one of the most diverse high schools in the county, we still had strong social divisions. As vice president of the senior class, I wanted to make sure everyone’s perspective was heard because I know that the best conversations are ones in which everyone is included.

My participation in the National Conference for Community Justice equipped me with the tools necessary to institute the principles of inclusion in my school and community. As class vice president, I serve on a committee that makes decisions about the face that Western Guilford High shows to the world. Whether we are discussing homecoming plans, our social media presence, or clothing and food drives, we have a responsibility to make sure that we represent all 1300 students in the best way possible. In the haze of stress that looms over events, the voices and opinions of the more introverted can get lost. Tasks such as planning social events and charitable fundraisers require the full participation of all council members, and it is often hard for everyone feel included. In living out my principles of inclusion, I would often encourage the more soft spoken members of our group to speak up, and even encourage the louder members to hear them out. I felt it was necessary for the opinions of all to be heard - not just those who had the most commanding presence. Whether I am including kids in conversation at

lunch or making sure everyone has an equal voice in student council meetings, as an NCCJ ambassador, I take pride in ensuring every person is heard. I know that every voice added to the conversation brings us closer and closer to expressing who we truly are. We should all “mix it up” because it will take everyone to create lasting change.