“Your voice does matter,” proclaims Laghima Pal, a Senior at Cumberland Valley High School in South Central Pennsylvania. An active member of her community, Pal strongly believes in the lasting impact youth can have on their communities. From participating in local events such as trash cleanups to serving on her high school’s student council, Pal has experienced firsthand young people’s capacity for positive impact on those around them, when given the platform to do so. In addition to large-scale ideas and solutions, Pal champions the necessity of local efforts because these efforts can also “have such a meaningful impact on others.” Simply helping someone out in your day-to-day life, Pal believes, is just as important as speaking to members of Congress or helping pass legislation.

Unfortunately, as Pal notes, the platforms available for youth to make an impact are scarce, especially in suburban areas such as her hometown. She argues that in order to create innovative policy solutions that push society forward to the future, student voices and their unique perspectives deserve to be better platformed and elevated. Increased opportunities for youth engagement not only benefit policy but also, as she highlights, dramatically “increase the youth’s confidence and comfort regarding the future.” If the youth are going to be tasked with leading the future, then they must have the ability to influence the future. 

As an individual passionate about environmental studies and climate change, specifically, Pal affirms the sentiment that the leaders of tomorrow need to have a say in tomorrow. Sustainability and environmental issues are topics of ever-increasing importance as climate change continues to impact millions, and yet, she feels the generation that climate change will impact the hardest is often left out of the conversation. These issues have led Pal to develop a passion for creating pathways for young people to get involved in crafting climate change solutions and generating sustainable action. In college, she hopes to continue her climate change advocacy work while studying political science, economics, and/or environmental studies with the goal of creating lasting change for those around her in her future career. 

Pal’s passion for advocacy work originates from her belief in the importance of speaking out on issues she is passionate about. For her, speaking one’s mind is amongst the most beneficial things one can do for oneself. Characterizing herself as a shy person growing up, Pal admits she did not always feel comfortable doing so. However, with the help of mentors, such as the Editorial Director of her local newspaper, she was able to learn how to stand up for herself and her passions. Driven by her personal experience, Pal advises youth to have mentors in their corner to help guide them and show them how to create platforms for themself.

When asked to offer further advice to her peers, Pal asserted the importance of being confident. While she notes that it is not necessary to be outspoken or extroverted, it is important to be confident in who you are, what you have to say, and what you want to do. While it may not always seem like one’s voice has an impact, Pal stresses that people greatly value others’ thoughts and opinions. Simply said, your voice is the most important tool you have and you should always, as Laghima Pal urges, try to get it out as much as possible.

Read her 1st-place essay here.