As I say goodbye to the Student PIRGs’ textbook affordability campaign during my summer fellowship, I’m filled with a sense of accomplishment and growth. Despite the virtual platform, our team’s collaboration was strong, teaching me effective communication and adaptability. Researching and advocating for affordable textbooks highlighted the complex challenges students face and the power of grassroots efforts for change. This past weekend, I was even invited to the National Student Forum where I was able to meet with my peers in person and discuss tactics we could implement to make our campaigns more effective.
This experience shifted my view of the world. I gained insight into interconnected social and environmental issues, realizing the importance of holistic approaches. Witnessing the impact of our advocacy, from policy influence to increased awareness, emphasized the potential of collective action.
Overall, this fellowship ignited my passion for equity and active citizenship. Armed with a deeper understanding of systemic problems and a belief in our capacity to drive change, I’m motivated to contribute to a fairer and more accessible world.
My capstone project is going pretty well so far. Although I have had a delay in submitting the draft due to circumstances of my experience (I just got back from a major conference for my fellowship and wanted to wait until I finished the conference to write my capstone draft) I feel good about the content I want it to cover. Although I have some concerns about turning in my draft in a timely manner due to the circumstances of waiting until I completed a main component of my experience before writing it.
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