"Anger to Advocacy" by State President, Kaleb LeMoine
November Blog
As a little kid I was absolutely obsessed with the Titanic. This ship was a gateway to a time that I’d never known. Books and magazines about it littered my bedroom floor. I memorized facts, read articles, and became as passionate about a ship as any 8 year old could be. I would recite everything I learned if someone gave me the opportunity, but get easily frustrated if no one wanted to listen. Each of us cares deeply for something we feel is important. Whether we believe in the future of agriculture or the Black Lives Matter movement, our voices can create real and lasting change. However, it’s easy to get angry when someone shows no interest in our cause. Here’s the solution to this: turn your anger into advocacy.
First, we need to define what an advocate is. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an advocate is one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group. I think of Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani girl passionate about girls receiving an education. To this day she is still an ardent advocate, even after being shot by the Taliban for speaking out. She famously said, “I don’t want revenge on the Taliban, I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban.” Imagine if we were all like Malala in this way—not feeling any anger towards those who don’t agree with our cause but still striving to improve the world for everyone. Her experiences in Pakistan laid the foundation for her passion: giving everyone access to a quality 12-year education.
Next on our path to becoming an advocate, what’s the reason behind advocacy? Why do we advocate? Malala said, “I tell my story, not because it is unique, but because it’s not. It is the story of many girls.” Advocacy makes people aware of important issues and lets people have their voices heard. Having the opportunity to attend school up until the Taliban took over home in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, Malala stood up to the injustices she and many other girls faced. Her courage helps millions of girls go to school.
Lastly, how do we advocate? Advocacy can come in many different forms. Malala started advocating on the streets of her hometown. At the age of 16, she founded a global non-profit called The Malala Fund. This organization supports education activists and promotes policy changes in education. That’s pretty spectacular, right? It’s understandable that most of us may not have the means to start our own international organization, but we can practice other forms of advocacy. This could be initiating important conversations in our communities, beginning a social media project, or even serving as a State FFA Officer. It’s also important to educate yourself as much as possible on whatever you’d like to advocate for. Find your passion and share with other people. If it’s art, agriculture, education, or campaigning for human rights, you can be a true advocate.
I hope that you feel empowered to make a difference in any way that you can. We must be the change we wish to see in the world. Thanks for reading, my friends.
Live long and prosper,
Kaleb
