My swan song: thank you to my supporters

After two years, I have reached the end of my days as a Herald student columnist. I will graduate Kennedy High School on Sunday. More than anything, I hope my columns have urged the Bellmore-Merrick community to think differently about world issues. With so many formidable challenges facing us today, there might be a tendency to grow pessimistic and hopeless. But what I've tried to do is showcase the impressive efforts of different organizations-especially youth-so that my readers see plenty of reason for optimism.

When I first started writing these columns, in the beginning of 11th grade, my goal was to shine a light on key issues by giving examples of what different organizations are doing. Never could I have predicted how influential student groups would be in bringing about change. In all my interviews with students-whether they are human rights activists or local food advocates-I found that the power of youth is a dynamic that political leaders will have no choice but to confront.

Of all student groups, most striking to me is the STAND (Student Anti-Genocide Coalition). When I attended its regional conference last year, I got the impression that the energy of students is indispensable to holding the U.S. government accountable for its action on human-rights abuses. STAND, unlike many student groups, has the ability to reach politicians directly: it encourages members to schedule lobbying appointments with Congressional politicians.

The other idea I want to hammer home is the importance of local agriculture, for both environmental and health reasons. Kennedy seniors have heard me talk about this issue a lot, and I hope that next year in college they pressure their schools' dining services to serve locally grown food (something that many student groups have already begun doing successfully).

I owe my thanks to many people for their support of my columns. My parents have not only been my biggest fans but also have allowed me to travel by myself to different out-of-town events, including the Democratic National Convention and the anti-genocide conference at Harvard.

I would like to thank my editor, Scott Brinton, and Herald publishers, Clifford and Stuart Richner, for allowing me to be a student columnist. Second, I really appreciate that people have taken the time to answer my questions when I've interviewed them. And thank you to the Kennedy High School administration and teachers for always supporting my writing.

Perhaps I am most indebted to this group of people: those who have seen me around the neighborhood and have told me that they read my columns. It's tremendously fulfilling to know that I have a loyal following across Bellmore-Merrick. That applause has further inspired my journalistic ambition; it has shown me how journalists can have a huge impact advocating for issues that are important to them.