When I founded Milton Youth Advocacy for Change (MYAC), it wasn’t just about creating a student group, rather it was about building a platform for young people like me to lead real change in our community. I didn’t want another organization where teens sat quietly at the end of a table. I wanted MYAC to be a space where we owned the table. One of the first major events I organized through MYAC was a student-led panel named on mental health and micro aggressions at Milton Town Hall. It was part of our collaboration with the Milton Coalition and Milton Town Hall, where I also serve on the Youth Task Force and as a volunteer for the health department. The event brought together local leaders, school administrators, and students to openly talk about the gaps in mental health support within our schools and the normalization of subtle racism in our community. I helped coordinate the logistics of planning meetings with town officials, recruiting speakers, promoting the event in schools and on social media, and making sure student voices were at the center of the conversation. That event led to more than just powerful discussions. It led to action. After the panel, several school staff members reached out about improving mental health services. I worked with other students to propose changes, like increased access to counselors and peer-support programs. It showed me the power of youth advocacy when it’s supported by strong partnerships and bold leadership. For me, leadership through service means showing up, listening, and putting in the work to create something bigger than yourself. Whether I’m organizing mental health panels, working at my afterschool job with elementary schoolers, or serving on town committees, I bring the same energy: lead with purpose, serve with heart. Leadership is not about titles, it’s about impact. It’s writing the emails no one wants to write, staying late to set up chairs before an event, and making sure everyone in the room feels seen and heard. It’s using your voice, not just for yourself, but for people who haven’t been handed a microphone yet. My work with MYAC and Town Hall taught me that real change starts small, like in community meetings, school gymnasiums, and classrooms. And as I prepare for college and a future in law and policy, I’m carrying this lesson with me: service is leadership, and leadership means making space for others to rise with you. I’m not just volunteering, I’m building a future where young people are trusted to lead and make a difference right now.

Growing up, mental health was something we just didn’t talk about. As a Haitian and French second-generation immigrant, I come from a culture where emotional struggles are often brushed aside, especially for women. You're expected to be strong, push through, and never show weakness. But as I got older, I realized that silence doesn’t heal. It hurts. In middle school and early high school, I started noticing how stress, anxiety, and depression weren’t just personal struggles, they were everywhere. Friends breaking down in bathrooms. Classmates disappearing for days without explanation. I saw how untreated mental health issues quietly shaped our lives, especially for BIPOC students during and post COVID-19. And I saw it in myself, too. I internalized the pressure to be perfect, the high-achieving daughter, the advocate, the leader. But behind closed doors, I was overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted. I was afraid to admit I needed help. Everything changed when I got involved with the Milton Coalition and later founded my own nonprofit, Milton Youth Advocacy for Change. I wasn’t just advocating for others, I was healing myself. I co-led mental health campaigns for local schools, become co-leader of Milton Minds Matter, organized student panels, and worked alongside town officials to improve support systems for youth. For the first time, I had a space to talk openly about mental health and to help others do the same. I realized that advocacy wasn’t just service. It was survival. I’ve made it my mission to make sure no student feels like they have to suffer in silence. That’s why I continue to serve on the Milton Youth Task Force, where I help organize events around mental health awareness and substance misuse prevention. That’s why I chose to work at an afterschool elementary program, where I can be a steady, supportive presence for younger kids who may not have someone to talk to. And that’s why I plan to become a civil rights or defense attorney, because mental health intersects with everything, from education to criminal justice to basic human dignity. I’ve learned that strength isn’t about holding everything in. It’s about being honest with yourself and using your voice to uplift others. This experience didn’t just shape my career goals, rather it reshaped how I see myself. I’m not just an advocate. I’m proof that vulnerability is powerful. And wherever life takes me, I’ll keep fighting to create spaces where everyone’s story, no matter how heavy, is heard and held with compassion.

Since I was a kid, I’ve been drawn to law. Not for the prestige, but because I saw it as a tool to protect people. Over time, that passion has expanded into a bigger vision: I want to become either a civil rights or defense attorney, or pursue international diplomacy as a United Nations diplomat. No matter the path, my mission is the same: to fight for equity, protect human rights, and ensure that overlooked voices are heard. As a Haitian-French second-generation immigrant growing up in Massachusetts, I’ve always existed between different worlds. And as a young woman, I've faced adversity because of my gender. This perspective has shaped how I approach everything, from local advocacy to global affairs. I’ve spent my middle and high school years turning that awareness into action. I founded a youth-led nonprofit, Milton Youth Advocacy for Change, to amplify young voices and create space for youth leadership in local decision- and change-making. I have also served on my town’s health coalition, the Milton Coalition, and the Milton Youth Task Force to collaborate with local officials and lead mental health initiatives in schools, advocating for all students. I’ve seen firsthand how systemic inequality plays out in schools, communities, and institutions, and I want to be the one on the front lines challenging it, whether in a courtroom or in any local community or environment. My passion for justice isn’t just theoretical, it’s lived. I work at an afterschool program for elementary students, where I see how inequity can show up in the everyday lives of kids. Some don’t have access to the same academic support or resources, fueling my drive to build a future where their zip code or background doesn’t limit their potential. It’s also why I’m seeking out volunteer opportunities in Boston focused on legal advocacy, because I believe change happens not just in big courtrooms or global summits, but also in everyday interactions and small acts of service. I’ve prepared for this future by taking rigorous courses to expand my knowledge in this field. I have taken AP courses in government, history, and English, while engaging in leadership and public service opportunities whenever possible. I was recently accepted into Northeastern University, and I plan to major in political science on the pre-law track. After undergrad, I hope to attend law school and specialize in civil rights, criminal defense, or international law. Eventually, I want to take my skills to defend human rights and shape policy that protects the most vulnerable worldwide. Law is my foundation, but justice is my purpose. My career won’t just be about titles, but about impact. I’ll carry my community, my culture, and my commitment to justice with me.

Prompt 2: My interest in policy stems from the simple truth that real change starts close to home. I’ve spent the past 5 years deeply involved in civic life in my town, serving as a youth representative on the Milton Coalition and Milton Youth Task Force, founding a youth advocacy nonprofit Milton Youth Advocates for Change, and working side by side with community leaders. Through that work, I’ve seen the power of local and state governments to create tangible change and the barriers that often stop that change from reaching the people who need it most. That’s why I am pursuing a degree in political science and planning to further my career with law school following it. Massachusetts is where I’ve grown up, and I want to be part of building a future here that’s equitable, accessible, and deeply rooted in justice. When looking into the prospects of my future, I envision myself working in either state or federal government and changing policies. Whether as a defense attorney, UN diplomat, or lawyer serving those in my local community, I picture a life for me where my work in advocacy is not just helpful to those who need it, but meaningful for long lasting change and impact. One policy issue I care deeply about is access to mental health resources for youth especially in schools. I’ve witnessed firsthand how stigma, underfunding, and bureaucracy can block students from getting the support they need. Through my work on mental health initiatives in my community and through my committees, I’ve advocated for more inclusive programming and culturally competent services. While being co leader of Milton Minds Matter, my chapter held discussions, anxiety reducing activities, and mindful practices to promote the importance of prioritizing mental health. We then shared these experiences with the adults in our community to demonstrate mental healths significance on the youth. I believe every young person deserves meaningful and genuine support at all times, not just when it’s convenient for a system. Civil discourse is the heart of public policy. It’s how we move from frustration to solutions. Through my advocacy work, I’ve learned how to listen to my peers and those older than me, and how to find common ground. Real progress doesn’t happen in echo chambers, rather it happens in dialogue, in discomfort, and in the courage to keep showing up. I plan to bring that same commitment into every room I walk into, every campus I step foot on, and with every person I meet because policy should reflect all of us.