Youth violence is the intentional use of physical force or power to threaten or harm others among minors. It can be an everyday thing that happens like bullying someone for what type of clothes they wear or it can be as extreme as weapon-related threats between gangs. I want to advocate for better education in our school systems. A leading cause of youth violence is the school-to-prison pipeline. Many U.S. schools with a majority of Black and/or Latinx students have extensive punishment protocols for minor offenses. Rather than trying to fulfill the student's needs and find the root of the issue, they send them to court without a fair chance at improving themselves. Because of their poor permanent record, these youth often cannot return to school or get a good job. This results in many resorting to joining gangs as a means to feel a sense of community. To combat youth violence, we have to look into what's causing the problem. A lack of support and resources greatly influences youth violence. While the effort is improving, schools still need to improve with the issue of homeless students. How can a student have no access to proper housing, clean clothes, healthy food, or a warm shower and be expected to behave perfectly during the school day? I want to make a difference in youth violence by pushing for change in our education system diplomatically and peacefully. For example, there are several protests and petitions in my area in New York City that I help support to fight youth violence. In my school, I am a part of the Service Learning Leadership program where we discuss social issues and service projects. It was in this program that I learned about the school-to-prison pipeline. Because of my education, I was able to become part of fighting off youth violence. Topics of youth violence awareness should be implemented in schools. Moreover, schools should fund the proper necessities for children. Many funded schools provide free showers, food, and even laundry to students in need. However, these said funded schools are only a few institutes out of the many schools which need these programs. I want to advocate for social change in our school system. I help out with the local elementary school near my high school. I see a lot of types of kids from different backgrounds. How someone is raised and treated in school has a huge impact on their life. By supporting children at a young age, we can prevent youth violence in our world. Overall, in my life, I will make a difference in youth violence by fundraising for upgraded resources in schools and educating others on the importance of fighting the school-to-prison pipeline.