Hometown: Santa Barbara

Education/Organizational Affiliation: Incoming Freshman at UC San Diego, Planning Committee Member and Student Leadership Summit Trainee in 2023

Superpower: I can always come up with a thought-provoking icebreaker/check-in question on the spot.

Why is lifting youth voice important?: Youth are the inheritors of societies and their impacts. We face both the burdens and blessings of the choices and actions pursued by past generations. In a world where the decision-makers are predominantly adults, youth voice often goes silenced as it becomes an optional token of inclusivity. If we want to construct a world where policies, legislation, and initiatives match the priorities of the current generation, youth voice cannot just be “heard”, but it must be uplifted. When youth are given a receptive and empowering audience, we have the capacity to shatter current norms and practices to create radical change.