Whether it is about restroom passes or protest, Hickman students showed they weren’t just there to learn but also to have their voices heard this year. Students showed that they care about using their voice for more than just for their education.
We asked 102 Hickman students what changes they think are most important for the upcoming school year. We gave students eight options and asked them to pick their top three. This is the change students want to see here at Hickman for next year.
Junior Georgia Sexton raised money to build wells in South Sudan. She went around to different classes to explain what the donations were for. Her project encourages people to not be afraid to use your voice for change.
“I went around to different classes in the EEE program, and I told them about this project,” Georgia said
She feels she helped and made a change by raising $2,500. By raising money for wells in south Sudan, Georgia helped create change in the lives of many families who struggle to get clean drinking water every day. Her project showed that one person’s determination can inspire change in a community and encourage others to help people in need. Through Georgia’s hard work she proved that even students can make a big difference in the world
“I think we donated or raised a decent amount of money, and hopefully it’ll help people get more clean drinking water,” Georgia said
Another student advocating for change was freshman Cecilia Brown. She participated in a protest to raise awareness about first amendment rights by creating a visual to express her opinion. The event lasted for about an hour and allowed students to come all together and share beliefs. Cecilia said the experience felt empowering because it gave her a voice and allowed her to stand up for what she believes in.
“First amendment right to protest, so it’s important to me that you were able to exercise it and take the responsibility very seriously,” Cecilia said.
Principal Grupe shows how she wants students to be able to use their voices by not standing in the way of what students believe in. She did this by not standing in the way or making it difficult for students to speak out, even if she didn’t agree with what they were standing for to help students feel safe in school. By allowing students to speak out and express their opinions, the school created an environment where students could feel heard and respected. Even when people may not agree with each other’s views, giving students the opportunity to advocate for what they believe in helps encourage respectful communication and understanding. This also helps students feel safer and comfortable sharing their thoughts within the school
“No approval was needed, but we worked really well together. They communicated with me what they intended, and I asked them about going over to the East side, which they were in support of in that space,” Grupe said.
Grupe explained that communication between students and staff helped the event stay organized and respectful. By working together and discussing plans beforehand, administrators were able to support students while also making sure everyone remained safe during the protest.
She did have a few rules to keep students safe, specifically regarding location.
“I thought that we needed to go a layer to be more strict to keep us safe…having one location that people know where to go, and then having…administrators are out there,” Grupe said.
This illustrates how HHS staff encourage students to advocate for themselves, others in their community, and their families. Students are also taught how to express their opinions in a safe and calm manner, even when others in the community may not act the same way. HHS demonstrates the importance of respectful advocacy and positive communication.
“I think the school clubs can maybe fundraise more and hold it at the school which is a safe place.” Aundrea Trejo said (11)
From the removement of the DEI department and the rise in tariffs, ICE seems to stand out from the rest as just a few months go on January 20 Hickman organized its first ICE protest to appropriately use their first amendment right in hopes to drive change for their country and protecting others who can’t speak out for themselves.
For many people ICE is a daily concern for themselves and others as they try to fight for peace within their community in hopes that it spreads throughout the country.
“It affects everyone, because you will know an immigrant. It doesn’t matter where they immigrated from, but you will know an immigrant, and they will be affected by this” Aundrea said.
Aundrea helped spread and influenced people to join the cause leading up to the walkout on Tuesday, as Aundrea is also part of the Creciendo juntos club that played a big role in the planning of the walk out.
“The whole idea of the club was for it to be a safe place for anyone, anyone can join and like to learn about Hispanic heritage and like what that means” Aundrea said. “But also, creating a community, the whole point of Creciendo juntos is about community”
Creciendo Juntos focuses on creating a safe community for everyone and educating people on Hispanic heritage to connect people to other cultures to share the importance of how everyone is connected through friends and family.
“I think we definitely should have more protests, because protests are what lead to change, but also like coming together as a community, also like it helps build resilience, and resilience is also what you need for change.”
Protests mean a lot for each person for different reasons from the Ice walkout to even the No Kings protest as both are linked together for similar reasons.
I” believe it is important to go to these protests because people need to recognize the things that are happening in our country.” Siri Trumbower (10) said.
Siri Trumbower attended the no kings protest for similar reasons as joining the ice walkout, to speak against the injustice they see around the country and to inform others who don’t read the news so they see them fighting for a cause to show people that it’s important enough to speak out for.
“I think a lot of students would not know what is going on and would not be aware of what is happening with current events, because a lot of students don’t read the news, and they don’t actually know what’s going on until something big, like a protest happens at their school.” Aundrea said. “I think it really clicks for students. Wow, this must be really big for us to have a protest at school.”
When faced with opposing statement on if protest actually benefit society and or opposing view point on their opinion they stay true to their beliefs believing that protest are they only way as a citizen to really make an impact
lI think protests are incredibly important. I think protests are a way for citizens to express how they’re feeling, and especially whenever, like, there’s such big ones, like all the no kings protests, it really sends a message to the entire world” Aundrea said.
While some people might be view protest as a waste of time it can directly effect the cause to make it less meaningful and powerful to where the backlash of people with the same opinion can stop there being a future for change
“I think people do have a nihilist mindset just because they’re like, What can I do? Everything is so hard. Everything is out of my control. But you have, like, you have to break out of that mindset, and you have to realize, “We are the people, we drive change, and if we stay silent, nothing will happen, and it will continue to get worse without change.” Aundrea said.
Speaking out for change can impact your county, state and country. Ultimately our country has fought for our first amendment rights and others no matter the issue can fight for change for a better future. As 8 million people came together for the No Kings protection back in March while others rallied some stayed behind, seeing it as dangerous and not worthwhile.
“But whenever you are set in that mindset, it hurts the like, the change that people are trying to create because you’re just, you’re lessening the effect that they have.” Aundrea said.
