My young generation must embrace public service
One of the most productive ways my generation can tackle the challenges ahead and enact change is by getting involved with their community.
As a student at Freedom High School in Orlando, I came to understand that while change comes in different ways, service is always a requirement.
Serving my community led me to successfully advocate for the renaming of Roberto Clemente Middle School from a name that memorialized a Confederate general. Whether it be running for student government in high school, knocking on doors for a local candidate or pulling out weeds and picking up trash to make my community cleaner, service has been an essential part of my formative years.
It is through service and local advocacy that I connected with a candidate for public office, Samuel Vilchez Santiago, who became my mentor at such a crucial time in my life. While working on Vilchez Santiago’s campaign, I volunteered with local officials to support vulnerable families and community members by distributing items at food drives and speaking up about comprehensive immigration reform.
I was also exposed to other forward-thinking candidates at the local, state and national levels who, like me, understood that politics is just one of the ways through which we can create change.
Volunteering for Vilchez Santiago made it clear to me that we both had parallel paths guiding us toward making a positive impact in our community. So when he recommended that I apply for the Bank of America Student Leaders Program — a program he participated in as a high school student — I jumped at the chance.
I spent the summer meeting and collaborating with other young leaders from across the country who were equally interested in public service and giving back.
As part of the program, I worked with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida, where I was given the opportunity to contribute toward the development of others, an experience that was not only eye-opening but also filled with inspiring memories.
The 10-week internship also afforded me the opportunity to join my fellow student leaders in attending a national virtual summit, where we interacted with some of the country’s top leaders, activists and elected officials.
I came out of the summit with a renewed desire to continue forging a path toward a better, more inclusive world. The experience reinvigorated my desire for public service just as I embark on a new chapter as a freshman in college.
This month, I start my college career at Florida State University. While I may not be certain of what opportunities lie ahead, I can say that civic engagement and experiences like the Bank of America Student Leaders Program, paired with my volunteer and leadership opportunities, have provided me with a sense of purpose that guides me at every step.
I hope that if you are reading this, especially if you feel young, you join me and people like my mentor and fellow student leaders in doing the best we can to improve our community.
Service is the way forward.
Samuel Díaz is a graduate of Freedom High School. He is a 2021 Bank of America Student Leader from Orlando.