[Applause]
hello my name is May 3 I’m a senior in
high school and founder and president of
a suicide prevention and mental health
awareness organization I work with
like-minded people to reduce the stigma
around these tablets
the stigma often keeps individuals from
seeking treatment for mental illness and
in turn can contribute the suicide this
became a reality for me when my best
friend died by suicide after enduring
her long after the suicide conversation
is spiced reading is cut short blame is
placed and the education gap becomes
extremely evident the injustice
surrounding this issue became painfully
obvious and something I couldn’t ignore
activism began the second I decided to
take actions towards changing the
culture around the suicide activism
began when I educated myself about the
injustice of how people treat mental
people with mental illness activism
began when I surrounded myself with
people who felt empowered to affect
change and activism begin when I
channeled my passion and frustration
into changing this teens provide a
powerful perspective and addressing the
injustice that exists in the culture we
grew up in access to information from a
young age has provided us with the
ability to be well informed generations
use the first generation that has had
access to Internet our entire lives one
of the most influential catalysts to my
activism was this abundant access to
before my loss I knew almost nothing
about suicide mental illness but for
research item that mental illness become
a contributing factor and that one of my
most influential networks that the
American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention website without these
resources I would never be able to gain
however even more influential than
internet access with our social reform
culture we live in a time of social
revolution in 2015
same-sex marriage is legalized after
decades of struggle for equality and in
2017 the me to women in sexual
harassment as I grew up watching
movements like these I learned to
believe that change is possible and that
we live in a world where people can and
should be this is this was such a
powerful thing in my life
another strength of teens is on the hog
mentality and I’m not your baby what did
she say often Italians extreme and young
folks often the driver of negative
destructive action that power can be
channeled for good and this mentality I
watch their social movements to go
[Music]
now I’m not promising that every time
you put that idea out there a whole
bunch of teams are gonna support
intolerance but with the right
circumstances and a significant group of
influential people you may just feel the
attraction because of our nature to
follow the next paycheck
it’s hardly those trainings that were
found impact factors in the categories I
was transformed from a power that’s 50
grand girl who missed her best friend
and sorrowful who were three powerful
and determined force for change after
evening a purpose not only does that
help me breathe my loss but it also
provided me with numerous and valuable
skills and experiences that have shaped
the person I am today
I now know how to lead a meeting with a
board of directors how to manage
volunteers and I’ve even had my first
unpleasant interaction with an adult
co-worker the experience is a team game
for activism are nothing like any other
experience that you could have in your
first 18 years life and I’ve been lucky
enough to live in a community where
support was abundant and mines were open
to change communities all serve me
better when teams engage actively the
process of change by addressing and
justices teams strengthen our
communities and promote a socially
responsible culture they challenge other
community members to become a part of
positive social change because if they
don’t let’s face it we are really and
this is politically divisive time youth
all over the country are modeling a
positive way to affect change social
movements such as black lives matter
March for our lives and dreamers all
have significant new cleaner ships that
are engaging in political ads
and peaceful profess youth activism has
a cyclical effect teen activists
perpetually for social reform culture
which will then teach the next
generation a change is needed and
possible and the cycle continues when
looking to the future
today’s activism transforms us into
community leaders and good citizens of
tomorrow now I hope that what I just
said to you has left me with a false
question what can I do to be a part of
this movement and although the idea I’m
trying to promote is meant to the youth
leg adults play a vital role adults I
challenge you to be a resource you know
much more than we do about organizing
people money and logistics share this
with us your experiences can answer many
questions and maybe activists may have I
like to joke with my mentor it was
actually feared today about how she
ruined me because she taught me so much
about liability and risk but now when I
have any new idea the first one that
pops with my brain is can we do that
deserter instead of the next encourage a
non-traditional path teens are pressured
to focus solely on academics and school
activities if our attachments along with
this traditional path we aren’t
encouraged to pursue daily so challenge
us to follow our passions for social
justice we may be hesitant at first the
upfront about difficulty interest as the
adult with experience and understanding
of hard work it is your responsibility
to prepare us for the challenges ahead
help us to understand that there will be
hours of volunteering and paperwork and
significant financial risks but with
your patient and honest guidance we can
do it and finally and most importantly
leave in our ideas and abilities this is
by far the most important role my
activism was nurtured by the important
adults who believed in me when I told my
parents and my future mentor
to organize the suicide prevention
concert they didn’t say me that’s crazy
that’s impossible
you don’t know how instead they offered
me just enough guidance and support to
grow the confidence I needed to thrive
as youth activists so adults I challenge
you to believe in us in our abilities
this is the best thing you can do to
promote youth activism in your community
it is simple but so powerful and now on
to my message for youth as the human
rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize
winner dozen to two once said if you are
neutral in situations of injustice you
have just chosen the side of the
oppressor if an elephant has its foot on
the tail of the mouse and you say that
you are neutral the mouse will not
appreciate neutrality this perfectly
captures the value of activism
neutrality is not good enough when teens
witness our experience and injustice
is our responsibility to take action for
exchange if we all do our part whether
big or small the will will slowly become
a better place so how believe in
yourself and okay yes I get it it’s
cliche but activism cannot happen
without believing in yourself believe in
your desire for change believe in your
ability to do things you may have never
done before
believe in your strength and
determination and finally believe in
your power to influence change don’t be
afraid to speak that this can be really
scary I can remember the first time I
spoke bad about suicide
one of my friend said I’m going to kill
myself as a way to show how she felt
about my exam I told her it was bad to
make light of a serious issue by turning
into a joke this was a terrifying moment
I had to decide that I was gonna respond
to that sticky feeling in my stomach and
say something or just say nothing at all
speaking out his heart but collectively
a lot of little moments like this one
can change our culture find a mentor one
of the most vital aspects of youth
activism is mentorship we don’t know how
to organize an event or start a social
movement but we shouldn’t be expecting
to seek the support and knowledge of
someone who’ll support and validate your
ideas and abilities and answer questions
patiently we have never alone in our
desire to change to find others who
found the same social progress and learn
from each other take a non-traditional
path in today’s culture teens are
pressured to fit into specific mold
focusing solely on academics and select
today’s we’re expected to be perfect
students standout athletes popular their
peers and talented musicians our peers
are always relate to sending emails or
organizing volunteers schedules or
understand why we are in the school
because of meeting our interview
although it hasn’t been a traditional
path leading a suicide prevention
organization has been more interesting
and rewarding than any number of likes
I’ve gotten an Instagram post or any
100% battle test joining together others
as when the United States first activist
once said not in numbers but in unity
that are great strength lies once I
started discussing and awareness concert
with a group of my friends I felt
empowered and I was even or start
effecting change find others who value
the same change
because embarking on an activist journey
is not the path that should be taken
alone and finally use your access I’m
talking about the power of youth
activism we have so much to bring to the
process of change as I said before
Generation Z has so much information at
our fingertips we believe in the
possibility of change because the
influence of our social reform culture
it is no secret that our generation has
social media done to it science that is
a vital skill in marketing a nonprofit
organization or social movement and
finally we have a powerful potential to
gain the support of our peers because
the mob mentality that exists in teen
culture we must use all of these assets
take action towards change because we
can do it and I believe we have a
responsibility to do so every day every
one of us experiences or witnesses in
the justice and 99% of the time we
choose the easiest option which is to
look the other way in move on with our
busy lives we rationalize by telling
ourselves that doesn’t affect me or
that’s just the way it is
however activism against the second we
decide to act teams like me are no
different but how do we start addressing
that injustice
first we must align ourselves with
others who recognize the injustice and
value need for change there is nothing
more powerful enjoyable next we must
introduce the idea that it poses current
belief by speaking out the open up an
opportunity that wasn’t there before to
alter the view of another person even
the slightest bit and finally we must be
steadfast and unrelenting
justice because change never happens
overnight but with great persistence and patience
hello my name is May 3 I’m a senior in
high school and founder and president of
a suicide prevention and mental health
awareness organization I work with
like-minded people to reduce the stigma
around these tablets
the stigma often keeps individuals from
seeking treatment for mental illness and
in turn can contribute the suicide this
became a reality for me when my best
friend died by suicide after enduring
her long after the suicide conversation
is spiced reading is cut short blame is
placed and the education gap becomes
extremely evident the injustice
surrounding this issue became painfully
obvious and something I couldn’t ignore
activism began the second I decided to
take actions towards changing the
culture around the suicide activism
began when I educated myself about the
injustice of how people treat mental
people with mental illness activism
began when I surrounded myself with
people who felt empowered to affect
change and activism begin when I
channeled my passion and frustration
into changing this teens provide a
powerful perspective and addressing the
injustice that exists in the culture we
grew up in access to information from a
young age has provided us with the
ability to be well informed generations
use the first generation that has had
access to Internet our entire lives one
of the most influential catalysts to my
activism was this abundant access to
before my loss I knew almost nothing
about suicide mental illness but for
research item that mental illness become
a contributing factor and that one of my
most influential networks that the
American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention website without these
resources I would never be able to gain
however even more influential than
internet access with our social reform
culture we live in a time of social
revolution in 2015
same-sex marriage is legalized after
decades of struggle for equality and in
2017 the me to women in sexual
harassment as I grew up watching
movements like these I learned to
believe that change is possible and that
we live in a world where people can and
should be this is this was such a
powerful thing in my life
another strength of teens is on the hog
mentality and I’m not your baby what did
she say often Italians extreme and young
folks often the driver of negative
destructive action that power can be
channeled for good and this mentality I
watch their social movements to go
[Music]
now I’m not promising that every time
you put that idea out there a whole
bunch of teams are gonna support
intolerance but with the right
circumstances and a significant group of
influential people you may just feel the
attraction because of our nature to
follow the next paycheck
it’s hardly those trainings that were
found impact factors in the categories I
was transformed from a power that’s 50
grand girl who missed her best friend
and sorrowful who were three powerful
and determined force for change after
evening a purpose not only does that
help me breathe my loss but it also
provided me with numerous and valuable
skills and experiences that have shaped
the person I am today
I now know how to lead a meeting with a
board of directors how to manage
volunteers and I’ve even had my first
unpleasant interaction with an adult
co-worker the experience is a team game
for activism are nothing like any other
experience that you could have in your
first 18 years life and I’ve been lucky
enough to live in a community where
support was abundant and mines were open
to change communities all serve me
better when teams engage actively the
process of change by addressing and
justices teams strengthen our
communities and promote a socially
responsible culture they challenge other
community members to become a part of
positive social change because if they
don’t let’s face it we are really and
this is politically divisive time youth
all over the country are modeling a
positive way to affect change social
movements such as black lives matter
March for our lives and dreamers all
have significant new cleaner ships that
are engaging in political ads
and peaceful profess youth activism has
a cyclical effect teen activists
perpetually for social reform culture
which will then teach the next
generation a change is needed and
possible and the cycle continues when
looking to the future
today’s activism transforms us into
community leaders and good citizens of
tomorrow now I hope that what I just
said to you has left me with a false
question what can I do to be a part of
this movement and although the idea I’m
trying to promote is meant to the youth
leg adults play a vital role adults I
challenge you to be a resource you know
much more than we do about organizing
people money and logistics share this
with us your experiences can answer many
questions and maybe activists may have I
like to joke with my mentor it was
actually feared today about how she
ruined me because she taught me so much
about liability and risk but now when I
have any new idea the first one that
pops with my brain is can we do that
deserter instead of the next encourage a
non-traditional path teens are pressured
to focus solely on academics and school
activities if our attachments along with
this traditional path we aren’t
encouraged to pursue daily so challenge
us to follow our passions for social
justice we may be hesitant at first the
upfront about difficulty interest as the
adult with experience and understanding
of hard work it is your responsibility
to prepare us for the challenges ahead
help us to understand that there will be
hours of volunteering and paperwork and
significant financial risks but with
your patient and honest guidance we can
do it and finally and most importantly
leave in our ideas and abilities this is
by far the most important role my
activism was nurtured by the important
adults who believed in me when I told my
parents and my future mentor
to organize the suicide prevention
concert they didn’t say me that’s crazy
that’s impossible
you don’t know how instead they offered
me just enough guidance and support to
grow the confidence I needed to thrive
as youth activists so adults I challenge
you to believe in us in our abilities
this is the best thing you can do to
promote youth activism in your community
it is simple but so powerful and now on
to my message for youth as the human
rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize
winner dozen to two once said if you are
neutral in situations of injustice you
have just chosen the side of the
oppressor if an elephant has its foot on
the tail of the mouse and you say that
you are neutral the mouse will not
appreciate neutrality this perfectly
captures the value of activism
neutrality is not good enough when teens
witness our experience and injustice
is our responsibility to take action for
exchange if we all do our part whether
big or small the will will slowly become
a better place so how believe in
yourself and okay yes I get it it’s
cliche but activism cannot happen
without believing in yourself believe in
your desire for change believe in your
ability to do things you may have never
done before
believe in your strength and
determination and finally believe in
your power to influence change don’t be
afraid to speak that this can be really
scary I can remember the first time I
spoke bad about suicide
one of my friend said I’m going to kill
myself as a way to show how she felt
about my exam I told her it was bad to
make light of a serious issue by turning
into a joke this was a terrifying moment
I had to decide that I was gonna respond
to that sticky feeling in my stomach and
say something or just say nothing at all
speaking out his heart but collectively
a lot of little moments like this one
can change our culture find a mentor one
of the most vital aspects of youth
activism is mentorship we don’t know how
to organize an event or start a social
movement but we shouldn’t be expecting
to seek the support and knowledge of
someone who’ll support and validate your
ideas and abilities and answer questions
patiently we have never alone in our
desire to change to find others who
found the same social progress and learn
from each other take a non-traditional
path in today’s culture teens are
pressured to fit into specific mold
focusing solely on academics and select
today’s we’re expected to be perfect
students standout athletes popular their
peers and talented musicians our peers
are always relate to sending emails or
organizing volunteers schedules or
understand why we are in the school
because of meeting our interview
although it hasn’t been a traditional
path leading a suicide prevention
organization has been more interesting
and rewarding than any number of likes
I’ve gotten an Instagram post or any
100% battle test joining together others
as when the United States first activist
once said not in numbers but in unity
that are great strength lies once I
started discussing and awareness concert
with a group of my friends I felt
empowered and I was even or start
effecting change find others who value
the same change
because embarking on an activist journey
is not the path that should be taken
alone and finally use your access I’m
talking about the power of youth
activism we have so much to bring to the
process of change as I said before
Generation Z has so much information at
our fingertips we believe in the
possibility of change because the
influence of our social reform culture
it is no secret that our generation has
social media done to it science that is
a vital skill in marketing a nonprofit
organization or social movement and
finally we have a powerful potential to
gain the support of our peers because
the mob mentality that exists in teen
culture we must use all of these assets
take action towards change because we
can do it and I believe we have a
responsibility to do so every day every
one of us experiences or witnesses in
the justice and 99% of the time we
choose the easiest option which is to
look the other way in move on with our
busy lives we rationalize by telling
ourselves that doesn’t affect me or
that’s just the way it is
however activism against the second we
decide to act teams like me are no
different but how do we start addressing
that injustice
first we must align ourselves with
others who recognize the injustice and
value need for change there is nothing
more powerful enjoyable next we must
introduce the idea that it poses current
belief by speaking out the open up an
opportunity that wasn’t there before to
alter the view of another person even
the slightest bit and finally we must be
steadfast and unrelenting
justice because change never happens
overnight but with great persistence and patience
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