“The truth is that "activism" can and must be practiced in many ways that often go unnoticed. It is listening and building relationships. It's writers who focus on issues and perspectives outside the status quo. It's teachers who lift up marginalized voices and try to also learn from their students. It's prison inmates reading books to educate themselves about politics and business. It is being what society deems "other" or "not normal" and yet radically loving yourself. As people focus on "trendy" activism--youth who get attention from the media, give powerful speeches at rallies, and attempt to do the biggest and flashiest possible things--we (myself very much included) have to remember that those attention-generating strategies are not the only way to create change. As activists, we must keep educating ourselves, listening to other perspectives, and remembering to be aware as much as possible. We must challenge ourselves not to just advocate for "our own" issues, but strive to lift up other issues, voices who aren't being heard, and ways in which issues intersect...

At the same time, we are all on a journey to find our own strengths and passions and use them for good, to make this type of daily "activism" a norm in every occupation and community. That work is often hard, it's not flashy, it can go against the societal expectation of being complacent and following rules, but it's so important. Whoever you are, you can be an activist too--you just have to figure out the way that will work best for you.”