Ever since I was young, I always dreamed big. I used to close my eyes and imagine a world where there was no fear, no sadness, no hunger. I remember always questioning, always wondering why humans treat each other the way that they do. I couldn’t understand why we would allow people to not have the possessions we do, and as I grew older, I realized that it was more than just possessions that the human race robbed each other of. I realized that we also rob people of their identity by fitting their story into a box, labeling it, and placing it on the shelf. We rob people of their voice because we do not listen.

I am a firm believer in the fact that feelings are valid, no matter what they are. So if a person is saying that this world is hurting them, who are we to tell them that it isn’t? Who are we to say that it is time for them to pick themselves up by their bootstraps when they weren’t even supplied boots in the first place due to our own greed? It is this type of thinking that polarizes us, hardens us, and shuts us out of the world without even knowing it.

As President of Student Senate it is my duty to make sure no one goes unheard. A wise man once told me that you can choose to be comfortable or you can choose to be courageous, but you cannot choose both. It is time to be courageous. It is time for us to do something, to act, to stand up for what is necessary. That is a part of what Senate is setting out to do. We are an organization that builds leaders that will be sent out into the world with open minds and open arms.

I want to start unpacking those boxes. I want to remove labels. I want to set people up for success, I want everyone to dream big and allow their visions to become reality.

I am excited to see what this year has in store for Student Senate and our campus. I know we will accomplish great things if we just dream big.