Taking a Chance on Activism

January 5, 2023

I never let go of that fear that it might not end right now, but there are still things we can do to prevent the climate crisis.

Meet Quinn, a brave 8th grader who took a chance on activism over complacency. Before she started her CEL Digital Publishing course, this #SCHancetaker encountered something that scared her: watching the world news, specifically stories about climate disasters. She eventually decided to channel her fear into something productive. She immersed herself in research and launched a website to tell stories about those impacted by the climate crisis under the direction of CEL teacher Julie Knutson, who helps guide students on their quest to become digital activists.

“When I first started seeing things on the news, I got scared. I thought the world was going to end,” she says. “My dad told me, ‘It’s an important thing to be educated about what’s happening right now because this is your future.’ I never let go of that fear that it might not end right now, but there are still things we can do to prevent the climate crisis. We, as young people, need to do something about it right now.”

Quinn, who says she was inspired by her dad and climate activist Greta Thunberg, curates content for people her age via her in-progress website, United Youth Climate Alliance. In class she’s been learning about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and her newfound knowledge helped her to focus her project on taking urgent action.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” says Quinn. “The more you know, it’s a bit scary, but it's important to learn more about sustainability and what you can do as an individual and what your community can do.”