Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, perseverance, and a long-term commitment.

While advocacy was introduced to me early in my childhood, it wasn’t until I joined Team STYT that I truly understood its meaning. Initially, I equated advocacy with making an immediate impact, and I equated impact with immediate results, large numbers and public acclaim.

Then came the setback. Our annual summit, Symbiosis, was a flop. Only 15 people showed up. I questioned how we could drive change with such a small audience. I was also thoroughly disheartened by the lack of male participation. How could we hope to drive lasting change when one-half of the party was missing from the conversation? This ignited my determination for challenging the current paradigm and advocating for all members of society to be involved to bring about system change.

A year later, I was speaking in front of hundreds at the Orange Day Rally, and later at the March for Our Lives Rally, advocating for legislative support for Teen Dating Violence (TDV) and linkages between gun violence and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

I received accolades from the audience, interview requests from the media, and spoke at legislative meetings where political leaders considered our funding proposal.

But instead of viewing these accolades as success indicators, I now saw these as just stepping stones to achieving a larger goal.

My internship with Futures Without Violence showed me the power of research in driving systemic change. I organized the first nationwide conference on Teen Economic Abuse (TEA) and collaborated on university research projects studying TDV.

In the summer of 2024, as a Senate intern for U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (CA), I crafted a key memo on TDV, reinforcing the importance of relentless, detailed work that goes into crafting policy.

In other places of influence, whether it was organizing events at Ohlone College, or building out resource guides as a law clerk at Bay Area Legal Aid, I found myself educating my peers on issues of TDV and TEA, and the intersectionality with LGBTQ+ and other marginalized youth.

These initiatives — whether it's conducting research, organizing local summits, or rallying for legislative change — may have different aims, but they all amplify a common goal. Together, they strengthen my community through sustained efforts and unwavering commitment.