Because we are celebrating Free Speech Week, I thought I would touch on the displays of free speech that I have seen throughout my schooling in each area I have lived in.

When I was growing up, I lived in Northern Virginia (pretty close to Washington, DC). Even in elementary school, the teachers made it a point to speak up for what we believed in, no matter how nervous we felt about the possible outcomes of sharing our opinions. This allowed me to grow as an individual because I learned the importance of developing my own viewpoints from an extremely young age.

At the age of 11, I moved to an area near Houston, Texas. We didn’t focus quite as much on free speech as we did in Washington, DC, but by the time I reached high school age, I was riveted by the amount of clubs my high school offered that advocated different viewpoints on worldly issues. I was proud to be a part of a school that was so diverse in opinions.

Now that I am in college, I see student organizations taking action to advocate for what they believe in, and I am mesmerized by the strength of the opinions surrounding me. Even though I may not agree with someone on a topic, I can admire their passion for what they believe in.