Generating movement towards positive dialogue, fostering good will, and strengthening the foundation of our American democracy. These are the goals of the United Nations ASPIRE chapter of East Stroudsburg South High School.? Uniting around the diversity of its members, ASPIRE aims to make an impact globally and locally by actively pursuing social justice while developing a broader understanding of global citizenship.?

As students operating with 21st Century technology and the ability to communicate across the world at their fingertips, ASPIRE students reject the passive in favor of the active.? An idea needs to be put into action and not merely put on social media. A criticism must be accompanied by a plan towards positive change.? ASPIRE students seek to be fully aware of their responsibilities to their local and global communities as evidenced in their actions and their service. Moved by the Syrian refugee crisis, ASPIRE students started a coin drive for the Malala Fund which raised over $600 for girls' education. Impacted by two suicides in our school district, students disseminated outreach materials and crisis hotlines via Twitter while fundraising $250 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A discussion on political efficacy was followed by an initiative to register students and staff to vote, a tour of our Capitol in Harrisburg, and a youth discussion with our State Legislator for over 150 students hosted in our high school library. Illustrating that diversity includes all students, ASPIRE members volunteered weekly with our special needs students while fundraising over $800 towards their Spring Gala, attending as guests and buddies.

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As the adviser of the ASPIRE chapter of East Stroudsburg South High School, I have been given the unique opportunity to learn and be educated alongside my students at the United Nations Headquarters.? We have received master class lessons from renowned figures such as Dr. Jane Gooddall, Noble Peace Prize Awardee Jody Williams, Dr. Deepak Chopra, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and on two occasions, Malala Yousafzai, among many others.? At the United Nations, our ASPIRE chapter has listened and learned from people who have transcended the traditional definitions of leader and activist. They have made the world a better place for us, often at the risk of their own lives.

ASPIRE students have taken these master class lessons back to our community, highlighting our belief that what we learn is only as good as we can use it to improve our own community.? At our high school in the Pocono region of Pennsylvania, we have hosted Pulitzer Prize winning author of the best selling non-fiction Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Sheryl Wu Dunn, United States Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-17th), United States Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10th), Democratic senatorial candidate Admiral Joe Sestak, and Glamour Magazine College Woman of the Year, Afghan activist Noorjahan Akbar.? We are not a college or university. We are not located in or around a major city. We are not a private academy. We are an economically disadvantaged rural high school.

ASPIRE students believe that they can accomplish what they set out to do because they have learned firsthand from those that took great risks to improve the lives of their communities and the lives of others, the vast majority of whom they will never meet.? The ASPIRE chapter of East Stroudsburg South High School has shown that the opportunities they have been given to engage with academics, activists, politicians, and world leaders is a positive investment in youth that pays off exponentially in the present and beyond. Giving youth the opportunity to improve themselves is an investment in our future and in our communities. This investment promotes peace, social justice, and global citizenship by simply opening the door and allowing youth to be part of the conversation.

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Michael Healey

Advisor United Nations ASPIRE

AP US Government and Politics Instructor

East Stroudsburg South High School

East Stroudsburg Area School District