Over the past few years, the American Political Science Association and its members have renewed their commitment to high school civic education. In 2022, APSA’s Council approved the formation of the Committee on Civic Education, charged with exploring how political scientists can play a more active role in high school civic education and engagement. With APSA hosting three high school students participating in Montgomery County Public Schools’ Summer Rise Program, APSA Educate sat down with the students to discuss their experience with civic engagement at the high school level.
Lydia Orgen is a rising senior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. Below, read her interview about her experience with civic education and civic engagement at the high school level.
My name is Lydia Orgen and I am a rising senior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. I love history, English, and humanities classes, some favorites being AP English Language and Composition, AP Psychology, AP US History, and Creative Writing. I plan on pursuing linguistics, history, and political science in college. I am involved in speech and debate, journalism, set-building for theater productions, and social justice initiatives at my school. I also participate in environmental restoration and activism for the nonprofit Planting Shade. Some hobbies I enjoy include reading, baking, hiking, and playing ukulele. I feel privileged to have grown up so close to Washington, DC, and I love visiting the numerous museums, galleries, and other cultural and historical sites.
What does civic engagement mean to you?
To me, civic engagement is how we can leave the world better off than we entered it. Community service and advocacy are crucial to drive social and political change. From organizing clothing and food donations for my youth group, to coordinating local tree plantings, to participating in efforts to help students at my school become more informed and open to diverse perspectives, I feel a sense of purpose being able to positively impact my community. Another important aspect of civic engagement is that it is community-driven; collaboration is essential to achieve common goals. This group-oriented process has allowed me to gain support, guidance, and inspiration from mentors and peers alike. Civic engagement requires ongoing learning, innovation, and adaptation to changing times and circumstances. Learning about how civic engagement continues to improve quality of life and strengthen democracy inspires me to continue practicing advocacy and serving my community.
How did you become interested in civic engagement?
I first became interested in the political aspect of civic engagement when I took AP US Government and Politics during my freshman year of high school. This course made politics more accessible; though DC was in my backyard, I was unaware of how dynamic and multi-faceted the democratic process is. In this class, I began to understand the role of individual citizens’ engagement and action in driving democracy.
During my sophomore year, I had the distinct opportunity to visit Congress to present on the rampant antisemitism in my community, which was my first experience with political activism. It was incredibly empowering, to feel like I could play a role in the democratic process. Furthermore, this year, I joined Whitman’s student newspaper, the Black and White, as a news writer. We focus on mostly local events that impact the school community. Journalism has allowed me to realize the importance of being informed, especially about local events and politics. The world of media and journalism is full of controversy and misinformation, and I have learned how important it is to report respectfully and impartially, as bias and inaccuracies can be detrimental. I aim to utilize journalism as a voice for my community, as I include a range of diverse voices and perspectives in my articles.
All of these experiences have strengthened my commitment to civic engagement, opening the door to the world of politics and helping me understand that my voice and actions can truly make a difference.
What have you been taught about civic engagement or political science?
While I have not had much direct instruction about these topics in school, civic engagement and political science have come up the most in my social studies and history classes, specifically AP US Government, AP US History, and AP Modern World History. In AP Gov, we learned how citizens can utilize methods such as grassroots organizing to drive political and social change. When I took environmental justice during my sophomore year, civic engagement often came up in lessons, as we learned how individuals, organizations, and institutions utilize political and nonpolitical tactics to drive environmental progress. While the term “political science” was not taught in my history classes, the lessons examine governments and power structures, and their outcomes, in different empires and countries over time. I look forward to taking AP Comparative Politics this upcoming school year and anticipate learning much more about political science on a global scale.
How do you hope to use what you have learned in the future?
I believe that education is the most powerful tool for creating lasting societal progress. I am committed to learning and broadening my perspective so I can better participate in civic engagement efforts. However, I used to feel helpless because, while I was learning about countless social, political, and environmental issues, I did not know how to get involved and make an impact. Over time, I found small ways that I could change my behavior. For instance, after learning about the environmentally damaging meat industry, I became a pescetarian. Eventually, I gained the knowledge and confidence to pursue larger group efforts. Education on these types of issues should not only inform but empower people to engage and involve themselves. In the future, I want to implement what I have learned from experiences in environmental activism and journalism, so I can educate and uplift other people in academic and real-world settings.
Many aspects of US society and government concern me, like increasing political polarization, which makes it difficult to stay optimistic about the future. However, one of the most important lessons I have learned through activism is to be process-oriented and flexible, as an ever-changing society impacts our goals and how we achieve them. History proves that though progress is slow, it is attainable, a fact that inspires me to continue civic engagement endeavors.
