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.
Mahlet Ayele is a rising senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Read her interview discussing her experience with civic education and civic engagement at the high school level below.
My name is Mahlet Ayele, and I am a rising senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. I have lived in Bethesda, MD for much of my life, but I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am an avid debater on my school team, volunteer with a local social justice non-profit, and am a part of my school’s National Honors Society. I am in the full IB diploma program at my school, and wrote my capstone extended essay on Ethiopian political history. My favorite courses this past year were IB Literature and Language, IB History, AP Comparative Government and Politics, and IB Theory of Knowledge. In my free time, I enjoy thrifting with friends, reading contemporary fiction, and listening to music. I have a cat named Cherry who, counterintuitively, does not have orange fur.
What does civic engagement mean to you?
From my understanding, civic engagement means staying informed on local, national, and international issues through well-sourced news. It means using this information to impact the community by avenues such as protesting and voting in all elections for which you are eligible, especially local elections and primaries. It also means connecting with other local or larger-scale community members to problem-solve for the needs and concerns of the public. It is important to be informed both on history and current affairs for responsible civic engagement.
How did you become interested in civic engagement?
I became interested in civic engagement first through AP US Government and Politics at my school, then through a student club that sends policy proposals to our local county council. iCivics games and simulations fostered my early interest in civic engagement throughout elementary and middle school.
What have you been taught about civic engagement or political science?
I have been taught about the importance of a free and vibrant civil society, both political and non-political. I have also been taught that the self-governing systems of school clubs, religious groups, and other voluntary member organizations build small-scale democracies that develop the civic skills for larger-scale engagement in our democracy.
I have been taught that political science uses a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools, such as case studies or mathematical indexes, to study how people affect politics and politics affects people. I have been introduced to various areas of political science such as American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.
How do you hope to use what you have learned in the future?
I hope to engage in my college community through identity and interest-based student organizations and projects, such as a Black Student Union or equivalent. I hope to collaborate with other students to work for the needs of the larger community. Beyond college, I hope to engage with government and politics in my career and/or in my free time by staying informed, voting, volunteering for voter registration, etc.
What is one topic you’re interested in learning related to political science?
I am interested in learning about diplomacy and international affairs—how nations build trust with one another to further domestic and international objectives. I am also interested in learning about similarities between separatist movements across history and in the current global landscape.
