Immigration — it’s not an abstract topic or distant debate. It’s about people. It’s about families, hopes sacrifices, and the belief that tomorrow can be better than today. I care deeply about this subject because at it’s heart, immigration asks a simple and powerful question: how do we treat one another one if our lives and stories are different?
Classrooms are places where curiosity is welcomed, questions matter, and where young people learn not only facts but values. That is why conversations about immigration belong here. Schools have always played a vital role in helping societies grow more just and more thoughtful. When we talk about immigration with honesty and compassion, we affirm the dignity of every human being and the importance of understanding before judgment.
History and shared principles remind us of this responsibility. The universal declaration of human rights affirms that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Our own civic ideals emphasize liberty, fairness, and opportunity. Voices like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remind us that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. These are not just quotations from the past. They are guideposts for how we live and learn together today.
Immigration can be complex. It involves laws, economics, history, and personal stories that are often emotional. Thoughtful engagement means listening carefully, learning from credible sources, and recognizing that disagreement does not require disrespect. Teachers can foster this by creating spaces where students feel safe to ask questions and explore multiple perspectives. Students can honor this by speaking with empathy, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from one another.
Being productive means moving beyond fear or silence. It means educating ourselves through history, civics, and firsthand stories. It means supporting classmates who may be directly affected by immigration policies. It means participating in community discussions, services projects, and civic processes that strengthen understanding and trust. Productivity is not about having all the answers. It’s about choosing actions rooted in compassion and knowledge.
To students especially, your voices matter. Peacefully speaking your mind is not only a right but a responsibility. Change has always started with young people being brave enough to express their beliefs with respect and courage. Peaceful expression means listening as much as speaking. It means believing that your words can contribute to solutions rather than division.
I want you to know how much I care about this conversation and about the students in this community. I believe deeply in your ability to shape a more humane and hopeful future. When you engage thoughtfully, when you speak peacefully, and when you choose empathy over indifference, you help bring us together rather than push us apart.
Let us commit to learning, to listening, and to leading with compassion. Let us use our classrooms and our voices to build understanding. And let us remember that progress is not made by shouting the loudest, but by caring the most and acting with purpose.
Together, we can create a community where every student feels seen, heard and valued, and where speaking out becomes the bridge to a better future.
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Nathen Breedlove is a senior at Columbia high school, with two years on the varsity track team, with plans to run again this spring. After graduation, he plans to pursue his own business.
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