When I first heard about the "Don't Say Gay" bill, not a bone in my body ever believed it would actually be passed. But with each passing week, fear like I've never experienced in my life began to brew. And when the bill did eventually pass, I decided that I needed to do something or else nobody would.

I began speaking at Seminole County school board meetings, pleading the members to do something. I told them about how dangerous the bill is, how queer adolescence would no longer have support from their teachers. I told them how kids would remain closeted, afraid to live as themselves while the only safe spaces they had were demolished. I told them how many people would turn to suicide as their mental health declined. I reasoned with them. I pleaded with them. I begged them. But time after time, they did nothing.

We wrote a story about it for my newspaper that didn't end up getting published on print. Despite all of my efforts to bring awareness to this cause, no one would listen. This is why student press freedom is vital - it's the only way to share our voices and raise awareness to important causes. It's the only way to get people to truly listen and make positive, long-lasting change within our communities.