Senator Brewer Encourages Students to Stay Educated and Involved
By Aisha Schor | Observer Contributor
Photo courtesy of MWCC
A group of students and faculty had the opportunity to meet and chat with Massachusetts Senator Stephen M. Brewer about a variety of topics and current events facing young people today.
Topics discussed ranged from environmental protection programs and habits to the importance of voting, and even why showing up to your 8 a.m. class could benefit you in the future. Though Brewer wanted to get everyone’s perspectives and opinions, he had a strong message to convey to the students in attendance. He kept coming back and reiterating the quote, “The world is run by those who show up.”
The quote and the message behind it was the overall theme of the afternoon discussion. Brewer wanted to hear about students’ thoughts on what societal issues they felt needed to be addressed, why they were important, and how students could take steps towards solving them. The takeaway was that being aware, reading news, talking to people, and being curious about current events was an important part of becoming a more educated and active member of society.
Brewer wanted students to know that the first step to change was being willing to show up. “You have to be willing to show up, that’s how change happens,” said Brewer. He also wanted students to see that change can start small, challenging everyone at the table to say one thing they could do in their everyday lives to be more environmentally conscientious.
Also discussed were students’ thoughts and perspectives on educational debt and student loans. The topic was popular as it was close to home.
Many agreed that student debt would inhibit young people from progressing with their lives, inevitably affecting society’s economy as a whole.
Brewer kept the discussion casual and comfortable allowing students to facilitate and take the conversation where they wanted. Some students talked about their personal stories, while others listened or tried to learn about new ways to get credible news, or how they could register to vote.
Brewer ended the conversation by reiterating, “we’re all in this together.” The MWCC Brewer Center plans to host more chats like this in the future. Students looking to join the conversation should talk to Shelley Nicholson in the Brewer Center.
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