With everything happening in the world, it is habitual for high schoolers to feel powerless and unable to make a change because of their age. Usually, when high schoolers think of how they can make a difference, volunteering and other forms of outreach come to mind, but how can they independently make a difference within our world?

 Although forms of outreach such as fundraising or creating an organization are beneficial to your community, there is still an even easier way to make an impact on our world. 

This efficient, but impactful alternative is signing online petitions. These online petitions greatly vary from local community causes to worldwide problems. There are various websites that are dedicated to online petition signing, but one of the most recognized websites is https://www.change.org/. 

One of the numerous petitions available to be signed is Help us stop 3 billion pounds of ocean plastic pollution. This petition stresses the importance of lessening the number of plastic within the ocean, which begins with the cleaning of the main source of plastic accumulation which is the Yangtze River. The link to this petition is: https://www.change.org/p/help-stop-3-billion-pounds-of-plastic-from-entering-the-ocean-each-year. 

Another petition available to be signed is End Human Trafficking NOW. This petition spreads awareness of the huge problem human trafficking poses to children. Within the billion-dollar industry of human trafficking, predators continue to enslave children and exploit them for manual labor, sexual services, and organ trade. The link to the petition is: https://www.change.org/p/arizona-state-senate-end-human-trafficking-now.

Adriana Arroyo ’23 explained why she believes the End Human Trafficking NOW petition is incredibly important. She stated, “A petition against human trafficking is important because as long as it helps one person – we are working to end human trafficking as a whole. The privilege and freedom we have must be used to help those in terrible situations such as human trafficking.”

In addition to these petitions, the Close All Wildlife Markets Globally petition is also available to be signed. This petition focuses on the inhumane practice of wildlife trading and its effect on endangered species. This petition can be signed at: https://www.change.org/p/world-health-organisation-close-all-wildlife-trading-markets-globally. 

Joanna Ciudad ’23 further discussed why she is convinced that The Close All Wildlife Markets Globally petition is truly impactful to our world. She shared, “The effects of wildlife trading markets is a huge problem that is not emphasized in today’s society. Having awareness of this terrible practice can help save the lives of innocent animals and prevent worldwide problems that have been occurring recently.”

Whether a person is young or old, there is always a way for them to make a positive impact on their community or more crucially within our world. Make a change in your community or the world and sign a petition that you believe in.