In a recent series of interviews with students from across Fayette County, voices from diverse backgrounds shared their thoughts on civic engagement, education, and what it means to be an active citizen today. Some referenced the need for more opportunities; others cited social media platforms as chances to stay up-to-date current events and issues.

These conversations reveal that while many students care deeply about social and political issues, there is still uncertainty around how to get involved and how well schools prepare them for their civic responsibilities. 

How Do Students Practice Civic Engagement?

Some who spoke to The New Edu referenced the need for more visibility and accessibility of volunteering programs to help students find meaningful ways to contribute.

For Aabha Rimal, a junior from Opportunity Middle College/Frederick Douglass High School, civic engagement means volunteering and helping others in the community. She volunteers weekly at Common Good, a nonprofit that focuses on children, youth, and families in under-resourced neighborhoods. 

Similarly, Natalia Mata, a junior from Dunbar High School, also attending Opportunity Middle College, recognizes the importance of civic engagement but admits that her busy schedule sometimes keeps her from being “super engaged.” She participates in projects like Siam’s Petals for Progress, a fundraising effort to help people across the world, showing that students also see civic responsibility as a global concern. “Be confident, because that’s what I feel like many people are lacking right now. They're not as confident of themself and, like into speaking out,” Mata said when asked what advice she’d give to other students wanting to make a difference.

Diego Manrique, a senior at Henry Clay High School, feels optimistic about the power of youth voices today. Manrique volunteers with his school’s band program. He emphasizes the importance of using his voice and applauds his school’s community service requirement, encouraging schools to promote volunteer opportunities more actively. “Schools should promote organizations that allow students to get more involved in the community,” he said. “Schools should send out more emails and post more flyers around to promote these fundraisers and nonprofits to help get students involved.”

Are Young People Prepared to Participate?

When asked if they feel ready to vote or participate in civic activities like jury duty, all three students answered affirmatively but expressed a need for more guidance.

Rimal credits her government class with helping her understand the basics of democracy, yet she feels that young people don’t always have a strong voice because many aren’t fully educated on the issues they should understand. “Not many people are taught how important voting is,” Rimal said. She wishes schools would teach more practical lessons on voting and making voices heard beyond just party lines. She pointed out that many voters simply follow party loyalty without fully understanding candidates’ policies. “Sometimes you have to look closer at the ideals of the candidates, and people just vote for a party they believe is good,” she said.

When asked how her school has helped her understand how democracy or government works, Mata said “I think it just depends on the classes you take,” adding that there is one teacher who she feels is especially into deepening students’ understanding of government. She feels more prepared to participate now. “I feel like now, since I'm older, I feel like I have more understanding about what's happening,” she said.

Manrique personally feels prepared to vote–and can’t wait to do so.“As soon as I turned 18 I became a registered voter, and I feel like I want to use my voice that was given to me,” he said. “My parents aren't able to vote so I want to use my voice for them as well.” 

Staying Informed in a Social Media Age

All three students rely heavily on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube to stay updated on current events. They acknowledged that traditional news media is becoming less relevant among young people, as social media allows news and activism to spread faster and engage a wider audience.

“There's always something when I open TikTok, or if I open YouTube, there's always a video or something,” Mata said. “That's how I stay informed and usually my parents talk about it a lot too.” 

That reliance on social media isn’t surprising, and it actually reflects a broader trend among Gen Z. Research shows that platforms like TikTok and YouTube don’t just entertain; they’re becoming gateways to civic engagement. A 2023 study found that young people often use these platforms to express political views, stay informed, and connect with others over social issues.

For students like Manrique, this digital access feels empowering. "I feel like in our current age of social media, news is reaching a wider audience than ever before," he said. He thinks journalism has adapted to the fact that “Everyone nowadays is glued to their phones, so social media is just the best way to get information right now.” 

Manrique has also noticed what his friends share on social media: many are sharing civics-related material, or posts about what’s going on in the world. What his friends share on social media helps him stay in touch with the political state of the world, he explained. 

Similarly, Can Social Media Boost Civic Engagement This Election? explains that social media can increase civic awareness by sparking conversations and encouraging youth to engage with current events. 2024 research from  Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles highlights how “Social media’s ability to connect and inform has been particularly impactful among younger audiences (Gen Z, young Millennials).” This can empower them to participate in civic activities like seeking information, and speaking out.

Rimal added that seeing friends repost news or call out injustices online makes her pay more attention to what’s happening. “I feel like the newer generation is more involved with technology,” she said. “I stay updated on TikTok and the news when my dad puts it on the TV.”

Research from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) states that youth information consumption has shifted significantly in part because of social media, but that local media outlets still play an important role: CIRCLE recommends that media organizations diversify their content and engage youth in media creation to further engage them.

Building a Stronger Civic Future

These interviews demonstrate that Kentucky students care about their communities and want to make a difference. Yet, many feel unprepared or unsure how to begin. Manrique offers some advice: “I feel like they [students] should reach out to their teachers and classmates who are also involved in community projects. They should also try to educate themselves on what they can do in their community, maybe start a program, a fundraiser, or a nonprofit that could help out,” he said. 

The students who spoke with The New Edu emphasized the importance of using your voice, educating yourself on the issues, and the need for programs that connect civic knowledge with real-world action. “Young people have the ability to spread their voice throughout the world instead of just being confined to their local city,” Manrique said. “I feel like that can make a great change in the world.”

This piece is part of Beyond the Ballot: Student stories of civic engagement, a collaborative journalistic package by KSVT’s storytelling team. This series aims to tell the complex stories of how students in our Commonwealth are engaging with civics inside and outside of the classroom.