Lana Washington - Career development: Volunteer work related to career goals (per year), 3 points

 The day before attending the ICE protest, I participated in creating posters and visual materials to support the demonstration. This activity involved collaborating with other students and community members to design messages that clearly conveyed the themes of immigrant rights, justice, and the need to abolish ICE. I focused on making my posters visually compelling while also ensuring that the language highlighted the human impact of immigration enforcement. As a Hispanic and Black student, this experience felt personal and meaningful, because it allowed me to express solidarity with communities directly affected by these policies and to use creativity as a form of activism. I enjoyed the collaborative aspect and the opportunity to brainstorm ideas, though it was challenging to condense complex issues into simple, powerful messages that could resonate with a public audience.

This activity connects to my Social Studies and Civics coursework, where we study the role of civic engagement, activism, and free speech in shaping public policy. Creating posters helped me see firsthand how visual communication can influence public awareness and participation, reinforcing the idea that advocacy can take many forms beyond speeches and protests. Overall, preparing these materials was both educational and empowering, giving me a sense of agency in contributing to a cause I care about and preparing me to participate meaningfully in the protest the following day.