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Pageantry is Advocacy
I always knew pageantry carried a stigma—at one point, I even perpetuated the harmful discourse myself. I knew people would have...


NASW-FL 2025 Conference Recap
Before the NASW-FL Annual Conference officially began, I found myself in an unexpected moment of leadership. Encouraged by a peer, I...


Dismantle Hierarchy, Rebuild Community: A Social Worker's Call for Unity
If your protest sign were someday printed in a history book, what would you want students to see? More importantly, what kind of world...


Leadership Isn’t Always Pretty: Lessons From My First Semester as President
This semester has been a rude awakening. Taking on my first true “adult” leadership role as President of the Social Work Society—our...


Bikinis, Beverages, and Being Taken Seriously: A Rant on Womanhood and Professionalism
Being a woman is hard. Full stop. It feels almost silly to say that out loud sometimes—especially when there are women in this country...


What Comes After “Thoughts and Prayers”?
We live in a country where mass shootings barely make the front page anymore. Where school lockdowns are rehearsed more often than fire...


Just Another Day in America
The threat to college students continues. They are expelled for protesting. For raising their voices against injustice. For demanding...


My Utopian Society: A Church Without God
Growing up, I actually enjoyed church. I was young, and everything about it felt like a weekly event—almost like a routine party with...


From Pain to Purpose: My Journey from Struggles to Strength
April 2017. I was just a freshman in high school. While others were trying to find their way through new hallways and friend groups, I...


I Am Disgusted. Disheartened. Deterred. Defeated.
Recently, a respected faculty member at the University of South Florida retired after being placed on administrative leave—an action...


Application for the Pillar of the Community Award
People often ask me how I manage to accomplish so much. My answer is simple: I have turned my struggles into strength. After facing...


Celebrating International Women's Day: A Call to Action
Celebrating days like today is more important now than ever as we experience a dramatic shift in oppression. From restrictions on...


Empower Future Social Workers: Help USF Social Work Society Students Attend LEAD
What is LEAD and Why Does It Matter The Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) is an unparalleled opportunity for social work...


I’m Not in Power, But I’m Not Powerless
What Do I Do? I’m not an economist. I’m not a politician. I’m not even a social worker—at least, not in the way some might define it. But...


When Caring Too Much Becomes Too Much
In a recent mentorship class, I was asked to fill out a mentoring network map. My heart sank. It forced me to confront a reality I’ve...


Saying Goodbye to MAO
For the past few months, I have gone back and forth—will I compete again, or will I not? After much reflection, I have finally come to a...


The Importance of DEI: More Than Just a Buzzword
Today, I had the privilege of attending the Partnership Impact Showcase 2025 at UCF’s College of Community Innovation & Education. The...


The Risks of Abolishing the Department of Education: A Crisis for Teachers, Parents, and Students
It is official: President Donald Trump is preparing an executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. However, he cannot...


DEI Explained: What It Really Means and Why It’s for Everyone
You’ve probably heard the term DEI —short for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion —spoken about a lot right now. Some people champion it,...


Take Action: Why You Need to Contact Your Congressperson About the Federal Funds Pause
In uncertain times, finding a sense of control can feel nearly impossible. We might turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, unproductive...


The Power of Sponsorship and the Trickle-Down Effect
Gabriela Norah Hagman, 2025 Strawberry Queen reigning for the 90th Annual Strawberry Festival Does this dress look familiar? Well, it...


You Can Do Hard Things: From Panic Attack to Keynote Speech
The program booklet for the event at Blake High School highlighted and celebrated the impressive research projects of the AP Capstone...


UNO: A Reflection of My Personal Cultural Identity - Blake High School Capstone Keynote Speech 1/10/24
This speech reflects on my journey of cultural identity, using UNO as a metaphor for how life’s circumstances and experiences shape who we a
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