It’s never too early to advocate and lead

I was privileged to attend the Save the Children's and its advocacy arm Save the Children Action Network's annual Advocacy Summit in Washington D.C., where I spoke with members of Congress and their staffs and shared my experience fundraising for Save the Children with other students from across the nation.

Last summer, I hosted a benefit concert titled 'The Power of Music,” which raised more than $2,000 for Save the Children. I was excited to share this experience to inspire others to take similar action in their communities. I was amazed to see how many young people from across the nation with different interests and experiences could come together to advocate for children.

During the summit, I learned about two urgent issues: early childhood education and maternal, newborn and child health. I primarily advocated for the issue of early childhood education, since I strive to live by the motto 'education is the gift of a lifetime.” It's incredible when you consider the facts, including that 90 percent of a child's brain develops during the first five years of life. I believe that every child deserves a healthy start in life, so it is vital to provide them with a quality education early on.

I met with Sen. Joni Ernst, as well as staff members from the offices of Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Rod Blum. I was able to witness the power of one voice and the impact it can have on our leaders. It was truly eye-opening that I, as a junior in high school, could serve as a strong advocate and voice my opinions to help children around the world.

Save the Children Action Network is working here in Iowa to increase access to high-quality early learning programs for all Iowa kids. The organization has been working with our state legislators to support bipartisan efforts to enhance early education, and they're working to increase public awareness about how early education benefits children, families and our state.

I am thankful for this remarkable experience. I cannot wait to continue my journey with this organization as it strives to make a positive impact in the lives of children around our nation and world.

' Sruthi Palaniappan is a junior at Linn-Mar High School in Marion. Comments: editorial@thegazette.com