New York, Sept. 25: Sitting inside the United Nations headquarters, I looked around and saw presidents, ministers, country delegates and young leaders from every continent. It felt unreal that I was part of this historic gathering. The discussions were powerful.
My journey before this stage
This moment at the UN was not sudden. My path started in Bangladesh, where I participated in various organizations to hone my skills, both as a person and team member.
As a member of the Bangladesh Scouts, I learned teamwork, service and discipline. With Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), I worked on raising awareness about honesty and accountability. Through Volunteer for Bangladesh, I joined hands with young people to organize community projects.
"Founded in 2011, Volunteer for Bangladesh is the dynamic youth wing of JAAGO Foundation, a powerful platform driving youth-led action to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," the Volunteer for Bangladesh website reads.
Later, with the Comilla Online Professional Association, I organized an online skill development program, helped lead youth awareness events at Comilla Victoria Government College and arranged freelancing seminars to encourage self-employment for young people.
These experiences gave me two important lessons: first, that leadership begins with service, and second, that empowering youth with knowledge and skills can change their lives.
Today, I am pursuing my M.S. in Marketing Analytics & Insights at WSU. Alongside my studies, I serve as the Digital Managing Editor (Sales & Content) at The Wright State Guardian.
In this role, I manage digital content, lead a team of student creators and connect with local businesses to support the student newspaper. It is not just about publishing stories, it is about giving students a voice, making sure our community is informed and showing how media can bridge students with larger conversations.
When I arrived at the UN, I realized how my campus work connects with the global stage. Digital storytelling, teamwork and leadership, the skills I practice every week at WSU, are the same tools that can amplify youth voices internationally.
Learning on the world stage
The event marked the 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth, a meeting where world leaders and youth came together to talk about the future, and we were back to rediscuss current events.
"The United Nations youth agenda is guided by the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). The WPAY, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995, provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young people around the world. The WPAY covers fifteen youth priority areas and contains proposals for action in each of these areas," the United Nations website reads.
Leaders spoke about youth empowerment and about how young people must be given space to lead and to shape decisions. They raised urgent concerns like climate change, which is already affecting millions, and the importance of digital skills, education and employment opportunities to prepare youth for the future.
Sitting there, hearing these messages directly, I felt inspired and responsible at the same time.
At the UN, I listened closely as presidents and young delegates spoke about youth leadership. One message stood out to me: youth are not just the future, they are also the present. If we are not included in today’s decisions, tomorrow’s solutions will come too late.
Hearing about climate change from global leaders made me think about how urgent this issue is for all of us, not just policymakers. When speakers discussed digital skills and self-employment, I remembered the workshops and freelancing seminars I helped organize in Bangladesh. It felt like the issues I worked on in my community are the same issues being discussed at the world’s highest stage.
A message to fellow students
The WPAY tackles a large number of issues, each of which are important for the youth of today to recognize.
"The fifteen fields of action identified by the international community are education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, substance abuse, juvenile justice, leisure-time activities, girls and young women and the full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making, as well as globalization, information and communication technologies, HIV/AIDS, armed conflict and intergenerational issues," the website lists.
Each link contains information on the individual field of action. I encourage students to learn more.
For my fellow Raiders, my message is simple: every small step matters. Join a club, volunteer in the community, organize an event or share your voice through campus media. You never know the effort you make today could one day lead you to sit in a room with world leaders, representing your community and your generation.
