Upstander Stories
Stories and essays from today's upstanders
Stories Landing Page
Student EssayOur Voices Will Be Heard
Living Dr. King’s words, Nida marches toward a secure and livable world with the disciplined nonconformists dedicated to justice and peace.
Nida F.
Student EssayThe Children's Job
Galvanized by the 1963 Birmingham Children’s March, Campbell’s experience at the Milwaukee March For Our Lives proves young people can effect change.
Campbell M.
Student EssayFinding My Center
Ashley’s experience at the LGBTQ+ Center transformed their perception of themselves as a leader and an agent of change.
Ashley G.
Student EssayRight and Just
On a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Maud, the granddaughter of a survivor, learns more about an upstander with whom she has a personal connection.
Maud T.
Student EssayGay Olympians are Changing the World
Kyle explains why representation and speaking out matter, highlighting Olympians Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy as role models.
Kyle G.
Student EssayWrong in My Own Skin
Following the discover of anti-Muslim graffiti at her school, Eman is looked to as a leader to help foster a student dialogue about overcoming bias and stereotypes.
Eman K.
Student EssayA Kauaian Story of Love and Compassion
Divyesh describes how upstanding Hindu monks bridged religious differences and reached out to a community in need following a devastating hurricane in Hawai'i.
Divyesh N.
Student EssayAlways Purple
Emma and her classmates learns how to better empathize and listen to each other following the untimely passing of a fellow student.
Emma S.
Student EssayTalking with Water Balloons
Lechuan recalls an experience that caused her to overcome language and cultural barriers to find common ground with strangers.
Lechuan M.
Student EssayReach for the Stars
Shreya draws inspiration from three influential figures in STEM: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson who experienced racism and sexism while working as mathematicians at NASA's Langley Laboratory in the early 1960s.
Shreya G.
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