Advocacy can be an intimidating and daunting process. Where do you even start? What do I want to advocate for? Am I even capable of making a difference?

These questions can run rampant as you look through a seemingly infinite number of ways to engage, leaving you paralyzed. 

I know that’s how I felt before I ever began working within advocacy spaces. At some point however, I just realized I wasn’t going to get anywhere unless I simply took that first step. It was only once I did exactly that, my questions began to be answered, my confidence grew, and my love for advocacy was cemented. 

My journey into advocacy first started in 2021 when I became a volunteer at the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, working with local, state and federal legislatures to pass good climate policy. From there I joined other local organizations in Columbus, Ohio, pushing for multiple initiatives for the betterment of my community.  During the end of my gap years, I even managed to become an area commissioner, representing about 40,000 people by pushing for more housing to be built in a commission that oftentimes worked to prevent it. There was something about advocacy where once I started, I just kept wanting to do more. 

I came into medical school with a similar drive, but I quickly realized I was essentially starting from scratch again. Advocacy in medicine is a massive field, whether it be the myriad of acronyms of organizations to learn or simply balancing all the responsibilities that come with being a student, I felt like I was back to asking myself those old questions again. 

However, I didn’t let myself stay in the space for too long as I pushed myself to step back into advocacy by signing up for AACOM Advocacy Day. During Advocacy Day, I got to directly speak to the offices of multiple members of Congress about important policies that would further the osteopathic profession and medical education. It was as educational as it was empowering to be at the frontlines with organizations that work tirelessly to achieve DO parity and quality medical education. From there I was back to wanting more and I had direction once again. Soon after I became the student government president of my school, I participated in AOA HOD where I got to vote on policy that determines the trajectory of the osteopathic profession, became the Parliamentarian of the Council of Student Government Presidents (COSGP), and even just recently got my own resolution passed during the most recent AOA HOD! 

Just as before, once I threw myself into the world of advocacy, my desire to continue into it only grew and the opportunities followed. That’s the thing about advocacy, you’ll never feel ready enough to start until you do it. Only through engaging with the process, you’ll learn what you care about most, the skills that make you a good advocate, and the institutional knowledge to make a difference. Once you’ve done that, all your paths become clearer and I promise, by then you’re well on your way to being a lifelong advocate. All it takes is that first step.