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I first got involved with the Amnesty International when I was a senior in high school, and I've
been very active with it ever since. I transferred to Penn State this year and at the beginning
of the semester we met with Representative Peterson in his State College office to discuss
how he can further the cause for peace in the Darfur region of Sudan and we asked him
to write a letter to Secretary of State Condoleza Rice and ask that she put diplomatic pressure
on Sudan's closest allies. Having the knowledge of what's going on in the world really drives
my efforts. Knowing about poverty and knowing about censorship in other countries and torture,
just having that knowledge really I think, gives somebody the impetus to want to do something
about it, and Amnesty International was sort of a venue for which I could focus that. And
as I got more involved, the knowledge grew about those issues and with more knowledge
came more of a passion to address and make more people aware and also take action on
the problems that are in the world. I think that my impact is mostly that I give, my actions
sort of give, people a jumping off place. Like, well she's writing letters and she doesn't
think it's a waste of time, so I can write letters too. I think that I sort of, am an
activist and I think that that drives people, sort of gives them a voice. I hope that when
I've left Penn State I leave behind a group of people who are as committed, if not, more
committed to the cause for human rights as I am, and have been while on campus.