Written by Generation Citizen students Chantel M. & Yebriana C. from Lawrence, Massachusetts
Hello, my name is Chantel M. I was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and come from a large Hispanic family. Family means everything to me because, at the end of the day, that’s all we have. When I started my junior year, civics class didn’t seem exciting, and I mostly did the work just to get through it. However, my perspective on school changed after working on our civics project. I became more engaged and realized I could make a difference in society and my own life.
Hello, my name is Yebriana C. I’m a senior at Lawrence High School (LHS). I was born in Lawrence but spent most of my childhood in the Dominican Republic before moving back to the U.S. at eight. I’ve always been an introvert, sitting in the back of the class and focusing on my work. But when this civics project came along, I felt a strong urge to participate. Even though I had some experience with the United Nations and Generation Citizen projects, I knew this new opportunity would challenge me to step out of my comfort zone and develop the confidence to present in front of authority figures.
This project changed both of us—not just how we viewed school, but how we saw ourselves as capable of making a real difference in our community.
Our civics project addressed a serious issue affecting everyone in our school community: severe traffic congestion around Lawrence High School. Each day, traffic backed up, causing delays and putting pedestrians—especially students and staff—at risk. The disorganized traffic flow made the area unsafe, with students constantly facing the danger of being hit by cars.
Together, Chantel and I, with support from our teachers, presented our traffic solution to city hall. Initially, they rejected our proposal. It was frustrating, but we didn’t give up. Instead, we adapted, held more meetings, and worked closely with the police department to refine our plan and address potential safety concerns. After securing the police department’s support, we returned to city hall with a stronger proposal.
Our persistence paid off. City Hall approved our petition, officially making our traffic flow plan a law. As a result, we were invited to represent Lawrence at the State’s Generation Citizen Civics Day, where we presented our work to students, school representatives, and state officials. Our school earned top recognition and awards for leadership in the community.
This experience taught us that we can make real change in our communities. Stepping out of our comfort zones isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about growing as individuals and inspiring others to do the same. Knowing that our work has improved safety around LHS, eased traffic flow, and allowed students to arrive on time is truly empowering.