Kayla Pettenon

My freshman year of high school was the first time the veil of innocence placed on all the harsh realities of life fell, and I was exposed to the world of human trafficking. Browsing through the sea of organizations my high school had to offer, I expected at least one of the 180 clubs to pertain to activism, and luckily, one did. PATH stands for People Against the Trafficking of Humans and it was the first club I partook in at the school; it was also the first time I was introduced to professional/organized activism. I quickly worked my way up to becoming the President of this wonderful club and in doing so, I had the opportunity to raise awareness on how to support victims of human trafficking, hold lunch and learns with social workers and anti-trafficking specialists, and help educate my community on preventative measures to take against trafficking. As a young and aspiring activist, leading PATH was a privilege and an experience that helped shape me into the person I am today. Although I have always been interested in social issues, PATH helped me realize that I want to pursue activism professionally, leading me to choose to major in sociology. I am still navigating the new world of college and in doing so, I hope to find other organizations that will influence me as much as PATH. I know in the coming years whether I am a young college student, a middle-aged adult, or a jaded old woman, I will look back fondly on my involvement in PATH.