Reflecting on this year’s Law Day theme, “Voices of Democracy,” evokes memories of when my passion for civic engagement first began. When I was young, I participated in the Girl Scouts of the USA, which taught me what it means to be an involved citizen. It was through this group that I first actively engaged in the practice of civic responsibility and began to understand the principles of citizenship—the importance of volunteering in our community, regularly voting, and communicating with our local leaders and fellow citizens on issues of concern.

For our democracy to thrive, we must avail ourselves of the rights we have as citizens: among them, the right to vote, the right to serve as a juror, the right to petition our elected officials. To assert these rights as adults, our youth should be exposed to the fundamental concepts of citizenship, the three branches of government, and the rule of law. Simply put, civic education is vital to emboldening the multitude of “voices of democracy” and ensuring that our democracy withstands the test of time.