I received many great pieces of advice from my parents growing up. One of the most valuable pieces came from my father, who told me to step up and be a leader in everyday activities.

On the hockey rink, my dad told me I had to make changes to improve my skills. He urged me to make my way to the front of the line in drills, keep up with the best players, and become a leader on the ice. In doing so, I became an asset, making a large difference in practice and in games.

Fast-forward 8 years to Tufts- a university with well-above-average students. I found myself, again, in a position where I needed to step up to be seen and heard to be an asset.

This semester, I joined Chris McHugh’s Monetary Economics class, learning some of the harsh economic realities our generation will have to face in the future. His passion for the topic and desire to instill in us the idea that, in the words of notable economist Laurence Kotlikoff, “we are totally screwed.” Interesting how such simple words have stuck with me more than anything else I’ve encountered in my economics courses. Totally screwed.

I joined the Up to Tufts team. We came together with a common interest and desire to raise awareness about the national debt on campus.

My teammate and resident Fed expert Jake McCauley explained to me that “the federal debt is an issue that all students should take some time to understand, as it is directly connected to the economy that we spend our lifetimes living in.” We identified why the raising awareness about the national debt is important to us, and then identified why our role is so important. Becky, a well-known leader on campus, offered her view on our role. She shared with me the idea that educating our peers can be more powerful than professor-to-student education. This is the backbone of what we hope to accomplish.

In the final pages of Laurence Kotlikoff’s The Clash of Generations: Saving Ourselves, Our Kids, and Our Economy, Laurence imagines a future where “70 million Americans between eighteen and thirty-five years old… Let their elders know they aren’t happy with their treatment… Imagine how that would change the conversation.”

Here at Tufts, we believe it is our job to help start that conversation. We may not be those in charge, those making the big decisions, or those “at the front of the line.” But Up to Us has given us the opportunity to be a leader in speaking up on the issues our generation will face. Only by stepping to the front of the line and setting the example can we even begin to work for change.