The genocide and mass atrocity prevention movement is not something I’m new to – throughout my high school and early college years, I had been involved in Amnesty International, Tufts Against Genocide, and international work in Rwanda. However, STAND has proved to be an incredibly unique and wonderful organization in this movement.

Last summer, I was STAND’s Programs Intern. From day one on the job, I was hooked. As I was immediately welcomed into the community, given “work” like going to hearings on the hill, and taking breaks to watch Beyonce music videos- I knew STAND was one of a kind. Interacting with STAND staff and students continually challenges my thinking, pushing me forward to become a better, more considerate, thoughtful advocate while maintaining perspective and sanity in what can be a difficult position. Not only that, but this community shows unbelievable dedication, love and friendship for one another, and does all this with a positive attitude and great jokes (well, corny ones).

STAND’s achievements are many, and I don’t need to list them here, as it would take far too long and most of you are aware of them. So I will just end by saying that I am so honored to be given the opportunity to continue to work with STAND students, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together in the coming year. My vision for STAND involves well thought-out, developed programming that consists of long-term goals met by shorter term actions and action points. I hope that as we develop this programming, you will make your voice heard. STAND is first and foremost a community, and I hope together we can create a stronger, more effective student voice.

Or something like that. That’s how I was introduced to STAND, some 6, going on 7 years ago. I was a new student wandering around a chaotic club fair, when someone with a hastily made STAND sign started talking to me. I had never heard of Darfur, and I sure as heck hadn’t heard of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Since that time, STAND has become a second family to me in a variety of ways. From my high school chapter, which defined my experience in high school as well as the person I became, to serving on the national Managing Committee, where I’ve met some of the most incredible people I’ve ever known, STAND has consistently provided me with an environment of curiosity, compassion, and friendship.

As I wrap up my term as National Student Director, I couldn’t be more excited to be passing on the reins to one of the most capable, insightful, and hilarious people I know, Natasha Kieval. She’s also probably better at coming up with apt adjectives than I am. Natasha has a wealth of experience in the atrocity prevention world as an integral part of Tufts Against Genocide, is a former STAND intern, and has spent extensive time abroad.  STAND has never been the kind of organization where you know what the next day will bring. One thing’s for sure, though: the #STANDFam will be in extremely capable hands with Natasha.

To all of the members of STAND who have made this experience so memorable, I just want to say thank you. The chapter leaders, the members of the student leadership team, the people who have just been introduced to STAND at their very own club fairs, and anyone else who in some way identifies with STAND helps make us who we are. And for all of your efforts this year (and beyond!) toward reducing genocide and mass atrocities, thank you thank you thank you.

Thank you.

– Hannah Finnie

I was recently asked how STAND has changed my life. I was pretty taken aback at the question, but I think when you’re forced to not think and just speak, that’s often when you say how you really feel. I responded that through STAND, I’ve learned just how interconnected our world is, which makes me feel like we each have some degree of moral responsibility to do what we can.

Before STAND, I can’t say I was very knowledgeable about the world around me. In ninth grade, I saw a girl in my world history class with a shirt that said “Save Darfur” on it and wondered what Darfur was and why it needed saving. In tenth grade, I joined STAND. And the rest, as they so often say, is history.

When the announcement that I was going to be next year’s Student Director went live, an outpouring of support soon followed. I received emails from countless STAND alum who are all pursuing amazing, diverse things post-STAND (not that you can ever really escape STAND). I got texts, I got Facebook messages, and yes, I got tweets. I had never met most of these people, but I still felt like I knew them.

It’s sometimes hard to describe what STAND is and what we do, so I usually just fall back on our tagline. But STAND is much more than “the student-led movement to end mass atrocities.” STAND connects people. And when you realize that you’re in some way connected to everyone else around the world, you know that you’re in it together– and that you want to do what you can to make our world a better place.

I could not be more excited to serve as STAND’s Student Director and to see what we can accomplish together.