Truth. Activism. Justice.

by Destiny Lugo

For some people, becoming a writer is something they choose later on in life- like a revelation that hits them like a bolt of lightning in a clear night sky. My story however, is quite different. Growing up I had a memoir for every year of my life ten years old onward, and my memoir for when I was twelve, was a whopping 500 pages long. Later on in my teen years I discovered poetry and have never recovered. Writing and verbal expression have always been the sphere where I feel most alive- where I am most home. 

However, the day my life truly changed forever was when I put my love for all forms of writing together with my life’s greatest passion and calling, which is to fight human trafficking and stand for those who have had everything taken from them. For me, there is no greater honor than to use my voice for those whose voices were taken from them before they even knew who they were, whose lives were plundered away from them before they were strong enough to know how to fight. 

I think that when it comes to human trafficking, people can often feel that this issue is too vast, complex, and altogether out of their hands. However, I firmly believe that just like the oppressive giants of the past that have fallen at the feet of history’s great reformers, the issues and moral evils of our day can fall as well, if there are people who would have enough conviction to fight for something greater. 

One of my favorite quotes comes from Schindler’s List, “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire”. Our duty is not to go about trying to save the world or rescue everyone, but our duty we are charged with is to do something, to start somewhere. We are blessed with freedom, with self-determination, not to squander it in selfishness but to share the light of freedom with this bleak world. This is why I write. Too many people believe they need to wait for a polished and grandiose platform to be able to open their mouths and say something. Still others wait out the storms of criticism hoping to speak when they feel safe from the threat of persecution. 

The perfect circumstance will never exist- and your moment to speak may be lost. So while you are alive, while you have compassion and clarity- speak for those who are bound.