When it comes to advocating for her fellow students, Kaylyn Ahn isn’t quite finished yet. 

The Elk Grove High School senior has advocated to improve her community through school-sponsored extracurricular activities such as the activist club and through her own projects.

“I wanted to provide a space that empowered student voice and show them that they can make meaningful change in their own communities,” Ahn said in an email about her projects.

The activist club, led by Ahn and AP U.S. History teacher and sponsor Saarah Mohammed, creates monthly projects that blend the barriers between social justice, advocacy and community service.

Their third and final project for the year, led by Ahn and junior Marina Mitrinovic, was a PPE drive for Covid-19 essentials like blue surgical masks, N95 masks, hand sanitizer and face shields.

“The kids in the club are the driving force behind our accomplishments,” Mohammed said in an email. “The members come up with ideas on how to help and improve our school.”

Apart from the activist club, Ahn also manages the D214 For Justice (@D214ForJustice) Instagram page. Through the page, Ahn aimed to create a space that empowered students at Elk Grove and other Township High School District 214 students to share their stories. The account has amassed almost 1,000 followers.

“Through the Instagram page, we’ve been able to highlight the overlooked issues marginalized students have faced since the beginning of the District’s foundation,” Ahn said. 

Ahn’s inspiration also stemmed from the peers she has met at Elk Grove. These students are, in her words, “some of the most driven, passionate and talented people who deeply care about advocacy.”

While at Elk Grove, Ahn also participated in various theatre, choir and public speaking events.

After EGHS, Ahn said her goal is to become a lawyer and work as a public defender in the juvenile circuit. 

Ahn said she is planning on committing to Northwestern University where she will study social policy. 

“I want to be an advocate for young people that are going through difficulties so they can continue a future unhindered by past records of incarceration or fall to recidivism,” Ahn said.