The changing climate is influencing teens’ decisions on where they go to college, their political choices and their daily actions. According to Education Week, 37% of teens feel anxiety when thinking about the environment. While most of this generation feels “hopeless” about climate change, many Archer students chose to join the fight to preserve the planet by jumping into action.
The Archer Council for Sustainability partnered with Palisades High School to organize a “Fridays for Future” climate strike Friday, Sept. 20, at Palisades Village Green Park. ACS invited all students to take an excused absence to attend the strike. ACS leader Grace Ryan (’25) and other board members communicated with professionals, over the summer, to plan the strike and make it accessible for Archer and PHS students.
“Another [ACS] leader and I attended a Youth Climate strike training, and from that, we got connected with one of the co-founders of Youth Climate strike,” Ryan said. “They’re helping promote and organize the strike on the 20th… Instead of going to downtown L.A., which is where the main strike was, we chose to partner with another local high school, Pali High, to organize a student-centered West Side strike.”
Although ACS emphasized the importance of attending the strike, many students chose not to and attend school because of prior commitments. Freshman Alice Rifenbark said she was unable to go due to volleyball practice but wishes she could have participated.
“I really wanted to go because I want to make an impact and just be involved,” Rifenbark said. “Not being able to go is kind of disappointing, but hopefully there’s going to be more things that are outside of school and on the weekends.”
Freshman Katia Thomas went to the strike and said she bonded with other students while running the event. She said the face painting, birdhouse decorating, voting registration and chants fostered passion and community.
“I think specifically, when all of us got together, and started doing some chants, it just felt really empowering to be around people who felt this strongly about these issues,” Thomas said.
A day prior to the strike, ACS hosted a poster-making event in the main courtyard. According to Penn State University Libraries, holding signs during a strike or protest is crucial for sharing important messages with passersby. Ryan said she appreciated seeing the creativity that went into the posters.
“It was really fun seeing all the creative signs people came up with, and how people integrated what we would think of colloquial, or unserious ideas,and turned it into signs,” Ryan said. “I found the intersection between trendy things and environmentalism to be really fun.”
Rifenbark said she hopes to be involved in climate activism through service clubs, too. She said she plans to get involved and join clubs during the annual club fair, such as the Clean Beach Club and the ACS Club.
“I think there are definitely other ways to make impacts,” Rifenbark said. “There are definitely some clubs here that can [make a change].”
Thomas said she urges students to research climate change and work to make a difference however they can. She suggested that students start by volunteering in their local community.
“I highly recommend going and getting out in your community to take part in things you really care about, especially with your peers,” Thomas said. “I really think that standing up for what you believe in can be something really uniting that brings everyone together.”
![The star fountain flows in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by poster boards and students. Ninth grader Makenzie Hilton said she loved the energy that filled the courtyard throughout the lunch period. “[My favorite part of the day] was the vibe of Archer, I just love how it's so open and welcoming. There's always music playing,” Hilton said. “I just think it’s super fun.”](https://archeroracle.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ClubFair_Fountain-1200x800.jpg)
