I love Connecticut and I want to build a career here, but this state does not do enough to make room for new graduates like me.
Student Voice
Public policy issues in Connecticut affect everyone in the state, and The Connecticut Mirror is committed to diversifying the range of voices involved in the conversation.
Student Voice is an important part of that effort.
Our Student Voice editor works with college classes to help young writers understand the power of public opinion and develop compelling essays on topics that matter to them.
Our partner schools include the University of Connecticut, Trinity College, Central Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart University.
Read our guidelines and submit your commentary here. To learn more about the program and how your college can be involved, contact Harriet Jones harrietjonesct@gmail.com.
Posted inStudent Voice
Connecticut must plan for Medicaid cuts
By investing in community health centers, Connecticut can reduce long waits and ensure timely care even as federal cuts take effect.
Posted inStudent Voice
What cheerleading taught me about mental toughness
I had heard stories of cheerleaders and gymnasts experiencing mental blocks but never imagined it would happen to me.
Posted inStudent Voice
Don’t dis makeup. It saved me from depression
Makeup for me and many other young women is a tool to build confidence, creativity and self-expression, giving us more control.
Posted inStudent Voice
Flavored vapes and Connecticut’s youth: a call for action
Connecticut needs to finally ban flavored vapes, mirroring our neighboring states which have already taken action to protect young people.
Posted inStudent Voice
Bridgeport deserves a lead-free future
In a city with aging infrastructure and older housing stock, Bridgeport residents face a persistent risk from lead pipes
Posted inStudent Voice
There’s no need for Connecticut’s shelters to starve
Connecticut must treat access to food in homeless shelters as a public infrastructure issue, not a charitable afterthought.
Posted inStudent Voice
They tried to take my hero
You don’t have to meet some dealer down at the end of the alley anymore: for many teens, access to drugs is just a text away.
Posted inStudent Voice
Feeding minds, but not students
If Connecticut truly wants its students to succeed, every child should have access to nutritious meals at school.
Posted inStudent Voice
The world needs more ROOTS
All around America, families are facing food insecurity. We must empower organizations committed to thoughtful, community-based change.
Posted inStudent Voice
The books not on the shelves
It is critical, now more than ever, that communities in Connecticut protect diverse perspectives in their public libraries and schools.
Posted inStudent Voice
The burden of student debt is transforming education
Rising debt makes higher education less about ability and more about affordability, reducing opportunity and diversity on campuses.
Posted inStudent Voice
Special education needs embedded mental health support
As schools struggle to manage emotional and behavioral challenges, a mental health crisis among children in special education grows.
Posted inStudent Voice
How do we keep the lights on in a changing climate?
CT’s utility planning and design practices need to catch up with rising temperatures, heavier rainfall, and the realities of climate change.
Posted inStudent Voice
Expand funding for food assistance programs in CT
Facing this winter without SNAP benefits will leave my family in a vulnerable position, making it difficult to ensure we have enough to eat.