Peyton Wilson
George Washington University, Class of 2022 Studying Political Communication |
Growing up I was always drawn to writing. Even at a young age I could express myself more eloquently on paper than I could through speaking. I would constantly write short stories and poems on my mom’s computer, entering writing contests throughout middle and high school, creating worlds through my writing.
In high school, my love for writing transformed into a love for journalism and advocacy. I fell in love with telling people's stories, amplifying the voices of the silenced, and bringing light to important issues through my writing. My favorite part of the journalistic process has always been research, and once I got to college this love of research spread like wildfire. A combination of readings for my coursework and professors doing research in their field moved me to want to pursue research and teaching as a career. I have a family of educators, and advocacy and politics have always been passions of mine. Even in my pursuit of journalism in high school, my favorite stories to write were focused on how politics disproportionately affected certain groups of people. In college, the how turned into a why, which landed me at my goal of doing research on civic engagement and political activism in communities of color. In what ways is the dissemination of political information benefiting certain demographics over others? How does socioeconomic standing influence the reception and access to this information? Why does political engagement seem like a necessity to some demographics of people and a luxury to others? I hope to explore every crevice of these questions as a career, and one day become a professor, sharing my findings and teaching the next generation of researchers. My passion for research and equity moved me to found The Black Knowledge Coalition, an initiative dedicated to increasing access to information only available in higher education. Education is a human right, not a privilege; and this organization leans on the expertise and knowledge of those in our community to educate at-large. When I'm not focused on school, internships, or BKC, I enjoy skateboarding, playing with my dog, and listening to music. Currently I'm the Executive Vice President of GW's Black Student Union, Editorial Director for The Black Ace Magazine, and a Campus Dining Representative for GW Dining. Thanks for stopping by! |
