On a chilly morning in Washington, D.C., professors across the country led lectures on politics and institutional fragility, while hundreds of college students put theory into practice. Many students skipped class, took off work, and even traveled overnight by bus to join what was described as a fight for the future of American democracy.

Institutions of higher education like NYU have long been teaching students about authoritarian drift and democratic backsliding, along with the moral duties and responsibilities that come with citizenship. Despite these critical lectures and the important conversations that emerge, it is impossible to ignore the chilling effect of institutional retaliation that follows student action.

However, as the Trump administration continues to challenge constitutional conventions, there is a powerful coalition of students who are unwilling to wait for institutions to save them.

“We are the generation that has to step forward,” said Bodhi Coron, a 19-year-old student who traveled by bus overnight from Connecticut. “There’s never been the kind of radical, emancipating change we need without young people in the frontlines.”

Coron emphasizes that he is no political figure, “I’m just a 19-year-old student with a dream.” He calls on anyone and everyone that is able to act. He believes the time to act is now, as waiting any longer will only make the stakes higher.

“The fallacy that the people in power will figure out this constitutional catastrophe is exactly that. A delusion,” he said. “It’s no longer about left versus right but a moral dilemma between what America is and what Trump’s twisted manipulation of America is.”

Bodhi’s message to other students is straightforward:

“If there are any students with a passion awaiting their catalyst… let this be that nudge.”

Trevor, a student from the University of Massachusetts Boston, speaks with urgency, hoping to compel students to act and not to wait until it feels more dire, fearing that by then it may be too late. “I am missing classes to be here as we speak,” he said.

The United States’ political situation leaves many feeling paralyzed, unsure what to do, and unwilling to confront the consequences that can come with raising their voices. However, it is more important than ever to use our privilege, our voice, and our youth to advocate for a better future. Any step toward greater understanding and awareness is productive, whether you go to D.C. and join hundreds of other students and community leaders, participate in something more local, or work to be more informed through researching and having important conversations.

It should also not go without saying that, given the current political climate in the United States, international students may feel they cannot do much without jeopardizing their own safety. Many students come from elsewhere to seek academic and career opportunities in the U.S., yet feel the First Amendment does not entirely apply to them. With stories of students at institutions such as Columbia being threatened with deportation for protesting, claiming they are supporting terrorism, how far can one truly go?

We came to college to change our communities — to change the world. We came to college with the hope that our degree would grant us upward mobility and a more comfortable life for ourselves and those who have provided for us. But how can we continue believing that putting our heads down and simply doing our schoolwork will guarantee us future success, amidst crises that could destabilize the progress we have made, and all that we are working for?

When asked about their motivation to get civically involved in the U.S. as an international student, one student said she would rather stay silent, only expressing her thoughts to friends in smaller settings. “It doesn't seem worth it to threaten my education,” she said. Simply keeping our eyes on the academic prize is the role some may play, and rightfully so. No student having the privilege of studying abroad should feel so compelled to right a wrong that they jeopardize their education. However, these experiences and fears of our peers make it more imperative that those with the ability to act do so.

We have to take the words of Bodhi, Trevor, and other students to heart. We can take classes about democracy and law, but nothing will change if our knowledge remains in the classroom or in an essay. We should feel obligated to fight for our right to a better future.

Having the privilege of attending a university that connects two large international actors often at odds with each other, we have a unique opportunity to change perceptions. If we lead through experience, nuance, and a desire to do all in our power to give to communities we belong to, we achieve something far greater than grades on a transcript or an international education. It is imperative that we, when able, step forward and take ownership of our future, ensuring we have a say in our collective destiny.