Tag: alumni
Seven pieces of advice from my four years of success and failure
When I joined Students for Sensible Drug Policy four years ago, I knew nothing about drug policy. The names Michelle Alexander and Carl Hart meant nothing to me; the Controlled Substances Act and the Rave Act were merely headlines in the haze of Congressional action. There was no coverage for people in difficult legal situations due to use of drugs
From donor to chapter leader to board member to community health worker
I first found out about Students for Sensible Drug Policy in 2013 when I was only beginning to learn about the harsh realities of the War on Drugs. I decided to donate what I could at the time because I thought the work they were doing was so important and I did not see other student-run organizations that were willing
How SSDP helped me connect the dots
Like most college students, I spent my early years trying to find my place. I changed majors, schools, and longed to find my identity. In spring of 2015, I found a place within SSDP. When I walked into my first meeting at the University of Rhode Island, I instantly felt connected with those surrounding me. I phonebanked for cannabis legalization
Finding my passion for harm reduction
In high school, I dated someone who I thought was going to be my soulmate for almost 4 years. After watching his life change due to his chaotic relationship with opiates, and knowing I would never be able to help him, I became inspired to go to college and become a therapist specializing in substance use disorders. During and after
“I’m Sorry… Students for What?”
In 2016, I walked into a Contemporary Liberalism class at the College of Charleston. I was an aspiring Political Science Major with little to no direction. I had no idea what I wanted to be nor did I know what I wanted to do. I believe everyone goes through this at some point during their college tenure; I went through
How SSDP helped me get my dream job as a cannabis journalist
In the 13 years since I joined SSDP in my first semester at Franklin Pierce College, now University, nothing has been more formative in my development personally or professionally. The way that SSDP’s mission engaged me essentially gave me chances to challenge my situational apathy around problems I didn’t even know existed in the world as a teenager living in
It’s #SSDPalumni Week!
As the spring semester draws to a close, many students will be graduating and moving on from school to the next chapter of their lives. Being a member of an SSDP chapter is a defining part of many students’ college experiences; I know it certainly was for me! The SSDP Alumni Association aims to provide a framework for SSDPers to continue
The Conference Crash is Real! How to Decompress after #SSDP2017 – From the Archive
Written by SSDP Alum Irina Alexander. Originally posted March 30, 2017 3 days?! Was that really just 3 days? No way. It’d be against the rules of physics to squeeze that many new lifelong friendships, moving stories, cuddle (and huddle) puddles, and most inspiring panels in SSDP history all into the finite confines of 72 hours… right? If you’re like
Daniel Jabbour Scholarship Fund for SSDP2018
Daniel Jabbour ‘07, an SSDP all-star alumnus, passed away in April of 2014. To honor and remember him, SSDP created the Daniel Jabbour Scholarship Fund to help send outstanding activists to SSDP conferences. This year, the scholarship committee will be selecting a few SSDPers to attend SSDP2018: The Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference and Lobby Day. Daniel’s driving passions
Finding my place in SSDP as an introvert
Sometimes I feel like an outsider, even when I’m with my closest friends, and most of my closest friends are SSDPers. While I usually feel like I could talk to everyone all night when I see my SSDP framily, there are many times when I’m not connecting with anyone and feel isolated in a room full of friends. I feel
