Youth Advisory Council for the future of Education

Founding Members of the QUESTion Project

The Youth Advisory Council is a council of young alumni who support the QUESTion Project in its mission to catalyze a new subject field in education. Council members contribute by improving important, varied aspects of the program and advocate for its importance in media, at conferences, with philanthropists, business, and school leaders.

The Youth Advisory Council is comprised of members who originally joined us to co-create the QUESTion Project when they were in high school. They helped us define the core pillars, design the curriculum, improve the lesson plans, and share this work with key stakeholders. Today, motivated by their continued care for this work, these former students have become our youth partners who help shape the future of the QUESTion Project and QUESTion Class as we expand to more students around the world.

Celine Ramirez

Since taking the QUESTion Class I have learned to live life with more purpose. In each setting of my life I see where I can apply each thing I’ve learned from the class. Thinking about the bigger picture has been the most helpful because it’s helped me realize every day we must set a purpose or goal to make the day really count. I believe that the QUESTion Class should be a subject field in education, because just as the four core subjects impact our future, so does the QUESTion Class. We get to find ourselves at a young age so we can be prepared for “the real world”.

Since taking the QUESTion Class I have learned to live life with more purpose. In each setting of my life I see where I can apply … [click to read more]

Charlos Do

The QUESTion Class made me me realize the questions I needed to have put in place for myself to understand the next steps. It gives kids a safe space to discuss what they really want to do after school. It is a place where they can really think about the bigger picture in their lives so they can be fearless to make choices, find their purpose, and be interconnected.

The QUESTion Class made me me realize the questions I needed to have put in place for myself to understand the next steps. It gives kids … [click to read more]

Hector Cruz

Through the QUESTion Project I learned to understand and work with others a lot better. It helped me learn how to take criticism constructively and how to use that in order to improve myself and improve others. The 5 pillars of the QUESTion Project are still all important pillars that I follow throughout my everyday life. Everything in life flows through these pillars whether or not I’m aware of them. They’ve helped me become more successful and more social than I have ever been and will continue to help me improve going forward. I feel like the usual curriculum that kids learn in school doesn’t touch enough on the human side of life outside and after school. The QUESTion Project helps people get more in touch with deeper emotions and deeper thinking.

Through the QUESTion Project I learned to understand and work with others a lot better. It helped me learn how to take criticism constructively … [click to read more]

Karla Perez

The QUESTion project’s pillars have followed me all throughout the beginnings of my adulthood and has enhanced my decision making skills and emotional intelligence skills which have been crucial to my success. The pillars have helped me with my communication skills, and academic and career pursuits. I see the need for the QUESTion Class to be a core subject in education as it is necessary for students to have an open learning environment where they can discuss topics such as purpose, decisions, and choice which can aid them academically, professionally, and spiritually.

The QUESTion project’s pillars have followed me all throughout the beginnings of my adulthood and has enhanced my decision making skills … [click to read more]

Katery Castelan

The QUESTion project has impacted my life after school because now, more than ever, I am facing reality. The reality of what it’s like being an adult and I’m just getting started. The QUESTion project provided me with a foundation that doesn’t allow me to sink, an armor in which I could confront the harsh reality I now face. A foundation where instead of complaining and giving up or settling, I am forced to reflect and ask myself questions that otherwise would’ve made me uncomfortable to begin with. Purpose isn’t something I’ve found. Purpose is something I’ve learned to create overtime with the choices i make. The 5 pillars are my Philosophical guidance. They always have been. They will continue to be. The QUESTion project is important for a student to ask questions that require reflection of oneself in order to have a deeper understand of who we are. It should be a core subject in education because The QUESTion class teaches students something essential that the educational system does not. Unfortunately, our educational system focuses on academic strengths and careers but does not teach us, as constantly evolving, ever growing and forever changing human beings, how to look within ourselves in order to truly find the meaning of success and where our true purpose and passions lies.

The QUESTion project has impacted my life after school because now, more than ever, I am facing reality. The reality of what it’s like being an adult … [click to read more]

Justin Medina

My ability to think rationally and freely about adult life has come from my understanding of the 5 pillars of the QUESTion Project. It has allowed me to maneuver through various ups and down and still be able to get my college degree, be able to finish my apprenticeship and be around a great group of friends. In particular, the pillars of choice, purpose, and the bigger picture have helped me to decide what will want to do with my life. I understand that life is bigger than just us and we set examples for people whether we realize it or not. These pillars have taught me that life is about learning from your mistakes and growing from them. I would like the QUESTion Project be a core subject in education as we live in the social media generation and we are influenced to be judged and compare ourselves to others. We don’t ever teach how to be mentally at ease in the western education. I believe they key to success is a happy mind. If you enjoy your life nothing about it will necessarily stress you out. You will be able adapt overcome and endure anything life throws at you.

My ability to think rationally and freely about adult life has come from my understanding of the 5 pillars of the QUESTion Project. It has allowed me … [click to read more]

Levi Lamb

The QUESTion Project has taught me to be level headed in my decision making and see that there is more to life than only focusing on something with monetary value. The pillar of Purpose has particularly impacted me. Prior to making decisions on what I want do in my life, I always think of that pillar. It helps to keep me focused on what’s important to me and keeps me to remember why I’m doing what it is I do. I think the QUESTion Project should be a core subject in education as it gives an outside element to school that a lot of people don’t get to experience growing up. Aside from hard facts being thrown in your face, it’s ok to think for yourself and speak to people about things that aren’t only facts.

The QUESTion Project has taught me to be level headed in my decision making and see that there is more to life than only focusing on … [click to read more]

Marielis Munoz

The major impact that the QUESTion Project has made in my life has been the ability to recognize and be more aware of what the world has to offer. It has made me more of an open minded person to where I can talk to someone in a conversation and accept their opinions and values and not be biased. In particular, Fearlessness has helped me in my current life because it teaches me that where I am in a situation of making a big choice not to be overwhelmed by it and take charge and not be afraid of the outcomes because being too comfortable hides you from making good memorable decisions.

The major impact that the QUESTion Project has made in my life has been the ability to recognize and be more aware of what the world … [click to read more]

Michael Torres

The QUESTion Project has taught me that all humans are in the same boat when it comes to answering the biggest questions that no one may be able to answer. The pillar of Fearlessness in particular taught me that it’s okay to have fear. In fact, strong people act and don’t let fear hold them back. I believe the QUESTion Project should be a core subject in education because it humanizes scholars and reminds them that learning about themselves is as important as writing and doing math.

The QUESTion Project has taught me that all humans are in the same boat when it comes to answering the biggest questions that no one … [click to read more]

Natalia Inoa

In high school there is an illusion of simplicity, only worry about grades, go to the best college etc. However they forget to mention the difficulties of learning how to find a community, how to take risks, and learning about yourself in order to make choices that are genuine to one self. These gaps in learning become more apparent after high school when students are not prepared to face the difficulties of life. Filling these gaps in preparing students are as important as class work, however it is extremely difficult for educators and teachers to do so. Teachers simply cannot handle the emotional aspects of young people because they don’t have the tools and space for it. This is where the QUESTion Class in schools comes in to fill the gaps. A truly holistic approach to education will create better, more well-adjusted young people. The QUESTion project impacted my life the most after high school, it helped me navigate the unknown and complexities of the real world of college and the job market. I have used the 5 pillars in many aspects of my life, but I would say one that has been very important to me was fearlessness. I have struggled a lot with feelings of insecurity and having a lack of confident in myself that have left me fearful to taking risks and speaking up for myself. It has taken me many years to get over my lack of confidence and it took self-awareness and reflection to get to the place I am now. I am move confident in myself and I have made bold moves in my life, some that were silly, but I would not have taken my actions back because it was what I needed to do in order to get out of my comfort zone.

In high school there is an illusion of simplicity, only worry about grades, go to the best college etc. However they forget to mention the … [click to read more]

Shampa Tasneen

The QUESTion Project has motivated me to continue college even though I had to go through some obstacles. My favorite pillar is fearlessness as it has helped me not to be scared of anything. I would like to see the QUESTion Project a core subject in education because students don’t really put their time on thinking about these type of questions besides their studies.

The QUESTion Project has motivated me to continue college even though I had to go through some obstacles. My favorite pillar is fearlessness … [click to read more]

Stephanie Garcia

I think the question class presses the pause button a bit. Life can be stressful, and I think the class could be a safe space where students get to share their feelings and breathe. I think our discussion on interconnectedness has opened up a larger conversation in my life. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who’s experiencing certain problems or that you’re the only one thinking about these larger questions, but when we can discuss these things with others, we soon find that we’re all linked. And, while we all don’t have the same path in life, we do have some shared life experiences that connect us to each other. I think that the question class can definitely create a space where students can discuss existential questions that they may be wondering or stressing about. Students could possibly form a bond with the other students in the class and create a community in which they get to discuss topics that have been gnawing at them.

I think the question class presses the pause button a bit. Life can be stressful, and I think the class could be a safe space where students get to share their feelings … [click to read more]

Tahj Tarrats

It gave me a more positive outlook on life and gave me a fair sense of direction. The pillar of choice taught me that throughout any point in my life, I always have a choice to make regardless of whether or not it will be beneficial or negative to me, it’s up to me to figure out what is the right choice to make in the long run. Purpose has shown me that every individual has a significant role that they play in society and that every person has meaning even if they are oblivious to that truth. It’s up to you to find and reveal that purpose to yourself. Fearlessness has shown that I need to face my life head on and step into the unknown of what’s to come in the future. You can’t be afraid of your life and some of the choices you are inevitably going to have to make. Interconnectedness has taught me that everyone has one life in this world. We all share many similar values and obstacles in society. It taught me that if you ever feel alone in this world and lost your path in life, just think of the other people in the world who are probably feeling the same as you. We are all trying to find our purpose in life which is what makes us human. Finally the Bigger Picture in life I would say has shown me that I need to think outside the box and think big to many more possibilities in my life of what I want to do. You have to just go at life with no restrictions on yourself and just let the unknown portions of what’s to come in your life become known to you. I think the QUESTion Project should be a core subject in education because it will allow young individuals to start questioning their lives and it can help set them on a path to self-discovery and figuring out what it is they wish to do in life upon completion of high-school. I also believe that the QUESTion Class can give people an outlet and break from their primary studies such as math, English, science, and history and allow them to think about more personal values in life.

It gave me a more positive outlook on life and gave me a fair sense of direction. The pillar of choice taught me that throughout any point in my life … [click to read more]

Tyreik Skelton

Purpose has driven me to start seeing myself how I used to. To be Heard. Speaking up and saying my truth because some may need to hear it for their own growth, not just my own. Everyone usually has responsibilities that are intended to help us and those around. We were destined to do those things. I think that the QUESTion Project should be a core subject in education. We finally get a chance to think for ourselves, to use our minds instead of someone else’s. Not saying it isn’t helpful to decode someone else’s thinking to get to a common theme but using your life experiences and thoughts to contribute to a class is a good feeling. People connect with each other more and on a deeper level. We get to see real people I feel.

Purpose has driven me to start seeing myself how I used to. To be Heard. Speaking up and saying my truth because some may need to … [click to read more]