MFS Students Enjoy “Window Into My World” at Quaker Youth Leadership Conference

By Vani Hanamirian ’22, Marketing and Communications Department Intern

QYLC attendees pose for a photo. Photo by Friends’ Central staff.

It is my final year, I know the faces, I recognize the mission, and I still learn about inequities across different schools. 

The Quaker Youth Leadership Conference (QYLC) took place from February 3-5, 2022. It was my third year attending the conference which was held this year at Friends’ Central. Moorestown Friends had a delegation of seven Upper School students attend the conference.

This year the conference was both virtual and in person. Some schools Zoomed in on the main screen, while others attended in person. 

This year the theme was “Window Into My World.” This theme resonates with me because it sums up what QYLC really is: a time to look through other people’s windows and learn about their worlds. I engaged in long discussions with members of other Friends schools such as Sandy Springs Friends School and Westtown School, trying to figure out what they wanted to show out of their windows. I found similarities and differences in our schools and experiences, but most importantly I found places where we can improve and grow as a community (both as Friends schools and as individual schools). 

There were several sessions this year led by Friends’ Central students. I attended “Queering Quakers” and “Writing Headlines for the Future: Predict the Future through Headlines.” The first session was a time to understand how queer our schools are. We discussed sports equality, gay-straight alliance clubs and pride clubs at each school, and generally talked about ways our schools can improve their allyship towards the LGBTQ+ community. 

In the Writing Headlines workshop, we focused on climate change and writing about the future of our world. I was struck when the teacher guiding the session had us write about climate change and then asked us ‘why are all of these headlines negative?” We all looked around in amazement realizing we think of climate change as something that will have a negative impact on our society but it doesn’t always have to be that way. 

“It was a really fun workshop. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was good to express creativity in the middle of the conference,”commented Dinah Megibow-Taylor ’24 on the workshops. 

Visual artist and designer Ron Norsworthy was the conference keynote speaker. He has worked with artists like Britney Spears and Madonna. Norsworthy spoke to us about belonging and finding his place in the world after growing up black and queer. He explained that he switched schools often and his popularity status changed at each school, yet that wasn’t important to him. It resonated with many in the audience when he talked about not fitting in but finding his place later in life. 

“He was impactful.” said Abby Taylor ’22. “I was shocked at all that he has created and his career success. It was interesting to see the work he had done,”

Attendees also attended a storytelling panel, with four panelists who spoke about their experience as authors, poets, documentarians, teachers, and rappers.  

“It was fascinating to hear about how storytelling impacts all aspects of life. I loved to hear their stories and career paths,” said Lily Buchdahl ’22.

The magical element about QYLC is that everyone cares about each other and the shared space. We, of course, engaged in several Meetings for Worship. When attending all three of these conferences, there has always been a sense within each group that there is something unique about the Worship.Not all of us are Quakers, actually the majority of us are not Quakers, yet we all appreciate and cherish the silence and acknowledge the presence of one another. Meeting for Worship is probably my favorite part of QYLC.

The final activity for the conference was a talent show, where students sang, rapped, danced and played instruments. The MFS crew also performed the 10 minute version of “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift. It was a hit!

My experience at QYLC over these past three years has been nothing but amazing. The long-term friendships I have made and the lessons I have learned have helped me grow as a person. While I am sad to be leaving, I hope that more MFS students attend in the coming years and experience the safe and accepting environment that I have cherished in my high school career.