U.N.-stoppable: Student Raises Her Voice to the Global Level
Senior English major Brya Jackson's journey to becoming a criminal defense attorney carried her from the College of Charleston all the way to the global stage of the United Nations.
For College of Charleston senior Brya Jackson, the path to becoming a criminal defense attorney isn’t just about studying the law, it’s about mastering the power of voice.
And, she’s learned from her time at the College, her voice is unstoppable.
Passionate about criminal justice, Jackson, a recipient of the Wendell M. Levi Scholarship, chose to major in English after discovering the department’s Writing, Rhetoric, and Publication Program. The program has given her the sharp rhetorical training she needs to supplement her passion and further her journey toward her future as a defense attorney.
“Brya has a keen eye for spotting and solving real-world problems,” says Chris Warnick, English professor and director of the WRP Program, who employs experiential learning techniques in the classroom to provide students with real-world scenarios. For example, he says, “In our class on usability and document design, Brya tapped into her design thinking to identify problems with Instagram’s desktop app, observe users interacting with it and recommend improvements based on users’ experiences.”
“My English classes helped me break down information and put the pieces together,” says Jackson, “so I felt more comfortable talking to people at all levels.”
That confidence is what took Jackson beyond the classroom and all the way to New York City, where she served as a youth delegate to the United Nations High Level Political Forum – proving that the analytical thinking skills learned in humanities classes can open doors to the international arena.
The First Step Inside
Walking into U.N. Headquarters for the first time is an experience Jackson won’t soon forget. The initial atmosphere was an intense mix of high security and historic grandeur, with high-ranking officials rushing past the art and sculpture from around the world to swipe their badges.
“The other delegates and I were laughing because we thought, This is more tense than TSA! The security staff are very serious about their jobs,” she muses. “But then we walked into a huge open area, the General Assembly Public Lobby, and we all went silent and just quietly took it in. It was like, Wow!”
Despite the buzzing, fast-paced environment, she and the other delegates found a surprising sense of community: “Even though we were given an initial tour, everyone we met told us to take some time each day to look around, because there’s so much to see,” she says.
Her favorite spot? The Meditation Room, an area at the front that opened in 1952 and was redesigned in 1957 as a place for quiet reflection amid all the hubbub.
“I really liked that,” Jackson says, “because when you step in there, it’s like … peace.”
The Goal at Hand
Sponsored by the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, a continuation of her family’s active church and U.N. involvement, Jackson went to the U.N. Headquarters to join a diverse youth delegation in tackling the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.
The forum serves as a massive global check-in, drawing representatives from countries such as Nigeria and India to discuss critical issues like clean water, affordable energy and global infrastructure.
A consistent focal point is Goal 17: Partnerships. Emphasizing partnering across global communities to get things done, this goal acts as an overarching roadmap, requiring governments, the private sector and civil society to work together across borders.
With the 2030 deadline looming, Jackson notes that progress can be frustratingly slow at times, largely because local communities often aren’t aware that these goals even exist.
That’s why she is determined to bring the global fight to the local level. In fact, for Jackson, the biggest takeaway wasn’t what happened in New York, but what needs to happen next in local neighborhoods and on college campuses.
“I’d like to share with my generation, and future generations, what is possible,” she says. “When others see younger people taking action on a local level, it pushes them to step into these roles and make a change.”
Brya Jackson’s Advice for Lifting Your Own Voice
Progress Over Perfection
Don’t let the scale of global problems intimidate you.
Because, as Jackson knows from experience, you have to start somewhere.
“I would like to see people who are stepping into politics and people whom we look up to as role models start talking about these initiatives,” she says. “Even though 2030 is only four years away, anything is better than nothing. Any percentage of progress moving forward is better than zero percent.”
Own Your Space
When you get a seat at the table, use it.
“When you step into these rooms, these spaces that are open to you, ask the questions. Talk. No question is a dumb question. Just say how you feel,” says Jackson.
Build for Tomorrow
Network and speak up – it will directly shape your own future as well as that of the larger community.
“The more you interact and the more you talk, the more you will learn,” says Jackson. “If you work now to help people understand, when the next agenda comes around, you can plan better to move things forward.”
As Jackson prepares for graduation this December, when she will transition from English courses to law school, her time at the United Nations proves that words have the power to shift perspectives.
By combining her sharp rhetorical training with a passion for advocacy, she shows that humanities students do not just study the world: They change it.
Wherever her voice takes her next, Jackson will continue to break boundaries and build communities, proving that this future defense attorney is officially unstoppable.
