“Politics isn’t just the speeches or the televised debates, it’s a living, breathing force that shapes our everyday lives,” highlighted Victor Ni, a Senior at Canberra Grammar School in Canberra, Australia. A champion of youth political advocacy and service-led leadership, Victor has made a habit out of getting involved with initiatives that help students better engage with diplomacy and decision-making. As the captain of his school’s debate team, Victor has channeled this belief into action. He launched a mentoring program that now supports over 100 students, helping them hone their speaking and argumentation skills and critically engage with topics in politics, economics, and social justice. Under his leadership, his debate team achieved a strong performance at the State Championships. While most see debate as a tool for argumentation, Victor sees it as a tool for empathy that allows cross-cultural exchange. 

His value of empathy has led him to explore the intersection between politics and service. It is at that intersection that Victor created International Youth Model United Nations (IYMUN), an initiative that aims to support the proliferation of Model UN in communities that do not have the traditional resources to foster youth diplomacy. Through his work with IYMUN, they have reached youth from over 20 countries. Recognized globally for his work, Victor was named a Crimson 18u18 finalist and a HunDRED Global Youth Ambassador. Through these platforms, he continues to advocate for a world where youth are seen not only as future leaders but as changemakers in the present. 

As a strong supporter of youth voices in politics, he knows firsthand the importance of such opportunities, leading him to serve as a Youth Representative on the Vinnies Social Justice Council and as a Mental Health Ambassador with UrVoice Australia. In these roles, he has worked with young leaders across the state to improve access to mental health support for youth, helping to coordinate peer education initiatives and drive grassroots engagement. His advocacy culminated in delivering an adjournment speech in local Parliament, where he called for greater investment in youth mental health and conservation. “Systemic change starts with giving young people platforms to speak,” he shared, reflecting on how personal stories can shape public policy. For Victor, politics is not just a theory—it’s about people. Whether standing at a podium or organizing a campaign, he believes leadership is about listening and acting with purpose. In the future, he hopes to continue challenging structural inequalities and influencing decisions that impact youth, all in an effort to further “amplify underrepresented voices.”

He feels it is especially important to amplify youth voices, because “too often, education systems and policy frameworks are designed for but not with youth.” Without the government actively listening to what the youth need, it is difficult for policy to effectively impact youth. And yet, youth are often viewed as token participants. The lack of youth in government spaces not only negatively impacts the younger demographics but also the broader community. As Victor notes, young people are “able to challenge and advocate for a more inclusive and responsive system” by bringing in “lived experiences and fresh perspectives.” Victor himself has seen this up close at Model UN youth councils, where “students influenced policy decisions and organized initiatives around social justice.” The lack of youth in these spaces thus halts future progress. 

Victor hopes to see his generation given a legitimate seat at the table in the future and strives to support this change himself. He notes that vulnerability is one of the leadership characteristics necessary to ensure this change occurs. Vulnerability is not often the first characteristic that comes to mind when the idea of political leadership is posed, and yet, it is likely the most important. Vulnerability, as Victor argues, “is not a weakness but a strength.” In his eyes, a vulnerable politician is a politician who listens and can acknowledge that the apathetic or oppositional voices are just as important as the active and supportive voices. A vulnerable leader understands, as Victor puts it, that they are representing the entire community and not just their supporters. 

Therefore, Victor argues, true political leadership happens from the back. In the “quiet spaces where trust is built with people, where people are more empowered, and when others are given a chance to rise.” Leadership is thus not about a control of power but rather steering the group towards collective success. Unfortunately, like many his age, Victor feels the world is lacking in this type of leadership. He hopes to help change this by emulating this leadership in his own life and believes that the incorporation of youth into politics is a strong way to reverse this pattern. 

Victor advises his peers to “not wait until you feel qualified to care, contribute, or lead, because politics isn’t just reserved for the experts, it’s shaped by people who are brave enough to show up in the first place.” Oftentimes, politics is viewed as distant and abstruse, especially for youth, but Victor highlights that “the most important political changes often begin with someone like you or me asking a question.” In the end, becoming involved with politics does not mean running for office; whether you are advocating for a local issue or having conversations with your peers, you are participating in politics, and that matters. If you stay curious and informed, you have the ability and power to make meaningful change in the world.

Read his 1st-place submission here.