 I remember the first time I had to stand up in front of the class and give my informative speech. I was in my sophomore year in college and I recently changed my major from Art & Design to Communication Studies. I was terrified from the amount of pressure I felt as my name was called to give my presentation. My palms were sweaty, and I wondered if anyone else could hear my heart trying to jump out of my chest.
 Let's be honest!Let’s be honest, college students do not often utilize the resources that are offered at their university. In my case, I wasn't using the Center for Learning Support Services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
I personally have been struggling this semester with managing my class workload. However, this has changed since I reached out for help. Recently, I've felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I wish I had asked for help sooner.  Photo by Nathan Edwards; Photo outside Farmer John's slaughter house in LA. This is the second blog post in a 3-part series. They can each be read independently, but they do connect together. You can find them here: [First post], [Second post] When we look at the macro scale of human civilization, it is easy to become lost in the idea that we are insignificant compared to the sea of thoughts, progress, pain, and love in which we collectively exist. We often feel like the actions of a single individual can make local change, but when an injustice exists across nearly every facet of our society, we too quickly succumb to the belief that we cannot make any significant difference.
 Photo by Nathan Edwards This is the second blog post in a 3-part series. They can each be read independently, but they do connect together. You can find them here: [First post], [Third post]. Many of us have seen undercover footage inside slaughterhouses, animal farms, and transport trucks on the news or social media. For a moment we heard those animals cry out for help into a hidden camera, often worn by an activist trying to expose the truth behind these industries. I had seen countless hours of this type of footage before witnessing it with my own eyes. If it disturbs you when someone pulls up a video of pigs outside a slaughterhouse, then imagine what it’s like to stand next to them as they are marched to their death with no chance of escape. Imagine, if only for a moment, how you would feel. Then, imagine how they feel.
 Photo by Nathan Edwards This is the first blog post in a 3-part series. They can each be read independently, but they do connect together. You can find the other blogs here once they're published: [Second post], [Third post]. The purpose of writing these blogs is to apply the knowledge I’ve learned from working on my degree in persuasion, to the goal of saving as many lives as possible. It is also to share my journey as an animal rights activist. The information and skills I have learned at SIU has helped prepare me for effectively communicating on behalf of other animals and inspiring people to re-evaluate their own relationship with the animal kingdom.
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