Finding Our Own Way
Lessons from Jane Goodall and the Power of Advocacy
This winter, our Nature Links class gathered each week not just to learn about the natural world, but to explore something deeper: how each of us can make a change in the world around us. For us - young adults learning to live independently with disabilities - the act of self-advocacy is often one of the most powerful skills to cultivate. It means recognizing that our voices, choices, and passions matter—and that we can each develop our own style of speaking up.
We spent time studying the many forms that advocacy can take. Some examples were bold, public figures—those who captured global attention with their words and presence, like Martin Luther King, Jr. Others were activists working behind the scenes, using quiet persistence to create ripple effects that turned into waves of change, like Harvey Milk. We discovered that there is no single way to change the world. Advocacy can be loud or quiet, planned or spontaneous, celebrated or unseen. What matters is that it is true to who we are.
Among the many advocates we studied, one name resonated above all: Jane Goodall.
Her story spoke to our learners in a way few others could. She didn’t begin her life wanting to be a public figure. She didn’t set out to stand in the spotlight. Instead, she followed her passion: quietly studying, learning, listening, and sharing what she discovered about chimpanzees and the ecosystems they call home. Her commitment was never about her—it was always about the cause. And as the cause grew too urgent to ignore, her voice became stronger.
She once said, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
That idea stuck with our class.
For many learners, advocacy can feel like a mountain to climb. The world isn’t always built with them in mind, and too often, they’ve been told their voices don’t matter. But through Jane Goodall’s example, they saw that advocacy doesn’t have to mean being the loudest in the room. It can mean caring deeply about a cause, choosing to notice what others overlook, and sharing that truth in whatever way feels authentic.
This season, learners began choosing their own causes—many centered around animals, safety, and empowerment. Just as Jane devoted her life to protecting chimpanzees, our class found itself drawn to the creatures they love, from pets at home to wildlife in the forest. They asked: How can we make sure animals are safe? How can we help others understand their importance? How can we notice what might be ignored.
In the months ahead, we’ll continue this journey, moving into a study of loss and legacy. Jane Goodall’s story shows us that even when individuals and animals are gone, their lives—and the choices they made—leave an imprint. Loss is real and painful, but legacy is the gift we carry forward.
For our learners, this is not only a lesson about Jane or about chimpanzees. It is about themselves. It is about understanding that their choices, their voices, and their passions matter. That their legacy—no matter how quiet, no matter how small it may seem—will ripple outward.
Jane’s advocacy helped our class see themselves in a new light: not as people waiting for the world to change for them, but as people who already have the ability to change the world in ways that are meaningful and lasting.
