by Hibah Samad
Mira Costa High School sophomore Mona Cho is now part of a historic moment at the White House. On October 11, in celebration of International Day of the Girl, Cho was one of fifteen girls honored by First Lady Jill Biden for leading change and shaping a brighter future in communities across the United States.
“It felt dreamlike when I found out that I was chosen,” Cho said. “After the extensive interview process, I was told in a follow-up Zoom meeting that I was selected. It was surreal to hear them say I was going to the White House.”
The “Girls Leading Change” inaugural event at the White House recognized the “profound impact young women are having on their communities and their efforts strengthening our country for generations to come.” Nearly 600 students were nominated for this honor, and the fifteen chosen represented thirteen different states. Cho was nominated by her advisor, Kristen Saucedo, from PlanUSA, a gender equality non-profit organization that she is involved in and someone Cho says has encouraged and supported her ambitions.
“These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose,” Jill Biden said on the day of the event.
Cho was recognized for her efforts to combat online harassment and abuse and the harm it poses to youth and teens. Her interest in this issue, she says, stemmed from her own negative experiences on the internet and social media and observing the negative mental health impacts on other kids her age were also experiencing.
“Everyone has the right to a safe online experience,” Cho said, “and young people should be aware of tools and practices to protect their mental health when online.” Cho explored different projects before turning to film as a tool to advocate for online safety. She has directed and produced a short film that follows real-life stories of the impact of damaged digital footprints, which will soon be shared on various BCHD platforms. She has created other video projects that can be found on her Instagram account (@dose.initiative). “I felt it was unfair for young people to experience pain facilitated by technology without even being taught the tools to protect themselves in the digital age, and I wanted to change that.”
Cho serves on the Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) Youth Advisory Council and is also part of its newly created Youth Health & Safety Committee. She hopes to continue to use film as a tool to promote online safety and call for change.
First Lady Biden emphasized the impact these young leaders will have on our future generations.
“They represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope,” Biden said.
“I hope to inspire youth, particularly girls, by showing them that young women’s ideas and creations can be taken seriously,” Cho said.
Each of the honorees’ projects aligned with one of the Biden Administration’s stated goals for supporting youth, such as preventing gun violence, empowering girls in STEM careers, and fostering resilience and awareness of online harassment and abuse.
Cho was the youngest recipient of this honor at the White House. She said that despite her age, she connected with all of the young leaders about their passions.
“I was so inspired by the other awardees from all over the country,” Cho said. “I learned so much about social issues that I would never have realized needed to be addressed unless I attended this event. For example, one of the awardees, Avery, fights to support military children who have to move from one place to another throughout their childhood. Each girl’s unique passions enlightened me, and I hope that I made the same impact on them.”
She also dreams of making that same impact on other youth who also want to make a difference in the world.
“Explore all your ideas and see where it takes you. I openly explored several different projects before figuring out that I wanted to advocate for online safety using filmmaking,” Cho said. “I started off wanting to create a youth tutoring program and wasn’t sure how it was going to work, but I just researched and explored it. That project did not go anywhere, but it led me to people, organizations and ideas that led me to my current path. Jumping on an idea you feel passionate about in the moment, even if you are not sure it will work out, is what will guide you on your best path. All that matters is that you take action and do so shamelessly.”
At Mira Costa, Cho is part of the nationally renowned Model United Nations (MUN) Program. She said Model UN has helped her learn about global issues and develop a skill set that allows her to best articulate and advocate for a position. She says this inspired her to start thinking about helping create change.
“As an activist for online safety and gender equality, I am constantly doing research about digital justice, and what I’ve learned has become useful in Model UN class,” she said. “When I debate topics like ‘Privacy Rights in the Digital Age’ or ‘Combating Gender-Based Violence,’ my multifaceted knowledge on how technology amplifies real-world problems comes in handy to create detailed and realistic solutions in debate.”
Cho plans to pursue a career related to technology. She intends to use this path to continue working towards positive societal change.
“The biggest reason why is because I’m really interested to see how technology will evolve and change in several years and how that changes the way I advocate for online safety for young people,” Cho said.
As part of their visit to the White House, the group of youth went bowling in the Eisenhower Tower, and they visited the White House garden, where they made flower bouquets with Dr. Biden.
Cho was recognized by the MBUSD Board of Trustees at the November 1 Board meeting. ER
