My name is Macy Jordan, and I am a junior at Ada High School. I have been involved with YAHL for one year and have served on the YAHL Leadership Team during that time. Through my experience with YAHL, I’ve learned how closely our health is connected to the policies that shape our schools, which is why nutrition and physical activity are so important to me.  

Nutrition and physical activity matter to me because they directly affect how I feel, how I learn and how I show up each day. When I have access to nutritious food and opportunities to stay active, I am more focused, less stressed and better prepared to succeed in school. I have also seen how these factors impact the people I care about: friends, classmates and family members who struggle when healthy options are not easily available.  

At my school, physical activity and nutrition standards do not always meet students’ needs. Whether it’s limited opportunities for movement during the school day or a lack of healthy, appealing food options, these gaps make a difference. This is why strong school wellness policies are so important. The Elevate Student Health Campaign is working to improve and strengthen these policies so students have better access to physical activity and nutritious food, leading to healthier habits, improved mental health and stronger academic outcomes.

Comprehensive school wellness policies matter because schools play a major role in shaping lifelong habits. Students spend a large portion of their day at school, so the choices schools make can either support or hinder student health. Since joining YAHL, I’ve become more involved in advocating for changes to school wellness policies by learning how policy works, sharing my perspective as a student and speaking up for what students truly need.  

Working with YAHL has shown me that policy is not just something controlled by adults, it is something young people can influence as well. When students get involved in policy, they gain confidence, leadership skills and the ability to create meaningful change in their communities. Supporting policy changes through the Elevate Student Health Campaign means supporting healthier, more successful students both now and in the future.

By: Macy Jordan, Ada High School