Waterville Senior High School students recently organized a Taking Action Negotiating Diversity walk for peace and unity in Waterville.

“Our walk is only the first step in ending the division in our society and replacing it with the unity and acceptance of all people,” Gabe Ferris, a WSHS senior, said in a news release.

“As an opinionated teenager, I think it is crucial to our democracy for people of all ages to have a voice. I remember just a few years ago when I was much younger and not cognizant of the outside world that was just beyond me. I could not tell you what was going on in world politics or even the events right here in Waterville. However, as I grew up I became much more in touch with the outside world. This involvement has allowed me to become more cultured and widely versed–something that I think is immensely important when it comes to understanding the stories and lives of those around us. Now, I would like to share with you some of my thoughts regarding how we can make our school, our community, and our America more unified,” Ferris said, according to the release.