Fiona Wu is not waiting until she turns 18 to make a difference in politics—she is making an impact now. As the President and Founder of the Legion of Voters Club at Claremont High School, Wu has dedicated herself to getting young people involved in civic engagement, from pre-registering to vote to having a better understanding of political participation. Closely in partnership with the League of Women Voters, the well-known organization widespread in the U.S. where all feminist voters unite, her club has already registered over 1,000 voters and has organized multiple voter registration workshops, mock elections, and pre-registration lessons here at CHS through Homeroom.
Managing a club like this is not simple. Wu puts in a noteworthy amount of time coordinating events, communicating with school administration, and working with outside organizations. In addition to her work at CHS, she has brought voter registration efforts to Etiwanda High School and serves as the only high school board member on the Mt. Baldy League of Women Voters. Her leadership has helped connect students with real opportunities to make their voices heard.
Wu has faced plenty of roadblocks: bureaucratic delays, unanswered emails, and frustrating setbacks when trying to push for change. Right now, her club is working on legislation to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, similar to what has been pushed in Berkeley and Oakland. But the process is slow, filled with dead ends and long periods of waiting for responses. Nevertheless, she remains committed to the cause.
For other young people hoping to take on leadership roles, Wu’s advice is simple: do not back down.
“Stay persistent and stand your ground,” Wu said. “There will be times where you feel unheard, but know that what you have to say is important and worth hearing.”
Wu admits that at first, she felt awkward and nervous about speaking with administration or writing public comments, but she quickly realized it was not as intimidating as it seemed.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie and support, both locally and nationally,” Wu said.
Such support has come from organizations like Ignite National, a nonprofit focused on empowering women in politics. Thanks to Ignite, several members of Wu’s club will be heading to Sacramento in April to lobby for legislation. Locally, CHS administration has also been open to student-led voter education efforts, showing that youth activism can create real change.
Wu’s work proves that young people don’t have to wait until they are of age to make a difference in politics. Through her dedication, she is not just registering voters—Wu is building a movement. And as Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of trailblazers past and present, Fiona Wu is making it clear that the next generation of leaders is already here.
