I am sitting on the porch of my DC condo trying to figure out what to write for this week’s blog. I have started at least three different drafts, one on the Dr. Gates story, one on the amazing kids I am currently working with, and one on the stress of being a graduate student. However for some reason each draft gets deleted and a fresh new empty page appears staring back at me with increasing pressure, another looming deadline on an increasing list of the To-Do’s of a graduate student. Believe me, it isn’t for a lack of things to say, being a graduate student I love the idea of people reading what I write. And it isn’t for a lack of passion and interest in this blog.

Two hours later it occurs to me, who is reading this anyway? Where are all the graduate students visiting the ACA website, commenting on the latest issues and seeking advice from the wise professionals? Why are we so underrepresented in this arena? We certainly make up a good portion of the membership but how active are we? We submit a couple of conference proposals because it looks good on our CV’s, we get our liability insurance which in most programs is a mandatory step before practicum.

This week I set a challenge, pass this blog along to a friend, a classmate, a colleague. Ask them what they want to hear about, talk about, or simply “shoot the shit” about. Students have a voice but if no one steps up to speak, your wants and needs will not be heard. And hey, if it is just he fact that I am not interesting enough to elicit a response from you, tell me how you think can and I will be more than happy to make sure they are heard.

Jessica Diaz is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, a third-year doctoral student, and was a student representative on ACA’s Governing Council.