Her Story
About Amelia
Amelia Sidney is a social justice student at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Critical Theory and Social Justice. She previously studied Communication Studies at Chapman University, where she was actively involved in campus organizations including the Chapman Queer Student Alliance and Chapman Hillel. Her academic and extracurricular experiences have helped shape her interest in human rights, advocacy, and social justice.
Amelia’s professional interests center on racial justice, abortion and reproductive rights, immigration rights, queer rights, and criminal justice reform. She has demonstrated an interest in research and advocacy, including presenting her work on sexism in digital media at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research. She is particularly interested in building a career in social justice and hopes to pursue graduate education while gaining practical experience through nonprofit work and internships.
Looking ahead, Amelia hopes to contribute to organizations working to advance equal justice and protect human rights, with particular interest in the Equal Justice Initiative and the ACLU. She is passionate about helping others and is motivated by empathy, compassion, open-mindedness, and honesty. Outside of academics and advocacy, she enjoys drawing, writing, reading, rock climbing, ultimate frisbee, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu for self-defense.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amelia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the support and encouragement of my parents. They have always believed that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, encouraged me to pursue my passions, and given me opportunities to grow, explore different interests, and experience new things.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is, “If there’s a will, there’s a way.” That mindset has been particularly meaningful to me because it has encouraged me to keep pursuing what I believe in, even when the path is challenging. It was also an important perspective in my decision to transfer to Occidental College.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to make full use of the people and resources around them. Work closely with professors, submit your research and work to conferences, take advantage of the opportunities available through your school, and become involved in organizations and clubs that align with your interests. Most importantly, focus on what you are passionate about, believe in yourself, and do not be afraid to pursue the issues you care deeply about.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of my current challenges has been adjusting to being a transfer student and finding my place in a new academic environment. Balancing my academic workload with maintaining a personal life, spending time with friends, and making time for exercise can also be difficult. At the same time, I see significant opportunities to continue developing my interests through research, student organizations, conferences, internships, and hands-on work in social justice and human rights.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are empathy, compassion, open-mindedness, and honesty. I believe these qualities are essential when working with people and addressing complex social justice issues, particularly when advocating for communities and individuals whose experiences may be different from my own.
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