Jack Schlossberg

Part of growing up is realizing the frustrating, heartbreaking truth that intense and sustained long-term effort is needed to effect change.

Obama set a record number of deportations of illegal immigrants in 2011, but that fact alone is misleading. Obama has spoken in favor of and has urged Congress to pass the DREAM Act, a bill that would allow young undocumented immigrants to stay in America, their home, and achieve citizenship by going to college or serving in the military.

The Profile in Courage Award recognizes elected officials who choose to do what is right, not what is easy, so that we might learn from their example. Each time we give the award, we bear witness to the past for the sake of the future.

Voting is great, but it's not an accomplishment. It's a responsibility.

Electing the first African-American president was a tremendous accomplishment, but it hasn't erased racism.

I love America for the freedom and equality it promises all of its citizens, the battles it has fought and won in defense of those values, and the peace and prosperity we enjoy.

The civil rights movement didn't end on August 6, 1965. It continued because the work of creating a truly equal country never ends.

Our democracy works because the parties air and debate their differences in public.

I'm inspired by my family's legacy of public service. It's something that I'm very proud of.

I'm most interested in public service. I think that's something that I got from being part of my family, which is such an honor.

Politics definitely interests me.

No matter what political cause compels us, we should always feel as though it's being threatened. We should use these causes, whatever they are, to bring people together and get each other excited about our role, so we feel like we can't stop and won't stop.