Sentence-Starters for Self-Advocates

​Advocating for yourself can sound like:

• I need…​
• I want more opportunities in…​
• I’m feeling stuck, and I need your support by…​
• I’d like to share my feedback on that…​
• I feel that my voice isn’t represented, so my input is…​
• I don’t feel that this is inclusive of ______ identities or _____ experiences…

Don't Settle for Less

• Sometimes advocating for ourselves can be difficult. Because advocating can require a lot of vulnerability and sometimes raise tension, settling for less can feel like a comfortable compromise.
• Sometimes advocating may result in a less than desirable outcome. In this case, you may have to take matters into your own hands to receive the outcome you would like—this will require some research, mentorship, or opportunities outside of the classroom or the workplace.
• When advocating results in a less than desirable outcome, don’t settle-– rather, you can seek out mentorship or professional development if what you’re advocating for cannot be delivered by the other party.

Quick Discussion Question:

Do any of the tips or sentence starters on this page sound like something you've tried? When can these be helpful in the classroom or in the workplace?