On June 14, 2025, at the SGI-USA Student Division Conference held at the Florida Nature and Culture Center, the new, student-focused exhibit, titled “Does What I Do Matter?” was unveiled.
Last year a survey of SGI-USA youth, including student division and junior high and high school members, was conducted. The result? While self-confidence and money were some of the main personal challenges young people faced, large-scale issues like war and gun violence weighed more heavily on their minds.
Youth feel powerless to affect the very issues that they care most deeply about. The exhibit was created to address this feeling head-on with Buddhism’s empowering philosophy. It focuses on the power inherent in all people, human revolution, dialogue and community engagement. It is a tool that student division members and our SGI community can use to introduce Nichiren Buddhism to the community.
A smaller tri-fold version of this exhibit is available for SGI-USA student division campus clubs to utilize during their club fairs.
For more information regarding how to make reservations, please contact your territory office.
Fostering Humane Leaders for the Future
Name: Jean Tak
City: Athens, Georgia
School: University of Georgia
Living Buddhism: You are supporting the campus club at University of Georgia. How did you get involved?
Jean Tak: After a Byakuren shift at our Atlanta Buddhist Center one day, a fellow Byakuren, a graduate student at the University of Georgia (UGA), and I were throwing around the idea of restarting a club on campus. UGA has 30,000-plus students. We felt that if we started a campus club, it would make a big impact.
What do you think is the importance of having SGI clubs on college campuses?
Jean: There is a pervasive feeling of hopelessness among young people. I think it’s also a trend for youth to not care about people other than themselves. How can we influence people to value people’s lives more, have more hope about the world and help them recognize the power they hold as individuals. Through our Buddhist campus clubs!
Students are looking for a deeper meaning in life. We have one student who comes who is a philosophy major. She’s been very interested in Buddhism and is seeking how to live a more meaningful life.
There are many things young people struggle with, including keeping their grades up, finding a good job out of college and loneliness. It’s hard to find good friends or a good support system. For example, our campus has an online forum where students are often looking for friends. Many others are most likely struggling alone without the courage to reach out.
How have you benefitted from your Buddhist practice?
Jean: There is a lot going on in our country right now, and because of my Buddhist practice, I don’t feel completely powerless. I know how much power my life holds. I was born into a family that practices with the SGI. My mother never forced me to chant but always encouraged me to attend future division activities. When I was 13, I started having issues with a friend, and that’s when I started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Chanting for her happiness made me feel a lot better. Since then, I’ve joined the Byakuren Group and also support the members as a young women’s district leader.
Can you tell us about your campus club and the type of activities you do?
Jean: We have four SGI members on campus who support the club. Our meetings have evolved over time. This year we have been doing more engaging activities. For example, we once made flowers out of pipe cleaners and did a mini canvas-painting activity. These activities create a space for people to talk to others naturally.
In the beginning of this year, we sent out a survey asking people what they wanted to discuss at our meetings. So far, we’ve studied topics like finding your inner strength, powerlessness, friendships and relationships. We have around 10 people come to each meeting. Some are friends of ours that we have personally invited and others find out about our meetings through the university’s Involvement Network, where all the campus clubs post their events. It provides a space where people can feel more hopeful about the world and realize the power they have.
I also think it’s good for students who are already members of the SGI. Especially if they live on campus and they are at school all the time, it’s a way to help them connect to the SGI. For me, it’s been a natural way to introduce my friends to Buddhism. I used to hide my Buddhist side, but through this club, I’ve invited many people to learn about this part of my life.
What is your vision for your future?
Jean: I’m currently applying to graduate programs in psychology. My ultimate goal is to become a school psychologist, where I feel I can make a significant impact. Schools can be a scary place for young people, so I want to talk to students about what they are going through, for example, the fear of school shootings. I also hope to set up interventions that could provide support for kids with mental health struggles.
I’m determined to introduce more people to Buddhism through our campus club so that we can foster youth who really care about others—young people who will become our humane leaders in the future.
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