Homemade signs displaying political slogans floated overhead as a sea of advocates flooded Union Park in Chicago to honor lives lost due to gun violence and to call for changes in national gun legislation. Passionate speeches shared firsthand accounts of gun violence, bringing tears of frustration and sympathy to the eyes of many crowd members. Other speakers invited attendees to take action in their own communities by encouraging voter registration. This event was part of the March for Our Lives movement on Saturday, March 24, when over 800 marches were attended by hundreds of thousands of activists.

But how long will all of this activism last?

People jump on the bandwagon, then quickly abandon the cause when the next social issue arises. Because of this lack of commitment, issues rarely remain relevant long enough for significant change to occur. Even though we’re marching for gun control today instead of women’s rights, it doesn’t mean the latter matters any less.

Although people advocate for causes they feel strongly about, only championing issues in the limelight isn’t enough. While increasing attendance at rallies and marches is important to raise awareness, simply going to an event to post a picture online won’t solve global issues. The passion that encourages people to support positive change makes movements successful in the short term, but it needs to continue in order for movements to remain meaningful and have a lasting impact.

Now more than ever, students have the ability to create a platform to fight for important causes. It’s our responsibility to advocate for ourselves and others through the creation of committees or student-led groups aimed at facilitating change. Our own student government can take on a greater role within our school by promoting opportunities for students to voice their ideas regarding national issues. If our generation wants to create change, we can’t be passive participants in a world that demands action. Although mass demonstrations bring attention to important matters, there’s not necessarily any follow-through in bringing about change.

Student activism shouldn’t mean attending one major event for a cause. Your part isn’t done yet. The only way change can happen is if we commit to it.