Ayanfeoluwa Anjoorin

Ayanfeoluwa Anjoorin, 16, is from Lawrenceville, Georgia. She is deeply passionate about civic engagement, storytelling, and fostering global understanding through education. Ayanfe first served as a Gwinnett Youth Commissioner and now as a Youth Advisor, where she helps engage students across the county in civic dialogue and community leadership. She is also an active member of her school’s Model United Nations, where she develops skills in diplomacy, negotiation, and public speaking while exploring solutions to real-world global issues.

Born in the United States and having spent some of her growing years in Nigeria, Ayanfe’s cross-cultural upbringing deepened her appreciation for diverse perspectives and inspired her passion for storytelling and global connection. She discovered her love for social studies in the eighth grade thanks to her teacher, Mr. Bork, whose creative video and storytelling projects showed her how powerful education can be when it sparks curiosity and connection. Since then, she has been committed to passing that gift forward.

She is the founder of Beloved Briefs, a social media project with over 2,000 followers that briefs people on African history and civic movements through short-form videos, planting seeds of curiosity the way Mr. Bork once did for her. She is also the co-founder of Clubhouse, a student organization dedicated to inclusivity, connection, and friendship within her school community.

Ayanfe aspires to become an educator and storyteller, using film and digital media to inspire the same love for history and civic engagement that her teachers fostered in her. Whether through the classroom, advocacy, or the screen, she hopes to help others discover their own passion for understanding the world, however big or small the impact may be.

Watch Ayanfeoluwa’s Winning PSA Below!

Our Interview With Ayanfeoluwa

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
Yes, this was my first time entering the contest.

How did you hear about the contest?
I discovered this contest while researching social studies competitions I could participate in, especially ones that involved filmmaking. I’m really passionate about both social studies and film, so I wanted to find opportunities that would allow me to combine my skills and grow in both areas.

What inspired your work?
My work, titled Why Civil Conversation Matters, was inspired by both the contest prompt and real-life experiences. I went through several ideas before realizing that this topic fit best with what I see around me every day. We often label people sometimes without even realizing it and when those labels enter political discussions, the divide can become even deeper. My PSA draws from those everyday observations and explores how small moments of misunderstanding can grow into larger societal divides if we don’t communicate respectfully.

What did you learn about the U.S. Constitution while creating your entry?
While creating my PSA, I learned that the U.S. Constitution especially through the Bill of Rights gives students and citizens important freedoms that many people take for granted. Since I hadn’t yet taken AP U.S. History, this project helped me understand how those rights work in our daily lives, and why knowing and respecting the Constitution is key to understanding one another.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S. Constitution?
I plan to share my PSA with students and teachers at my school and through some of the clubs and volunteer groups I’m part of. I want to help others learn not just what the Constitution says, but why it matters by encouraging discussions about our rights and how they protect everyone equally.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
I would like to visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It’s not only where the U.S. Constitution was debated and signed, but also where the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Both documents represent the foundation of America’s principles freedom, equality, and self-government. Visiting that site would feel like stepping into the place where the nation’s core ideas were first spoken into existence.

What are your career plans?
By God’s grace, I plan to study economics as my first major, and then pursue a career that combines law, filmmaking, and international relations. I’m especially interested in international law and diplomacy, and I want to use storytelling and film as tools to educate, connect people, and promote understanding across cultures.

How do you spend your free time?
I love watching movies either by myself or with my family, or reading substack articles.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution is still deeply relevant because it’s the foundation that protects our rights and freedoms. Without it, society would lose the structure that ensures fairness and justice. It’s what gives us the very rights we depend on to express ourselves and stand up for what’s right.