I was nervous walking into that room. The campus town hall was packed, and tensions were high. Students were shouting, waving signs — some filled with painful words and images.

But when it was my turn to speak, I didn’t argue. I told a story. I talked about how it felt to be a Jewish student in that environment. I asked for empathy. And for a moment, the room quieted. I saw heads nodding. I saw someone who had been yelling earlier actually listening.

It wasn’t a perfect outcome — but it reminded me that words, when chosen carefully, can create space for connection.