In Loudoun County, a high school senior named Saniya Yamin began digging into a statistic that surprised her—only about half of students in the state actually take the SAT. That number didn’t sit right with her, and as she looked deeper, she realized the issue wasn’t motivation, but access.
She learned that for many students, the SAT isn’t just a test—it’s a logistical challenge. Some have jobs, others have family responsibilities, and many struggle with transportation or the cost of weekend testing dates.
So Saniya decided to speak up. She first brought the idea to local school leaders, then expanded her efforts to state lawmakers, pushing for a simple but meaningful change: letting students take the SAT during the school day at their own schools.
Her advocacy eventually helped inspire legislation which moved through the General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor Abigail Spanberger. The new policy ensures students across Virginia will have the opportunity to take the SAT at least once during the school day.
For Saniya, the experience showed how a classroom observation turned into real policy change, proving that even a student’s idea can grow into something that impacts thousands of others.