Kicking off our new blog series, here's Wes Moore telling a story about his experience in military school and a colonel who gave the students advice that Moore thinks about to this day: "When it’s time for you to leave, make sure that it mattered that you were ever here.”

In this 3-minute video from the closing ceremony of Aspen Ideas, Moore outlines how each of us can actively make a difference.

Here's how Moore puts that into practice on the social issue he's most passionate about, early childhood education:

• Find an issue that you’re passionate about.
• Challenge conventional wisdom.
• Be absolutely obsessed with best practices.
• As you're thinking about the people you're advocating for, make sure they are part of the conversation.

"Whatever your issue is," says Moore. "whether it's vets, animals, seniors, whatever it is, attack it with everything you've got."