On Thursday, May 26, J-DHS students will vote for their student board representative for 2022-2023. Following the introduction of the position last school year, Student Board Representative Grace Evans has worked to facilitate communication between high school students and the Board. This year, three juniors are running: Malak Aljerari, Morgan Moracco, and Ebunoluwa Oguntola.
Malak Aljerari
Why did you choose to run for this position?
I chose to run for this position after Mrs. Oppedisano mentioned it, and I talked to Grace Evans, our current student representative, and she also encouraged me to do it. After some thinking, I realized that my involvement in the student Constitutional Convention helped me become aware of certain issues like a lack of connection and communication between the school Board and the student government with the school body, which leads me to my goals.
What would be your goals as a representative?
My goals are to strengthen communication between the Board and students through increased engagement in surveys and ThoughtExchanges by having set times in homerooms or social studies classes to complete surveys. I also want there to be student Board information as well as student government information shared on the daily RamFeed announcements. Moreover, Grace Evans wanted there to be a group of student Board representatives implemented and I would like to continue with that goal.
Why should J-D vote for you?
I think that my real passion around the lack of communication and engagement will result in a lot of necessary change and improvement, and I think that’s what’s best for J-D.
Morgan Moracco
Why did you choose to run for this position?
I chose to run for student board representative because this year I gained a lot of insight through the Dialogue Circle program. In the Dialogue Circle, we talked a lot about major issues that impact J-D students, in particular, how many students, especially minority students, feel they don’t have a say in a lot of decisions made by the Board. I feel that it’s extremely important that these students’ voices are heard and I would love to be the person who can communicate the concerns any students have to the Board and keep everyone informed.
What would be your goals as a representative?
My goals as representative are to make communication between the student body and the Board more streamlined because it’s apparent that many students feel left out of the loop on what the Board is doing. In addition, I would like to actually make improvements that the student body wants by communicating the students’ desires to the Board.
Why should J-D vote for you?
J-D should vote for me because I won’t just sit back and let the Board continue to make decisions that impact every student at J-D without each and every student feeling like they have some say in the matter. I’m not afraid to stand up for what the student body wants and I want every student to have the opportunity to be heard.
Ebunoluwa Oguntola
Why did you choose to run for this position?
I specifically wanted to run for this position, school Board student representative, because of my keen awareness of the issues at our school and unique ideas, such as developing software or creating new platforms, to circumnavigate the present obstacles we are facing as a community while providing new mechanisms of societal growth.
What would be your goals as a representative?
One of my most prominent goals is to ameliorate the mental health of our students. I recently did a research project on the topic and have derived various solutions to tackle this conflict, such as increased resources for students. I also seek representation and diversity in our school government and want to raise the voices that have been previously repressed by increasing opportunities for students to get involved and directly suggest ideas (as surveys are not enough for students not involved in the government to efficiently make an impact), simultaneously expanding the transparency of the inner workings of the government. Additionally, I strive to create new methods of social engagement to truly build community within our school.
Why should J-D vote for you?
I have lots of experience working with authority and youth. I am currently an executive member of an international youth board that tackles worldwide issues across the globe and I have done some independent projects of my own, such as raising money to support impoverished nations during the pandemic. Since I was a part of the J-DHS Constitutional Convention, I am quite aware of how we plan to restructure the government, and have had experience working with other members of the government. Within the school, I have experience as co-captain of the varsity tennis team. I’m also a professional musician: composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist (violin, viola, piano, guitar, learning cello, flute, and diving into brass instruments!), intrinsically prompting me to explore various avenues even outside of music. I’ve conducted the J-D Orchestra, All-State Orchestra, and Symphoria Youth Orchestra, which is a demanding leadership role, and have collaborated with professional musicians from across the globe to provide feedback as they perform the music I compose for them. I also have led the youth in previous years at my local church. This variety of perspectives I have delved into exhibits my adaptability and multi-faceted depth. And ultimately, proactivity is my maxim; I propose to be the catalyst.
