Many Aragon students have had the opportunity to serve on various committees and boards, and thereby contribute to the community within and outside the context of school. These experiences not only present a unique opportunity for students to collaborate with adults in a professional setting but also provide some insight into how these institutions function.
One such example is senior Andrew Perotti who serves as a student representative on School Site Council and a WASC committee. He says, “Being a student [on WASC], I contribute the student perspectives on different subjects and important issues that relate to [the student body] that teachers, administration and parents may not normally know about or think about … On Site Council, it’s usually about two student representatives, two parents, some teachers and administration. We basically sit down once a month and discuss different projects that the school is taking on.
“I feel that by being on the Site Council and the WASC committees I’m basically giving back to the school community in a way by helping make decisions with the school and how things are run. I feel that I’m helping out the school in a way that I normally wouldn’t be able to.”
Junior James Garcia, who serves as a teen representative on the Peninsula Family YMCA Board of Managers, says of his role, “I don’t have as much say as the adults. I just started talking about helping the environment and we got new recycling bins for the YMCA. I get to participate in a group of educated adults. And I learn how boards work and the decision-making process. I’m getting work experience.”
Junior Parvir Aujla currently serves on the San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees. Aujla is a student representative on the Board, where he contributes the student view and opinion on various issues.
“I get to see the choices being made and being put into effect,” says Aujla, “It is a great honor to be on the board because I get to see the other side of how a school works.”
Aujla was elected onto this position on a July meeting of the United Associated Student Board, before the school semester began, where he was chosen from a group of many other students from other SMUHSD schools to serve as a representative on the Board until December.
As the student representative, he leads the Pledge of Allegiance, and then, following a report by the District Superintendent, reports to the board the status of Aragon and activities the school is currently involved in. The board then commences discussing and voting on issues pertaining to Aragon and the rest of the district.
Aujla has yet to graduate high school, yet he is making a strong impact on the way he and his peers are educated, and the way thousands of future students to come will conduct their high school experience. Speaking on his role in the Board, he adds, “The whole thing is centered around the system of high school, and the school board depends on students. [Students] are pretty much the core why there is a board, where there are teachers.
“I have a vote, but it doesn’t count. Like its an advisory vote … if I’m not in favor of something and I’m voting against, then [the Board] will stop and they’ll be like, ‘Why are you voting against it, like did we miss something?”
With regard to the impact being on the board has had on him, Aujla said, “My involvement with the board has changed my outlook on life completely … Like understanding the education system. And a lot of it is like me trying to see what I like and what I don’t like, you know … it is just like professional experience too, like how it feels to be on professional meetings.”
And as Aujla aptly concludes, “Representing my fellow students is a privilege I am very grateful to have.”
