Advocacy. A word of great power and strength. A word for change. My voice is a symbol of community, opportunity, and unity. A voice for the whole. On the first Tuesday of every month, my co-representative, Edona Selamaj, and I stand in front of the elected school board, academic administration, and the community of Lower Moreland as the elected Student Representatives. I act as a liaison for the student body to the school board. Therefore, I decided to focus on how to aid the student body.

This marks my second year serving as one of the Lower Moreland School District Student Representatives. It has been an immense honor to liaise between the student body and the school board. Throughout my journey, I have helped combat the stigma regarding student mental health while presenting my progress during school board meetings. I have collectively worked alongside Dr. Davidheiser and other academic administrators to learn communication and leadership skills. However, the most rewarding aspect of my position consists of the qualities that I have cultivated: patience, perseverance, and persistence. I am eternally grateful for this position, as it allows me to represent my student body while learning the power of being a voice for our community.

I spend most of my time contemplating the word “How?” “How can I solve the problem of student mental health?” I cannot. “How can I defeat stress?” I cannot. “How can I ignore student mental health?” I cannot. “How can I help?” I can. Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, my goal has been to help normalize the stigma behind seeking support and help students utilize the resources our school guidance counselors provide.

Throughout my adventures in tenth grade, I have met with Ms. Maura Quinn to emphasize the “How?”. After constructing several rough drafts to find a solution, I concluded that there was no correct answer. After meeting with the Guidance Department, Mrs. Deborah Lawlor, and Dr. Davidheiser, Juliet Yavas and I devised some solutions to help stabilize the teenage mind. During the past seven months, Juliet and I developed a plan using the tool Everfi to introduce a mental health unit during the two-year gap when LMHS students do not receive Health instruction. Also, we designed a written and approved script to make students aware of the external and internal resources our guidance team offers to be recorded and produced for a segment on LMHS News.

My past co-representative, Juliet Yavas, and I collaborated with upperclassmen to allow them to speak during freshmen health classes about their mental health struggles and help ease the stigma towards asking for help. We have illustrated the Guidance Counselor’s bulletin board with resources for students to utilize if they are not at ease, including phone numbers for the National Suicide Hotline, Montgomery County Mobile Crisis Center, and Safe2Say Something, along with resources on how to design an efficient and rewarding mental stability plan.

Each month, as I present my voice to the community of Lower Moreland, a sense of contentment sometimes can overwhelm me. I have learned the power of raising the question: “How?”. I believe it is my responsibility to help ease the stigma for students who need mental health help and create a safe place to find comfort within their school. Advocacy has allowed me to introduce a new chapter to Lower Moreland High School, a chapter of stability, balance, and ease. I feel honored to be the unified voice.