As I sit down to write this letter, I find myself filled with a mixture of emotions—sadness, gratitude, and excitement—all tangled up as I say “goodbye” to ETHS and all of you. In the spring of 2022 and 2023, I was lucky enough to be voted as your Student Representative and serve you these past two years.
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for entrusting me with the role of Student Representative. Serving as your rep has been an incredible honor and privilege, one that I will always cherish. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such passionate, driven individuals who constantly strive to make our school a better place.
In my time as your rep, I have had the privilege of watching each and every one of you fight for change in our Evanston community; from watching you all advocate for a climate curriculum impacting generations to come, to fighting against racial injustices through protest, I am humbled to call you my peers and classmates.
Together, we’ve accomplished so much. From organizing unforgettable events and advocating for important changes to fostering a sense of unity and belonging within our school community, our collective efforts have made a lasting impact. Each initiative, big or small, has contributed to the vibrant tapestry of experiences that define our time here at ETHS.
In the fall/winter, the Student Union has annually hosted the Student Voice Forum (previously known as the Witherbell Forum), where students have had the opportunity to discuss with administrators and have a hands-on experience in changing our school for the better. This year we have collaborated with admin on a new phone policy dedicated to protecting our mental health, planned talking spaces for students of all identities, and worked on supplying menstrual products for bathrooms that align with our values of sustainability.
I want to say a big “thank you” to the Student Union, our all-volunteer student government, and Mr. Pond, our Student Union’s sponsor, for all that they have done for us and ETHS. We have met every week on Thursdays after school, constantly collaborating to envision a better ETHS for our peers.
As we approach the voting season for the next Student Representative, I urge you all to vote! Use your voice and help ETHS find its next rep (Everyone can vote! Including seniors!)
Lastly, to my fellow seniors: congratulations! We have made it our eighth and final semester of high school. As bittersweet as it is, our time at ETHS is coming to an end. I am so proud to be a part of the Class of 2024, and I am excited to see what is next.
Thank you to each and every one of you for using your voices to be the change you want to see. Good luck in all of your endeavors and finish the year off strong!
With love,
