I, Aadrika Bhakt, a Grade 11 student at Cameron Heights CI, possess qualities that make me an ideal candidate for student trustee. My journey through academics and extracurriculars has equipped me with valuable lessons in leadership and collaboration. I maintain a 95% grade average, reflecting my commitment to learning and growth.

Coaching young swimmers and dancers has been incredibly rewarding. It requires patience, adaptive communication, and a teaching style that is. These skills are crucial for a student trustee who must listen to and represent diverse student voices.

Balancing competitive sports, musical pursuits, and academic commitments has instilled in me the value of time management and perseverance. It has taught me the power of collaboration and the joy of collective achievement.

My interests span beyond traditional boundaries, and this interdisciplinary perspective enables me to approach issues creatively and analytically. This well-rounded mindset makes me an effective leader, which isn’t about having all the answers but being open to ideas and creating a platform to bring ideas to life.

In addition to my usual activities, I have demonstrated leadership in many settings, such as as a group leader creating solutions to real-world problems as part of the Technovation Girls program (which empowers young women to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders), which requires strong leadership, effective communication, and collaboration with diverse groups.

Given the opportunity to serve as student trustee, I commit to approaching the role with humility and maturity, thoughtfully advocating for my peers, bridging communication gaps, and contributing meaningfully to school governance.

I am a dedicated Grade 10 student passionate about advocating for equity, fostering inclusion, and ensuring every student’s voice is heard. Through leadership roles such as Sergeant in Cadets and Vice President of Training in DECA, I have developed strong communication, teamwork, and organizational skills. These experiences taught me how to lead with empathy, adapt to challenges, and work collaboratively with diverse groups of people.

I will bring this same energy and dedication to the role of student trustee. I will advocate for all students, especially those who feel underrepresented, by creating opportunities for meaningful conversations. Using tools like surveys, school visits, and social media, I will ensure students across WRDSB have accessible ways to share their concerns and ideas.

Additionally, I will work collaboratively with staff and trustees to build initiatives that prioritize student well-being and success. Upholding human rights and equity is central to my vision, and I will strive to represent all students with fairness, integrity, and transparency.

With a track record of leadership and a deep commitment to making a difference, I am confident in my ability to take initiative, handle sensitive issues with care, and be a reliable voice for my peers. Together, I believe we can foster an inclusive and supportive school environment for all.

Hello! My name is Ayah Elhedhli, and I am a Grade 11 student currently attending Laurel Heights Secondary School (LHSS). Throughout my studies, I have observed numerous challenges that I hope to help other students overcome through palpable action as your 2024/2025 student trustee.

As student trustee, I plan to bolster student voices and act as a spokesperson for my peers. More tangibly, I hope to enhance student life through the increased promotion of school activities. Many students I’ve spoken to have found the process of running an educational event needlessly tiresome. By simplifying the process of school event planning, students will be able to implement initiatives that matter to them, creating a stimulating school environment.

Within my school, I am a DECA executive and the vice president of the LHSS Mock Trial Team. Outside of my education, I volunteer as an organizer for Incubator Hacks and co-founded the Re:Vision Foundation, a charity that works to rehome glasses in the Waterloo Region. Furthermore, I love doing martial arts and am an active member of the Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy.

Above all, I am committed to advocating for student well-being through active and open communication, because together, we can create an engaging and inclusive learning environment for all WRDSB students.

Hey, everyone! I’m Chiamaka Emeadi, a Grade 11 student at Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate. As the WRDSB Student Trustee, I hope to collaborate with the Board to create policies that improve the learning experience for all 65,000 students across the region, regardless of income level, race, or sexual orientation.

I understand the importance of creating inclusive and effective policies. As the Co-Chair of Kitchener 2051 (and one of the youngest co-chairs of any Kitchener working group), I am proud to represent Ward 3 and address key issues found in the city, such as inequity in transportation and housing. I meet with members of Town Hall monthly to discuss these real problems affecting residents in Kitchener, as well as work to create the City’s new official plan.

I love to get involved in my school community. I have received various awards for my participation in clubs like DECA, and I enjoy getting involved in other clubs like the Edge, KCI’s Newspaper Club, and Club!

Outside the classroom, you can find me working on my TikTok skills as my church’s social media manager or instructing art classes at the City of Kitchener. Additionally, I volunteer my time as a member of the WRDSB Black Youth Advisory Council.

My hope as a Student Trustee is to foster a welcoming, safe, and accessible environment for all students and level the playing field for everyone in our community.

Hi! My name is Alina Feng, and I attend Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute as a grade 10 pre-IB student! In my school, I play for my school’s badminton team and manage activities by being in executive roles for the garden club, debate club, and athletic council. Outside of school, you can find me either playing badminton at my local club, volunteering at the Waterloo Hospice Centre, serving as a dedicated new cadet, or tutoring young immigrant children English. I am proficient in Mandarin and English and will be taking leadership courses next semester in school and extracurricular online ones to further my knowledge. Currently, I’m working on a project to develop my own non-profit organization to provide students better understanding of their rights and responsibilities in the legal system. I’m very honoured to have the chance to run for the WRDSB student trustee, and if I’m elected, I will dedicate all my time to making WRDSB schools a better place for everyone.

My name is Kushagra Mehra, and I am in Grade 10 at Waterloo CI. I am running to be the student trustee for the 2025-2026 school year because I believe our voices can change and achieve anything we desire. I am determined to represent and advocate for my peers and their needs. This will ensure that every student in our school board has the support and opportunities to succeed.

Throughout my leadership journey, I have been actively involved in making my community a more positive experience for everyone. In grades 7 & 8, I worked with my elementary school teachers/principal to efficiently run monthly assemblies and events. Which helped to make my school more inclusive and engaging.

In addition, I helped out younger students by being a Kindie-Helper. My role was to make sure that little kids feel welcome/confident in their new school and act as a person they can look up to for help. All these experiences have taught me that leadership is all about supporting everyone, understanding diverse cultures, and creating a community where everyone is included and heard. Additionally, due to my leadership skills, I received the Principal’s Student Leadership Award at my grade 8 graduation. This award is unique because it is only given to one candidate each year. This award made sure that being a leader makes a meaningful difference, even if it is very small.

As a student trustee, I will listen to everyone’s needs, collaborate, and work for positive change for everyone.

Hi! My name is Charlotte Mollitor and I am a grade 11 student at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute [KCI]. It is my goal to become student trustee so I can contribute to schools within the WRDSB and create positive change. My relevant experience to this role includes the following.

I have multiple years experience within customer service in a role involving many key aspects and skills which apply to the Student Trustee role like empathizing and effectively communicating with all sorts of people, treating everyone with respect and friendliness and advocating for their needs. Being in this role further developed my excellent time management skills as I was challenged between balancing many aspects of my life and continuously improved my leadership as I collaborated with other staff and trained new hires. I faced many situations during my time there which I needed to create unique solutions. Examples of this include adjusting my behaviour to comprehend customers who did not speak English, helping wheelchair users navigate the store and serving multiple people at once.

The second piece of relevant experience I will mention is my cooperative education placement. During my placement at this establishment I worked on many things such as accessibility, content creation and events. I underwent training which targeted accessibility and the true meaning of accessibility, then researched accessibility within cities as a project. I am knowledgeable about the physical barriers of differently abled people and how to accommodate people with different needs.

I am a Grade 11 student in the IB program at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, deeply committed to leadership and fostering success in both my school and community. My goal is to make a meaningful difference by representing and supporting the voices of my peers.

As the captain of my cricket team and a member of various school sports teams, I have developed essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Leading a team has taught me the importance of motivating others and working toward shared goals, while my participation in sports has reinforced the value of perseverance and collaboration. Additionally, my involvement in planning and organizing events has strengthened my ability to manage tasks effectively, think critically, and engage with diverse groups.

Beyond school, I actively volunteer at my local temple, where I have gained a strong sense of community and responsibility. This experience has allowed me to contribute to meaningful causes, build connections with people from different backgrounds, and better understand diverse perspectives.

In the classroom, the challenges of the IB program have inspired my curiosity and encouraged me to think globally. Through these academic pursuits, I have developed a disciplined approach to problem-solving and a deeper appreciation for inclusivity.

These experiences have shaped me into a driven, empathetic individual who values hard work, collaboration, and diversity. As a student trustee, I would be dedicated to supporting my peers, amplifying their voices, and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

My name is Mitchell Spachman, and I am a grade 11 student at Waterloo Oxford Secondary School. I am looking to run for the role of a student trustee. I have always believed and fought for equality for all people, regardless of their background or beliefs, and I know that my commitment to this belief makes me a perfect person for the role. I have advocated for helping people make conversations easier and look to make our schools more welcoming and positive for everyone. As a team player, I welcome new opportunities to learn and grow, and I’m always willing to take on a new challenge. My openness to feedback and tips allows me to better help our schools and help create a happier place for everyone. I’ve talked to student trustees from the past because I wanted change. Change that would make school life easier. When I was in grade 10 and took civics, I wrote a paper about why freedom of clothing and mental health are connected and why It’s important to have places to talk to someone or have someone important to talk to about mental health. After I created that paper, I ended up printing it out and mailing it to the government of Canada because I believe mental health is the most important thing to have easy access to, and school would be a great place to talk to someone since some people may not want their parents to know what they’re going through. And I want WRDSB schools to have easier access to talk about mental health in a safe space.

My name is Maia Topalcevic. I am a Grade 11 student at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute.

I am an eager student who is hoping to bring positive change in the school board and take on any challenges that may occur. My goal would be to rework our current education system to better accommodate student’s mental health and overall well-being. I would be honoured to be considered to be a Student Trustee in the North Riding!

I am a proud member of the Safe, Caring, and Inclusive Schools club, Eco club, and FedProv at my school. Some of my previous leadership experience that would make me a good candidate is that I was one of the student leaders who co-organized and participated in the WRDSB Mental Health Conference this year.

Last year, I co-organized a period drive at my school to raise money and products for a local charity called the Period Equity Project KWC. In my earlier years of high school, I was an active member of the Junior Leadership Club and organised many different spirit days and events, as well as attending leadership conferences and lectures. Outside of school, I actively volunteer and co-teach drama classes to adults with disabilities. If elected, I would be deeply dedicated to advocating for students and making sure that their voices are heard.

My name is Krishna Aarya Trivedi. I attend Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute as an 11th grader, and I have enough relevant experience to be a successful student trustee. My initiative to become a student trustee stems from the student roundtables, and how they encouraged a variety of opinions to build the WRDSB community. During the roundtables at Preston High School, Cameron Heights, and recently at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate, I often expressed my concerns and ideas in an effort to get my say on how district operations would run. However, I soon realized that it is not just my contributions that effectively generate growing foundations but the mindsets of others that can prosper our collective goals. Other attendees at the student roundtables often give the discussed situations a new perspective, especially because the experiences of others vary based on their experiences with the region, often creating an opportunity to offer more diverse foundations for problem-solving ideation. Additionally, as a member of the Cameron Heights Student Activity Council, I learned that effective democratic leadership styles are most beneficial as they account for all students involved in decisions, and by applying this leadership style to the role of student trustee, we can express the opinions of students through accurate representation. Finally, my goal is to have students help each other structure their education, giving them the open opportunity to learn and grow with support from all members of their community.