Hi there! My name is Amrit Bhandal, and I am an IB student at Glenview Park Secondary School. My interest in running for Student Trustee stems from my passion for leadership, advocacy, and innovation. I care deeply about ensuring that all student voices are heard, especially those who may feel overlooked or underrepresented. I’m running because I believe student voices should help shape the decisions that affect our education.

Within my school, I am actively involved in different parts of school life, supporting student engagement and representation across academics, athletics, and student leadership. I currently serve as a Grade Representative and am a member of both the Student Activity Council and Athletic Council. I have also helped found and co-run a STEAM IC club, am a DECA provincial competitor, and have been a member of the girls’ basketball team for three years. Through these roles, I collaborate with a wide range of students, help organize initiatives, and contribute to a positive change and inclusivity throughout our school.

Beyond school, I bring long-term experience by working with youth through my local community centre, where I have been involved for over five years. As a program facilitator and camp counsellor, I support children and youth ages 2 to 17, gaining valuable skills such as adaptability and the ability to work with people from diverse communities. Through this, I was inspired to create an expressive platform called Mosaic Voices. It is a youth-led art platform that empowers first- and second-generation high school students to share their stories through creative panels and digital storytelling. Through the rotating panel system, the art sparks conversation, representation, and connection while building confidence, identity, and a sense of belonging.

As Student Trustee, my goal is to strengthen connections between schools and help build a stronger sense of belonging across WRDSB. This will be accomplished by encouraging collaboration, amplifying underrepresented voices, and improving communication between students and the board.

My name is Gloria Anuraj, and I am a Grade 10 student at Glenview Park Secondary School applying for the role of Student Trustee with the Waterloo Region District School Board. I am passionate about representing student voices and contributing to meaningful, student-centred decision-making.

I have demonstrated leadership from a young age, earning awards such as Leader of the Month and Outstanding Leadership throughout elementary school. I was elected class representative in Grades 3 and 4, where I first learned how to advocate for my peers. Following the return to in-person learning after COVID, I further developed my leadership skills by emceeing school assemblies.

In middle school, I was a member of the Clemens Mill Activity Council (CMAC), the leadership group for Grades 7 and 8. Through CMAC, I helped plan and organize major school events, including Grade 6 Day, track-and-field events, dances, spring concerts, and Grade 8 graduation. These experiences strengthened my teamwork, organization, and event-planning skills.

Currently, I serve on Glenview Park’s Athletic Council and School Advisory Council (SAC), along with being the Grade 10 representative. In this role, I communicate the concerns and ideas of over 200 students to the school administration, ensuring their voices are considered in school decisions.

Through my leadership experiences, I have developed strong communication, problem-solving, and advocacy skills. I am eager to bring these qualities to the Student Trustee role and help create an inclusive, supportive, and positive environment for all WRDSB students across the Waterloo Region community.

My name is Nebal Hasbini, and I’m a Grade 11 student at Huron Heights Secondary School. My interest in becoming a Student Trustee started back in Grade 10, when I first saw videos and emails about the role and student roundtables. At the time, I didn’t apply because I wasn’t fully confident in my ideas yet and felt I still needed to grow and gain experience. Over time, especially moving into Grade 11, that changed. I became more motivated to get involved and help push student voices forward, not just my own, but what students across the school are actually saying. I’ve participated in a lot of social clubs, the Debate club, English and Leadership. I’m a very social person, and I enjoy talking with different people and hearing different perspectives. Being involved in school and clubs has helped me see how differently students experience school, and how important it is that those experiences are listened to. I’ve attended two student roundtable meetings, where I was able to take part in discussions with other students and district board members. Those conversations showed me how student opinions can actually influence decisions when they’re shared clearly and respectfully. This would be my first time running for Student Trustee, but I’m ready to learn, take responsibility seriously, and work with others. I hope to be elected so I can help make sure student voices are heard and considered in board-level decisions.

My name is Sheikh Muhammad Aoun, and I am a Grade 11 student at Galt Collegiate Institute and Vocational School. My decision to run for Student Trustee comes from a belief that student voices must be meaningfully represented in decisions that shape learning, well-being, and opportunity across the WRDSB.

Through my experience as a Peer Leader in the Newcomer Orientation Week program at my school and with the YMCA of Three Rivers, I learned how to listen to student concerns, represent their perspectives, and work collaboratively with staff to support transitions. As a Youth Leader with the KW Multicultural Centre’s “Let’s Talk” program, I facilitated discussions and ensured that youth feedback was communicated to program leaders. These experiences reinforced my understanding that effective representation requires balancing diverse perspectives and building consensus.

Attending the prestigious Shad program further shaped my commitment to experiential learning and career readiness. Programs such as co-op, SHSM, and hands-on learning provide valuable real-world skills, yet many students miss these opportunities due to limited awareness of timelines or requirements. I will advocate for earlier promotion, clearer guidance, and improved access so students can better plan their pathways.

Alongside leadership, I maintain strong academic performance and participate in athletics, including tennis, which has strengthened my discipline and teamwork. If elected, I will remain committed to transparent grading and assessment practices, inclusive and equitable policies, and active student engagement in decision-making. I will represent students with integrity, collaboration, and a focus on translating student voices into thoughtful board-level action.