Elizabeth Lee
Germantown High has an overflowing variety of opinions and ideas within its students. Whether it’s about strict guidelines or even about the food they eat, students are looking for a similar goal: to get their voices heard.
The Student Government Association (SGA) is considered the link between students and the administration. The main purpose of SGA is to represent the voice of the students. 25% of students believe that they have strong representation in school.
“Pro of SGA is that it’s very structured, very organized. They know what they’re doing,” said sophomore Tyler Watson.
SGA is also a way to get the students involved with how some of the school’s events should be held.
“It’s a great way to add fun to school…it’s also a great way to have leadership roles,” stated Senior Sumain Hemani.
However, not all students believe that SGA is enough.
“So even though I feel like it’s a good way to get involved and become well-rounded, I do feel like it is a little misguided…I feel like SGA is sort of shallow,” sophomore Rachel Ware said. “There’s not much depth to it. There’s not much connection. It’s typically one group of people involved in it…you can’t really reach as many groups in our school as you would’ve hoped.”
Almost two-thirds of participants surveyed believe that students do not have strong representation in school.
“I don’t think we have adequate student voice. And I realize we have SGA, but we’re not given any real power,” senior Vidushi Sinha stated. “So even if someone were to have the ideas or the motivation to change things, I don’t think we really have the means to accomplish that.”
Some students do not think SGA is doing enough to represent the student’s opinion.
“I think it’s a good organization and I understand the endeavor, but I think as of now, it’s not doing as much as it should. I don’t think it’s as community based as it should be,” said Sinha.
Although SGA is the most well-known way to have one’s voice heard, it also takes action from the student’s part.
“If you do generally involve yourself and make yourself known, people might come to you for your individual opinion,” stated junior Apurva Kanneganti.
Becoming a reliable voice in school affairs will can help, but complete acknowledgment of student voice cannot be complete with just desire alone.
“So even if we have students that are motivated, we can’t do anything without the administration,” stated Sinha.
In order to gain change, students want to have the attention of the administration. There have been many instances where students felt that their ideas were ignored.
“I have mixed feelings about that. Sometimes I feel like they [administrators] hear them, but they don’t receive them,” said junior Megan Ware.
However, others feel that the administration is working its hardest to cater to the students’ needs.
“Since I work in M office, I get to hear a lot of what the teachers and administrators say. It might not seem like they care, but they really do,” said Watson.
Getting your voice heard requires action from both parties of the students and the administration. Although it may be difficult, a will and an active administration are needed if the student wishes to make a change within their school. If anyone has an idea that they think will be beneficial to the school, do not be afraid to share it. Speak up, speak loud, and speak for student representation.
Germantown High has an overflowing variety of opinions and ideas within its students. Whether it’s about strict guidelines or even about the food they eat, students are looking for a similar goal: to get their voices heard.
The Student Government Association (SGA) is considered the link between students and the administration. The main purpose of SGA is to represent the voice of the students. 25% of students believe that they have strong representation in school.
“Pro of SGA is that it’s very structured, very organized. They know what they’re doing,” said sophomore Tyler Watson.
SGA is also a way to get the students involved with how some of the school’s events should be held.
“It’s a great way to add fun to school…it’s also a great way to have leadership roles,” stated Senior Sumain Hemani.
However, not all students believe that SGA is enough.
“So even though I feel like it’s a good way to get involved and become well-rounded, I do feel like it is a little misguided…I feel like SGA is sort of shallow,” sophomore Rachel Ware said. “There’s not much depth to it. There’s not much connection. It’s typically one group of people involved in it…you can’t really reach as many groups in our school as you would’ve hoped.”
Almost two-thirds of participants surveyed believe that students do not have strong representation in school.
“I don’t think we have adequate student voice. And I realize we have SGA, but we’re not given any real power,” senior Vidushi Sinha stated. “So even if someone were to have the ideas or the motivation to change things, I don’t think we really have the means to accomplish that.”
Some students do not think SGA is doing enough to represent the student’s opinion.
“I think it’s a good organization and I understand the endeavor, but I think as of now, it’s not doing as much as it should. I don’t think it’s as community based as it should be,” said Sinha.
Although SGA is the most well-known way to have one’s voice heard, it also takes action from the student’s part.
“If you do generally involve yourself and make yourself known, people might come to you for your individual opinion,” stated junior Apurva Kanneganti.
Becoming a reliable voice in school affairs will can help, but complete acknowledgment of student voice cannot be complete with just desire alone.
“So even if we have students that are motivated, we can’t do anything without the administration,” stated Sinha.
In order to gain change, students want to have the attention of the administration. There have been many instances where students felt that their ideas were ignored.
“I have mixed feelings about that. Sometimes I feel like they [administrators] hear them, but they don’t receive them,” said junior Megan Ware.
However, others feel that the administration is working its hardest to cater to the students’ needs.
“Since I work in M office, I get to hear a lot of what the teachers and administrators say. It might not seem like they care, but they really do,” said Watson.
Getting your voice heard requires action from both parties of the students and the administration. Although it may be difficult, a will and an active administration are needed if the student wishes to make a change within their school. If anyone has an idea that they think will be beneficial to the school, do not be afraid to share it. Speak up, speak loud, and speak for student representation.