When I learned about the Student Think Tank internship, I was immediately drawn to the program. Two of my close friends pitched the internship to me right as the school year was coming to a close, telling me that it was an amazing opportunity to connect with other ambitious students, become more educated on how the district operates, and conduct meaningful projects that can make a direct change within our schools. This enticing description undoubtedly captured my interest, and I decided to join the internship. Thank you to Allie and Noah for inviting me!
This was my first time becoming involved with the Student Think Tank, and I practically went in blind, joining without any ideas or expectations. On my first day, I was warmly greeted by Ms. Sehba, and by practically every student in the room. There was a wide variety of students from PHS (go Bulldogs!), Marshall, Muir, and Blair. Some faces were recognizable, while some were completely unfamiliar to me. Regardless, every student in the room was incredibly enthusiastic and welcoming. From the very beginning, it was clear that every student’s voice mattered. The way we conducted meetings felt inclusive, safe, and empowering. Whether you were someone who had been involved for years, or someone like me, who was brand new, there was always a space for you to share your ideas.
A typical day in the internship always started with our morning “check-in.” Once we were settled in, the conversations quickly became more meaningful. We often discussed current events, both within our schools and in the broader world. We reflected on how those issues impact ourselves, other students, and our communities as a whole. Our conversations centered around how to make every student feel seen, valued, and heard, with a constant focus on dismantling systems of oppression and fostering a more inclusive school environment.
From there, we shifted into action. On the first day, we were surrounded by empty walls. About one week later, the walls were barely visible, and the room was plastered with posters full of timelines, goals, and progress that we had made. We were responsible for creating and dividing ourselves into different student-run committees, planning upcoming Student Assembly elections, organizing the annual Youth Conference, and brainstorming ways to improve the district’s image to better reflect its diversity, creativity, opportunity and the strength of its students. The committee responsible for improving the district’s image was mainly spearheaded by the newer Student Think Tank members, myself included. Although we were new to the program, our ideas and efforts resulted in a functioning committee, and we made incredible progress throughout the weeks. Every meeting felt like a balance between thoughtful reflection and action, driven by the belief that student voices truly have the power to create change.
Overall, this internship has deeply impacted how I view my role as a student in PUSD. I’ve become more confident in speaking up, more strategic in how I approach projects, and more motivated to take action on improving my community. Not only did it offer me a way to improve myself, but it gave me an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself, and to collaborate with so many other amazing, like-minded students. I am so grateful for this experience, and I am so excited to see how much the Student Think Tank and Assembly will achieve in the coming years!
