Senior Is Students' Voice at RBUSD

As if 17-year old Brooke O'Neal's plate wasn't full enough.

O’Neal, currently in her senior year at , has served as vice president of her freshman class, a member of the Model United Nations, a member of the Animal Rescue Club and even a volunteer babysitter at the .

O'Neal is also a member of Senior Class Council; Safe School Ambassadors, a program designed to reduce bullying; and Link Crew, a program that helps freshman through their first week of high school

But now, O'Neal will tackle possibly her most important role to date—she will serve as the school board's student representative for Redondo Union during the 2011-2012 school year.

"I chose to do this because I thought it a good way to be able to help the school, and it's nice to know the processes behind everything that's going on," O’Neal said of her choice to apply for the position. "I'm interested in political science and government, and I think this is a good experience for me if I plan on going into that."

O'Neal, who currently maintains a 3.8 GPA, serves as the liaison between the high school's student body and the school board, as well as the school principal.

As odd as it may seem to see a high school student attending each bi-weekly school board meeting, sitting feet away from the superintendent, O'Neal feels that representing the students' voice is a role she is built for.

"I thought I'd be really good for it because I'm good at looking at a bunch of students' opinions and being able to represent the students," O’Neal said. "I thought it would be a good position for me."

Nevertheless, she is also aware as to why her peers might not understand her motives.

"Most of them aren't that excited about it," O'Neal said with a laugh. "They're like, 'You have to go to meetings? Twice a month?'"

O'Neal alerts the board as to happenings at the school, including club updates and sports, and commented that the opportunity to have her hand in decisions affecting her school is what tempted her to apply for the position.

"I want to get used to how big decisions are made that affect a large group of people and just understand how things work behind the scenes," O'Neal said.

"I think it will give her a lot of insight," said O'Neal's mother, Beatrice. "For instance, at her high school, I know they're really enforcing the dress code. For most students, they might just see that as another rule being enforced. But she now has some insight to why that decision was made and how it's made. It gives her an extra layer of understanding."

O'Neal is currently in the process of applying to Loyola Marymount University and Santa Clara University—her top two college choices—and believes that remaining involved with her education is key a successful education.

"I always encourage people to get involved," O'Neal said. "Being on the school board might not be for everyone, but I always tell people that when they get involved and can have an impact on something, it's a great thing."