I first heard about YAC from friends who were involved. I am particularly interested in joining YAC because I think it is important for students to have a voice in local decision making. As someone who enjoys working with others, I would like to engage with as many people as possible to further improve Marshall's environment and community. Furthermore, I am great at managing my time; I am able to balance sports, classes, and homework. Next, I enjoy listening to the concerns of others. If a person has an issue, I like to address it an find a solution to the problem in the quickest and most efficient way possible while keeping all parties happy. If a peer or community member is struggling, I wish to help them in any way possible so that they are well taken care of and content.

Community serivce is something that is very important and means a lot to me. I have mostly been impacted by community service through Marching Band. During Marching Band season the band must have a meal to eat before going out on to the field, these meals are only made possible because of community service. Parents of students come and provide us band members with food so that we are energized for our performances. Without these parents, it would be very difficult for performance nights to run as smoothly as they do.

Mental Health:
Mental health is huge issue that our youth faces daily, yet it's still something that society brushes off. As someone who has many friends with mental health issues, I think it is important that we make mental health a comfortable topic for everyone so nobody has to suffer in silence. Teenagers normally vent to their friends before telling a trusted adult. We could utilize this by requiring club presidents, sports captains, or anyone in a leadership position to undergo a "Mental Health Aid Training Course." In the previous school year, a speaker has come to talk to all of the student-athletes in Marshall about bringing each other up. For the training course, we could invite a trained therapist, or mental health professional, to come to our school and speak to all of our students in leadership positions about "Mental Health Aid". In addition to this, we could set up an application process for a "Student Counsellor" position. For this position, we could set up a website or email address that students can anonymously message if they need someone to talk to if they are unable or unwilling to go to an adult. Additionally, these "Student Counsellors" would not be able to share any information that their peers may give them. To prevent this, student might have to get recommendations from specific adults before being considered for the position to ensure that everyone is protected; leadership positions will also have to be taken into serious consideration before selecting club presidents or sports captains. Through this program, I hope that Marshall High School is able to reach an all time high for teen happiness in the state of Michigan.

If I am accepted into YAC, I will prioritize my commitment to this organization by communicating to coaches and teachers early if there is a conflict with scheduling. Additionally, I use a digital calendar to ensure that I am able to get to all of my responsibilities. Currently, my extra curriculars are tennis, band, and NHS, which mostly take place during the school week.

I have not.