Back at her home school, Grace Fiorenza hadn’t found a forum to express herself. That changed when she enrolled at the Center for Career Services, where the Emergency Medical Services student serves on the student council and as HOSA chapter president.
Grace (pictured right) is now also one of three student members on the Southern Westchester BOCES Board of Education — a responsibility that has allowed her to find her voice.
“Joining BOCES has meant a lot to me because at my home school I’m viewed differently than I’m viewed here,” the Edgemont senior said. “I like being part of so many things here. It’s nice to know that people care about what I have to say.”
Grace is joined on the board by Eastchester’s Luke Ambrogio and Greenburgh’s Leilani Mack. The trio has attended board meetings since last summer, offering insights into campus life and sharing their opinions on any possible improvements.
“What I’ve really learned is how we can help other students make progress,” said Leilani (pictured left), a junior at Special Services. “I’ve learned to use my voice and how to have open discussions without being argumentative.”
Leilani MackThe students said the new responsibility has forced them to enhance their time management, organization, preparation and social skills. For Luke (pictured below), a student in the Automotive Technology program, that means juggling his new duties with a paid internship at Yonkers Honda, as well as school, sports, dance and theater.
“I already had a lot going on as a senior, but I said yes because I wanted to make a difference,” he said.
Leliani’s interests are twofold. She plans on enrolling in the Cosmetology program at Career Services this fall, and, like Grace, is passionate about spreading awareness about SWBOCES’ offerings.
Grace is also a member of the National Tech Honor Society. She said many of the topics she discusses at board meetings are derived from student council meetings. In that way, she’s representing the student body as a whole.
“Joining the board has really made me feel like I could do something to help,” she said.