LAUSD Human Relations HUMAN RELATIONS HONORING THAKUR SINGH Show Transcript next book coming up will be the leadership Public Service Academy and I have the absolute honor of serving principal's leadership in public service Virtual Academy so today is my privilege to recognize 1 of our outstanding students our 11th grader to for sing as a recipient of the LAUSD human relations student leadership award although I've been away from campus on medical leave I remained closely connected to the incredible things happening at our school and time and time again to course name comes up as someone who is really making a difference as we came for Meaningful and memorable experiences for 1 of his most impactful efforts was leading the charge for what became the first ever in-person Virtual Academy prompt and I know for most schools you guys are staying from that's nothing but for us it was a big big deal it is actually very very difficult to make it happen now to core he didn't just adjust the idea he worked closely with administrators teachers and fellow students to make it a reality he served on the plum advisory committee and played a you rolling coordinating efforts across multiple Virtual Academy we have 6 of them helping to create a historic and joyful event for our community but his leadership extends far beyond that single moment to core he ran for the position of student School Board member seeking to represent the voices of virtual students at the highest level of the district position may be his candidacy alone is a testament to a dedication to student advocacy and his belief in Equitable represent for all Learners in addition to poor recently served as a panelist at the LAUSD social emotional learning Symposium where he spoke powerfully about the importance of community student voice and the emotional well-being in the work years his words reflected not only with them and insight but a genuine desire to bring people together and Foster a more supportive School culture body is the very mission and vision of our school at leadership some Public Service Virtual Academy we prepare students to solve real world problems serve their communities with pride and collaborate with leaders and organizations to create meaningful change core lives out this vision and everything he from school events to districtwide conversations earlier this month he greatly at the LC board advocating for Equitable access for all virtual Learners he continues to lead not for recognition for results lifting up the needs of his peers and strengthening our shared community before we are incredibly proud of you you've shown that even in a virtual setting leadership is not limited it's Amplified you are taking initiative enough for what matters and showing everyone what it means to lead would hurt purpose and heart congratulations and thank you for being such a powerful representative of our school's values you inspire us Inspire us all um or I know you're here so if you want to say a few words I do have a little a few words to say um first of all thank you for this recognition today my journey has has been a difficult 1 um after the co 19 pandemic we all of course went online eventually though most people return to in person learning however I was not 1 of them I remained virtual due to Transportation issues after my mom fled my father's domestic violence it was very challenging uh my mom worked night shifts at a hospital when we lived in Albany New York when we moved to California my small family consisting of just my mom's sister and I faced homelessness between cultures and motels and relied on government assistance my mom has been hit by cars twice in her life including 1 with my sister and I when she was driving and recently as a pedestrian and a hit-and-run incident so she hasn't driven since um my sister was in elementary school for the pandemic and I was just about to enter middle so it was easier for her to give us virtual as she was working full time for 2 whole years I remained confined within my room with very little communication appears my age I mean it though and eventually I arrived at the leadership help with service virtual looking at it was there that I was first introduced to Miss Boom it was the first day of the school's operation and definitely neither of us knew what was in store for the years to come the 2020 senior class did not have the chance to additional end of school events such as prom to celebrate all of the work that put into their educational Journey when the leadership of Public Service Virtual Academy was first established that was the case for our first few years last year when I had the chance to represent other students enough student council we began finding a prompt unfortunately we met many challenges we much bureaucracy and our planning was unsuccessful but I did not give up the fight I know how important and essential promise to the American High School experience I know that many of my peers who want that experience so I kept pushing this time the effort enveloped all 6 Virtual Academy after months of planning taking surveys calling hotels organizing DJs and even some saying it was not possible we finally made it happen um and if I may share my screen I have some pictures from the prom if that's all right there we go okay um so picture should be playing um May 17th we had our inaugural LUSD Virtual Academy prom in person it was such an incredibly rewarding experience especially seeing how other students from various Virtual Academy were able to connect when they otherwise would not have been able to and I know that this is a tradition that will be preserved for thousands of students for years to come it will be a mission of mine to have more all Virtual Academy events in the future I have also had the privilege of being part of pioneering first ever Virtual Academy yearbook club uh helping to give other students the opportunity to connect with each other through a club and also creating a book of valuable memories for students teachers and our families has also been so rewarding this this club is currently located within the leadership and public service Virtual Academy but I hope to expand this idea to other fee the other 5 being exposed the name is based in our school net uh mascot Phoenix as I mentioned at the start of my remarks I went through a few challenges through my life uh homelessness living in shelters living in motel struggling through Co I understand the the importance of social and emotional wellness and LUSD priority and even something I had the opportunity to share about as a panelist during the recent uh scl Symposium our students are virtual for a variety of reasons homelessness Transportation issues Healthcare reasons but that should not prevent them from connecting with each other from having these experiences it is incredibly important to provide these opportunities to the thousands of Virtual Academy students within LAUSD for their social and emotional Wellness but not just that it is also important to give the memories for Life Connections and learning experiences before I wrap up I would like to end by thanking a few people who have been so instrumental in getting me to where I am today I would like to thank Miss Boom for nominating me as well as for support throughout the years she is another mom to me um thank you principal is scared off for being here it means the world to me and we all hope that you feel better soon I would like to thank Mr Franco my current Home Room teacher who has pushed me to challenge myself I never had a father from Mr Franco has been uh to me the father I never had I would like to thank Miss gertis also another mom to me I'd love to thank this pain I was always been so supportive and sweet I would like to thank Mr Carol history is my favorite subject and see she is a a history teacher so maybe I'm a bit biased but she is always so thought-provoking on an informational I know there are some other people from my school family here today including faculty and Friends I want to thank all of you here and others for being with me over the years for guiding me and for transforming me into who I am today last but not least I would like to thank my mother she has been such a fighter so determined and an incredible role model whoever ups and downs but I owe everything to her with that thank you again for this award I am so proud of our work so far at our school expect more good news for the virtual events great thank you very much congratulations all right keep it up Print
