Students share thoughts on their education, futures with school administrators

ROCKINGHAM — Students had an opportunity Wednesday morning to share with Richmond County Schools administrators and school board members what is important to them with regard to their educations and discuss what they believe will ensure future success.

The 2021-22 Superintendent Student Council is composed of 11th and 12th graders at Richmond Senior High School. This is their second meeting of the year, with the next meeting scheduled for sometime this spring.

“This meeting is about hearing what’s important to you and making your experiences at Richmond Senior High School more valuable, more fun, more interesting, and most importantly, how to set you up for success when you leave here,” Superintendent Dr. Jeff Maples said at the beginning of the session.

Students were split into groups of four and tasked with answering and collaborating on an array of questions, including:

• What skills are needed to be successful in the future?

• What do I think about the most?

• Who inspires me?

• What do I aspire to be and become an advocate for?

• What are some words of advice to the teachers at my school?

• Where do I see myself in 10 years?

Each group’s answers were written on a cardboard poster that had the outline of a graduate holding a diploma. The thoughts that occupy most of their time were included in a thought bubble on the poster, while their aspirations for the future were listed on a road leading to the future.

Maples, along with RCBOE members Bobbie Sue Orsmby, Joe Richardson and Chairman Wiley Mabe, interacted with each group and shared their insights.

Millie Ingram, a junior, said this was an opportunity for them to bounce ideas off of each other, and while there weren’t many surprises on the list they compiled, it was a chance to see the similarities between each of them.

“We were able to get our thoughts across,” said senior Anna Jasper, adding that many of the people in her group saw themselves being involved in the medical and mental health field in the future.

Junior Jared Daniel said his group struggled with picturing where they would be in 10 years, but that they were very collaborative and open with each other.

At the end of the hour-long session, students had a chance to ask the board members their thoughts on the ideas that were shared and how it would be used to guide future policy.

Ormsby highlighted how “mature” the students’ discussions were that she heard.

Antwan Bennett, a senior, specifically asked the board how the ideas that were written down could be implemented.

“I feel like this is a way for them to understand what’s important to us so they can make it more important in schools,” Bennett said. “It starts with the talking, but it doesn’t need to end there. I hope they keep doing these.”

Maples said that one of the main takeaways from this event is finding out how to support students both in and outside the classroom, and it starts with giving them a voice.

“Their resiliency is inspiring,” Maples said. “We want to help support them and their high school experience.”