GUELPH – Hiba Mangat and Zecharius Nasir have completed their school year as student trustees and have graduated from the Upper Grand District School Board.
The students presented their final report during a board meeting on June 23, and took time to express appreciation to their families, teachers, friends, student senators, trustees and board staff.
“Each of you contributed towards our success,” Mangat said.
She also thanked incoming trustees Wreighn Fetalcorin and Elisa Emini.
Mangat and Nasir presented the board with two tree seedlings – an eastern white cedar and a larch – generational gifts that benefit the environment, Mangat said.
Trees clean the air, make the board more green, and provide shade on hot days, Nasir said.
“And these trees, they represent growth, and that growth is our board,” he said, noting even in the face of adversity the trees would keep growing.
“And that is our board,” as it kept growing during challenging times including the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of AI, Nasir said.
The passion was clear in Nasir’s voice and he wasn’t reading from a formally prepared statement.
“I understand that these are – they’re very formal meetings – I can clearly deduce that, right, so I would like to apologize for some of my informalities,” he said.
“But I want to remind you all that student trustees are the student voice. So if you want the raw, unfiltered voice, I’m going to give you the raw, unfiltered voice, right?”
Nasir said his four years in high school had very challenging moments, for both him and his peers, but after walking out of his final exam on June 23 they all realized “school wasn’t that bad, maybe it was actually kind of fun.”
He said four years has been like a lifetime for the graduating class, but he noted many trustees and board staff have been coming much longer.
“You come in here, day in and day out, every teacher, all of you guys, the custodians, every single one of you.
“You have a pay cheque obviously, but there’s more to it than that.
“You come here for me, for Hiba and for all of us students,” Nasir said.
“When I say thank you I’m not saying thank you as Zecharius Nasir,” he said, but on behalf of the more than 35,000 students in the board.
“Let me say that again – 35,000,” he said.
“I want you to imagine that many kids in front of you – all those kids are here today saying thank you for all the effort you put in for us to come here day after day.
“I truly believe that deserves a standing ovation,” he added, and after much encouragement board officials rose to their feet with Nasir.
“Give yourselves a pat on the back,” Nasir exclaimed.
“It’s been one hell of a year.”
