Samantha Fan
Aishwarya Balasubramaniam, the new student board representative from Middle College High School, scrolls through the agenda for Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting in preparation to give her student board member report. Balasubramaniam said that playing an active role in the board has been a transformative experience. “I have attended and watched board meetings before, but being a student representative on the board has given me a deeper understanding of how much thought and effort goes into supporting students across the district,” Balasubramaniam said.
A shift to a smaller, more flexible high school gave one student a new perspective — and a new platform as a student board representative. This year, for the first time, Palo Alto Middle College is being represented on the Palo Alto Board of Education, joining Palo Alto and Gunn high schools in elevating student voices at the district level.
Aishwarya Balasubramaniam, a junior at PAMC, which only opened this year, is stepping into the role of student board member. In an interview with The Paly Voice, she shared her journey, reflected on what sets PAMC apart, and spoke about her goals for student representation across the district.
Have any of your experiences as a student shaped how you want to approach your role on the board? And how do you plan to amplify student voices from all different campuses and alternative programs in the district?
The transition from a large “traditional high school” to PAMC made me really value the idea that every student’s path looks different. Ever since learning about this position, I knew that I wanted to apply with the goal of having all voices from PAMC students being heard. In the past, in a larger school, there were many experiences where I’ve felt in the dark about various processes in our district. Due to this, I really want to make sure students are aware of everything happening in our district and also be comfortable to ask questions that I can hopefully answer or bring up to the board.
What goals do you have for your time on the board? Are there any specific issues or topics you’re passionate about advocating for?
For my time on the board, my goal is to encourage students to join PAMC and I also hope to present student voices to the board and make sure they are truly heard and considered when board members are evaluating discussion points. My transfer from Paly to PAMC made me realize how much of a difference the right support system can make. This realization made me want to represent PAMC in the board to hopefully inspire prospective students to join our school.
Could you describe your transition to Middle College at Foothill? Why did you decide to continue your education at Middle College and what ultimately drew you to the district’s new program?
I transferred to Palo Alto Middle College from Paly at the start of 11th grade which was a really big decision for me since junior year is infamously known to be a stress-inducing year for many. However, after learning about the opportunities that are available at PAMC, I knew that this new high school option would be ideal for my education.
How has being a student at Middle College been for you? In what ways is it different from traditional high school?
Joining PAMC has truly been the best decision for me. I would say the smaller class sizes foster a more collaborative learning environment with both classmates and teachers. Fortunately, due to this, our school is a very tight-knit community and everyone is constantly supportive of one another. Also, the college classes that make up half of our schedules allow me to focus on areas that I am passionate about while being challenged. For example, my favorite courses I have taken so far are Business Information Systems and Foundations of Computer Programming, which have allowed me to gain more experience in two fields that I want to pursue in the future. The flexibility that PAMC provides gives students a lot of options for activities they want to get involved with, so it’s ultimately the students’ decision for how they want to utilize their time. For me personally, the flexibility has let me add even more activities to my schedule, whether it be volunteering or experimenting with new interests such as wheel throwing.
What inspired you to become a student board representative? What was the process at Middle College like?
When I heard about the opportunity to become the additional student board representative, I applied because I truly wanted PAMC student’s voices to be heard by the board. Running for Student Board Representative at PAMC was a multi-step interview process that included initially attending a board meeting with all the students who were interested in the position. We then had a group discussion about the meeting where we addressed different topics that were brought up. Lastly, we each had one-on-one conversations with Ms. (Emily) Garrison, our principal, to convey how we wanted to represent PAMC. Ms. Garrison has always been determined to make sure that our voices are taken into account in every decision. Her advocacy for student perspectives definitely made me feel more confident about stepping into this role, because I knew I would always be supported.
Are there any challenges you anticipate in your new role, and how are you preparing to handle them?
I realized quickly that there were a lot of misunderstandings of PAMC from students and our community as a whole. One of the challenges I have been addressing is making sure that PAMC is accurately represented from a student perspective, which includes highlighting the inclusive and personalized environment in our school. I’m focusing on being a strong communicator and presenting reports to alleviate misconceptions. I’m very open to talking to anyone who wants to learn more, whether it’s about the opportunities available at PAMC or my personal experience.
How do you hope your time on the board will help create lasting change or spark important conversations — even after your term ends?
I hope my time on the board helps set a precedent for continued leadership and recognition for PAMC students in district-wide conversations. Too often, alternative education paths are overlooked, and I want to shift that narrative. My goal is to spark long-term conversations about rethinking what success and learning can look like through a different high school choice, that combines the best of high school and college experiences.
What do you hope people — both peers and adults — learn from hearing your voice on the board?
From my perspective as a PAMC student, I want to challenge assumptions and convey that there isn’t just one “right” way to go through school. Whether you’re at PAMC, Gunn, or Paly, your experience is valid and your voice deserves to be heard. I hope adults see that students are ready — and have been ready — to be an integral part of the decision-making process.