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Date: 12/1/2022
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Like many students at West Springfield High School, Samuel “Sam” Andicia Rios and Sarah Debian have a jam-packed schedule of academic and extracurricular activities. Despite that, they recently took on additional responsibilities to represent students and their school on two important town bodies.
In September, Andicia Rios and Debian – both seniors – began serving as student representatives on the Town Council and the School Committee, respectively. Each year, juniors and seniors have the opportunity to apply for these non-voting positions.
Since Andicia Rios and Debian are involved in many school activities, they can keep elected officials informed at their bimonthly meetings.
Both students said while school officials regularly communicate to councilors and School Committee members, they can bring a different viewpoint to the meetings since they’re actually in school every day and participating in events and activities.
“We can give an insight that an adult from the school can’t provide,” said Andicia Rios, who has attended West Springfield schools since middle school after moving from Springfield.
“Sarah and I have the ability to not only communicate with all students in the school, but we can bring information from other groups, from other clubs, from other sports in a more personal manner,” he added.
Debian said her school has lots of opportunities that most people in the town are unaware of.
“That’s why I like keep a close eye on what’s happening so I can share all the good things in our school for families and parents – even people in other towns,” she explained.
In addition to taking four Advanced Placement courses, Andicia Rios is a member of the history club, the student government club and the Key Club, a student community service club, and runs with the cross-country team. He’s also an intern in the high school’s guidance office and volunteers at a medical facility in Springfield.
Debian, who serves as president of the Key Club, also is a member of the student government club and is one of her class representatives on the School Council, another role in which she serves alongside adults. In addition, she belongs to the National Honor Society, has played on several of the school’s sports teams, and is a member of a river rowing club in Hartford.
Andicia Rios sees his role as the Town Council’s student representative as a “great leadership” opportunity. He said he’s not only gaining more public speaking experience, but he’s also representing the class of 2023 and the school at meetings.
“This was something I’ve been interested in doing for a while, but I just wasn’t sure I was capable of doing it for a long time,” said the 17-year-old. “It wasn’t until this year that I decided that I could really fit in this role and applied for it.”
He was one of seven students who expressed an interest in the position. He said his experience in community service projects through the Key Club helped to prepare him for serving with the Town Council.
“I was able to take leadership roles in some of those projects. The most important thing I learned from all those opportunities was the ability to speak in public – which is something that’s really important at Town Council meetings, where I’m speaking in front of everyone,” he said.
Andicia Rios said every day he’s looking for things that are going on in the school to report to councilors. Additionally, because he’s very connected with many students who are leaders in clubs, leaders in sports and other activities, he constantly checks with them to make sure he’s up-to-date on any information they might have for him.
Debian, among nine students who wanted to represent students on the School Committee, admitted she was nervous before attending her first meeting.
“It was a little nerve-wracking for me. My expectation was that it was going to be this very serious business-type thing,” said the West Springfield native, who is 17. “But once I walked in, everyone was very welcoming. Everyone has been very friendly and personable.”
To prepare for serving on the committee, she watched last year’s meetings on YouTube. She also writes a list of things she plans to talk about before each meeting and checks with her principal to discuss any items he might want to add.
Debian said she sees a connection between her role on the School Council and on the School Committee. She sees herself as a bridge between students and adults in both roles, talking with classmates about their interests and their opinions and then sharing information about school events or activities with the School Committee.
Andicia Rios said because of his hectic schedule in and out of school, it’s sometimes hard to manage his time, so he tries to get as much of his academic work done while in school.
He added that the only conflict he’s had has been with practice times for the cross-country team.
“Thankfully, my coach is understanding about my role on the Town Council, so he allows me to skip practice when I have a meeting,” he said.
Debian said because she is taking “hard classes,” schoolwork is her “number one” priority: “It always comes first. But I’m also willing to dedicate the time and energy for all my extracurricular activities and my role as a student representative.”
Although she and Andicia Rios are getting some practical experience in local government, neither is interested running for elective office in the future. Instead, both are considering careers in medicine – he as a cardiologist and she as a family doctor or an allergist.
West Springfield High School Principal Patrick Danby said it’s important to have these student representatives.
“They are not only our future leaders, but they also bring a student perspective to meetings about what’s going at the high school,” he explained. “Without them, many activities and school accomplishments might go unnoticed by our elected officials.