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Date: 12/1/2022
AGAWAM – When Mary Papova became the new student representative to the Agawam School Committee in September, she expected meetings to be very formal. She also thought that since she’s the only teenager on the committee, she would be on her own.
Instead, her experience has been to be just the opposite.
“Everyone has been very welcoming. They’ve made me feel comfortable and have always given me encouragement and reassurance that I did great when I make my reports. I never thought the mayor would ask me how my day is going, or that the superintendent of schools would listen to what I have to say,” said the 17-year-old Agawam High School senior, who will serve until June.
Papova said she believes one of the reasons AHS Principal Jim Blain and Vice Principal Susan Feyre appointed her to the non-voting position on the School Committee was her prior experience. Papova served as one of the representatives on the Western Massachusetts Student Advisory Council during her junior year.
“Being a member of the Student Advisory Council gave me communication and leadership qualities to reflect on student involvement and to focus on goals,” she explained.
Although the advisory council position helped to prepare her for her new role, she sees her new role as a way to make a difference in her local community.
“I want to represent the student body at AHS and serve as their voice on the committee. My position allows the committee to get a student perspective on issues,” she said. “I like being able to provide information about what’s happening at school and what students are doing.”
Papova, who has lived in Agawam since she was in first grade, regularly communicates with her peers at the school to keep them abreast of any issues they need to know about, especially if it’s something that would directly affect them.
“I try to keep them in the loop on what’s happening on the committee,” she said. “Also, since I represent the student body, I have opportunities to bring up student issues on the committee.”
Serving on the committee, which usually meets twice a month during the school year, adds another item to her already packed school and personal schedule. She said that so far, she has been able to successfully balance her academic studies and her extracurricular activities with her responsibilities on the committee.
“Using my handy-dandy planner helps me manage my time effectively so I can get everything done a timely manner,” said Papova, who is also involved in several extracurricular activities.
Her sports include indoor and outdoor track and unified basketball – a co-ed program that unites athletes with intellectual disabilities and athletes without intellectual disabilities.
She is also co-president of the Peer Leadership Committee and a member of the Best Buddies Club, Photography Club, National Honor Society, peer mediation, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Club, Model Congress and a translator for Russian and Ukrainian students at Doering School.
On top of all of that, since this is her senior year, she is planning for her future after high school. Papova said she plans to attend college, but hasn’t made a decision on which one or about her career goals.
“I do know that whatever career I choose, it will involve helping people,” she said. “As for college, I’m considering majoring in international business or biomedical, with a double major in Russian studies.”