"I felt honored," Mariam said. "It's a good opportunity to represent my school in something like this."
Mariam was one of four students selected to speak at the Great Lakes Homeland Security Training Conference and Expo on Wednesday, May 6, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. The 45-minute panel discussion was organized by the Michigan State Police. It brought student voices to the center of a conversation usually led by adults.
"We don't talk often enough to the kids. And the kids are living it every day. They have the answers," said Kimberly Root, manager of the Michigan State Police Office of School Safety and organizer of the event.
Mariam was joined by students from three other area schools: Kyree Westerfield, a senior at Grand Rapids Learning Center; Logan Mullins, a senior at Comstock Park High School; and Aluet Deng, a senior at Forest Hills Northern High School.
Together, the panelists shared perspectives on what helps them feel safe at school and what could improve. Topics included mental health support, peer mentorship, and trust between students and staff.
Mariam spoke about the role trust plays in student safety. She shared that when students trust the adults in their building, it reduces isolation and connects them to their school community.
"When students trust teachers, it helps them feel like they belong," Mariam said. "And when they feel like they belong, they're more engaged and more focused."
She also raised a concern shared by the group. Students don't always report safety issues because they worry their concerns won't be taken seriously.
Among the suggestions from the panel, the idea of a peer mentorship program stood out most to Mariam.
"Pairing freshmen with seniors, sophomores with juniors would help connect people," she said.
Root said her office will use insights from the panel to develop curriculum and free resources that schools across Michigan can use to strengthen their own safety programs.
"Every adult in the school has a role in school safety," Root said. "A lot of it has to do with building those relationships with kids so they have a trusted adult they can go to."
Mariam's interest in school safety extends beyond the panel. She plans to take a criminal justice class next year and is exploring a career in criminology. As a student ambassador and member of the National Honor Society at Grand River Prep, she already understands the value of using her voice.
"I think it's important to meet the people in your community. It was a really good opportunity." she said.
National Heritage Academies® (NHA®) is proud to see students like Mariam step forward and represent their school communities with courage and confidence.
About Grand River Prep
Grand River Preparatory High School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Kentwood, Michigan, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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