Addressing the City of Pinole

This evening, Pinole Valley Ivy League students were invited to the Pinole city council meeting to share with their community their thoughts about their individual program, how they plan to give back to their town and community, and also shared a little about themselves. I was very honored for this opportunity to represent not only my community, my school, and my organization (Ivy League Connection) today, it was truly a good experience and I am glad I had the opportunity to attend. Ms.Kahn and the mayor honored us students with medals of appreciation given to very elite group of students of Pinole Valley High School based on achievements. My parents and family at home were very proud of us students for being such great examples and role models for students in our community as they watched on television the meeting which was also broadcasted on television. Nonetheless, the council as well also took the time to individually express their appreciation and encouraged us all on our paths towards success. In all, It was a very heart-warming gathering and today more than ever, after hearing each and every one of our speeches in front of many, I am proud for being a citizen in Pinole and I am proud of not only my city but also the community in which I represent.

I will not let you down, and I will always strive to represent you in the best way possible, and promote an even better community in the future. With the experiences I acquire, I can assure you that I will use them all for the benefit of you, and the people in this city.

Pinole City Council Has Summoned..

This evening, the students of Pinole Valley High School were given the privilege to appear at the Pinole City Council meeting. It was such a great opportunity to be able to present ourselves upon the council and speak of this great honor to represent the small city of Pinole. Yessenia Reyna, Narges Sahibzada, Christopher Han, and Hannah Lee Pablo will represent Pinole at Vanderbilt University. Julia Chang will be attending the Grand Strategies course at Yale University. Cameron Fulton will be attending the University of Pennsylvania at the Social Justice course. David Fang will be attending Brown University at the Macroeconomics course. And last, but certainly not least, Leonard Eisen will attend the Constitutional Law course along with Morvarid Mehdizadeh and me who will be attending the Presidential Powers course at Columbia University. Pinole Valley High School is the only school in the Ivy League Connection to have a representative at each university offered through the organization, excluding Cornell since the university is not offered to us.

As Ivy League Connection members, we were to speak to the City Council of Pinole of how each one of us were to reap and sow the benefits of our taste of college life on the east coast. Not only were current ILC members able to deliver speeches about the educational value Pinole offers but also past ILC alumni and Pinole Valley High School alumni. Not only talked about our achievements but were even awarded by the principal of Pinole Valley, Sue Kahn, a medal on being part of such an exceptional program.

Being recognized by the city for our accomplishments was a great feeling. Don't worry Pinole, we won't let you down.

Pinole City Council Meeting

Today, all of the ILC students from Pinole Valley High School (Including myself) were invited to speak at our local city council meeting. While there, we were each presented a medal for academic achievement by the mayor. Following this, we told the city council how thankful we are for this opportunity, and how proud we are to be representing our hometown this summer, on the East Coast. We took a group photo with the city council, that I believe Ms. Kahn (the PVHS principal) will put up in the school office soon.

After we spoke to them, the council gave us some words of praise and encouragement. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet and converse with my local politicians. I was a bit nervous for this event at first, but after sitting through the meeting and receiving their warm welcome, I feel more comfortable with how my city is governed. I look forward to attending future local events like this.

I also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Litvin. This year he is the chaperone for the ILC program at Yale university, and I knew about him, because he used to work as an English teacher at PVHS. He was my sister's favorite teacher when she was a student there.

In total, I received a medal, had my picture taken, appeared on the local TV station, and got lots of practice shaking hands. All in all, not a bad day.