The Sewanhaka Central High School District’s Board of Education serves as the governing body among all five high schools: Elmont Memorial, Floral Park Memorial, H. Frank Carey, New Hyde Park Memorial and Sewanhaka. Each month they have a meeting overseeing and discussing the district’s curriculum, policies and current events. One student from every high school is selected to serve as a student representative, giving students a voice in these important discussions. This year’s student representative from NHP is Adam Abdullah. He has been interviewed about what it is like to achieve this honorable title, past leadership experience and goals he has planned for the future.
Q: What inspired you to become the student representative for our district? Why is this role important to you?
Adam Abdullah: I wanted to become the Ex-Officio Student Board member because I’ve always believed that students deserve a voice in the decisions that shape their education. Having served in student leadership roles, I’ve seen how policies decided at the district level directly impact daily life in our schools. This position allows me to bridge that gap: to represent 7,800+ students, bring their perspectives to the table and ensure that their experiences help guide district priorities.
Q: How have your past leadership experiences prepared you to take on this role?
AA: My previous leadership experiences, such as serving on the Student Advisory Board and leading school organizations, taught me how to listen, communicate and build consensus among different groups. I’ve also worked directly with administrators and peers on projects focused on student wellness and engagement, which helped me understand how ideas become policy. Those experiences prepared me to approach this role with both a student’s insight and a leader’s mindset.
Q: What are your main goals and priorities as the student rep this year? How do you plan to make sure students’ voices from all schools are heard?
AA: My main priorities are representation, collaboration and action. I want every student from all five high schools to feel like their voice matters. Ultimately, my goal is to make sure student input informs district decisions in a lasting and impactful way. Communication and outreach are key. I’m creating structured channels, such as student forums, surveys and direct collaboration, with each school’s student government in order to gather input before every major board meeting. I also plan to visit each high school to meet students where they are, not just expect them to come to me. My goal is to make sure every school community feels represented.
Q: What has been the most interesting or surprising part of the role so far? What challenges have you faced along the way?
AA: The most interesting part has been seeing how many complex factors go into even small district decisions. Sitting alongside board members and administrators has given me a deeper appreciation for the balance between policy, finance and student needs. What surprised me most is how open the Board has been to hearing student perspectives. It shows how seriously they take this role and the value they place on student voice. One challenge is ensuring consistent communication across multiple schools with different cultures and priorities. I plan to overcome that by building a strong network of student leaders who can share updates and feedback quickly. Another challenge is translating student concerns into actionable policy recommendations. To handle that, I’ll work closely with district staff to align student input with real, implementable changes.
Q: What advice would you give to other students who want to take on leadership roles like this in the future?
AA: Leadership starts with caring about something enough to act on it. You don’t need a title to make an impact. Start by listening to your peers, identifying what needs to change and being willing to put in the work. Every student leader grows through service and collaboration, not recognition. If you lead with purpose and empathy, opportunities like this will naturally follow.
