Oak Forest HS Students Participate in Leadership Council

Oak Forest High School students Dalia Al-Sheikh, Michelle Madej, Angelique Flores, Sophia Theofanopolous, Franchesca Dizon, Mackenzie Griffin, and Emma Loeding got the experience of a lifetime when they were selected to partake in a Leadership Council at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

According to OFHS Key Club Sponsor Gary Andruch, “These students represented OFHS because of their involvement in the OFHS Key Club and the leadership qualities they have exhibited. They were among other qualified reps from 38 Illinois schools represented there.”

While there, they participated in several different activities designed to change the way they view themselves and their roles in their schools. They participated in several round table discussions, toured the Holocaust Museum, and they heard Aaron Elster, an actual holocaust survivor, speak about his experiences. Elster is the author of a memoir about his experiences entitled, I Still See Her Haunting Eyes: The Holocaust & a Hidden Child Named Aaron.

They also planned a leadership activity for OFHS after hearing a motivational speech by Deputy Director of Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Monica Ramirez, who is one of the countries leaders in gender and racial equality.

Hearing the Holocaust survivor speak made an impact on the students. Freshman Angelique Flores said, “The whole thing was a good experience because we got to meet an actual Holocaust survivor. It was neat to see someone who had actually survived it.” After touring the museum, Flores said, “It was sad to tour the museum and see everything that led up to [the Holocaust].”

Junior Dalia Al-Sheikh also thought the trip was amazing. She said, “We got to talk to a Holocaust survivor. [What he said] was so much that I almost thought that I was hearing a story and then I realized that it was real life!”

Freshman Franchesca Dizon said, “I liked listening to Monica Ramirez. She talked about her occupation and her school and how important it is to find what you want to do at a young age. She said when she was younger, she was judged for her race and did what people thought she should do but when she got her education, she was able to break out of that role.”

Freshman Mackenzie Griffin said, “It was interesting to be able to talk to other schools and finding out what they do in their school community. We came up with the idea to mentor our preschool students and read to them at our high school.”

Dalia Al-Sheikh added, “We are not connected to the younger kids and we should be. We need to be connected and to be a role model.” Al-Sheikh said that this visit and leadership council really affected her. She said that she has “been checking the news a lot more because I want to know what is going on.”

The future will be in fine hands if it is people like these very compassionate and talented young leaders that are in charge!