Spotlight on: Fauziatu Ibrahim
December 2024 Senior Student of the Month
The Student Council decides monthly student and teacher awards with a specific category each month. The category for December 2024 focused on community involvement.
The Senior Student of the Month awards go to two seniors per month who are nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-11.
The High School Teacher of the Month award goes to one teacher per month who is nominated and voted on by Student Council members in grades 9-12. All Teachers of the Month become eligible to become Teacher of the Year in June.
The December 2024 Senior Students of the Month are Fauziatu Ibrahim and Patrick Rowley. The December 2024 High School Teacher of the Month is Laura Scalise.
Read a Q&A with Fauziatu Ibrahim below.
Q. What inspired you to get involved in the community?
A. I had just moved to Herkimer in ninth grade, and I wanted to make myself useful. I wasn’t really sure how I was going to do that, but I eventually figured it out, and from there, I haven’t stopped because I’ve found being helpful makes me feel good.
Q. Can you share one or two specific projects or activities you’ve been part of?
A. I have been a part of HHS stage crew and volunteered to cheer with and for the Mohawk Valley Challengers since 10th grade.
Q. What does winning Student of the Month mean to you?
A. To me, it means that my efforts are being seen not just by the people I help but by those around me.
Q. What was the most rewarding moment from your community work?
A. It isn’t just one moment that reinforces me to continue to do what I do; it is seeing how happy people are from getting help that is the most rewarding for me.
Q. How have your experiences in the community shaped who you are?
A. My experiences have made me realize that just being present in the smallest part of your community means a lot. For example, doing the concession stands at the Pop Warner games, you’re there for a while but just being there eases the workload, and you get to interact with different people in the community that you might not usually see. Experiences like this make me want to be as present as possible in everything I do, so I can be not only helpful but open up more to people.
Q. What advice would you give to other students who want to get involved in their communities?
A. To get involved, ask the people who are organizing events if they need help and from there be consistent, if you can, and they will tell you about other events and so on. Keep up a positive attitude and eventually people will ask you to help because they recognize your hard work.
Q. Are there any individuals or organizations you’d like to thank for supporting your efforts?
A. I would like to thank Mrs. Baker, my family and my friends.