Leadership class grants wishes big and small

Biology teacher Lisa Cochrum’s well-known curly hair hung straight and sleek — a far cry from the springs that usually adorned her energetic face. It was the result of one wish granted during Speak Up for Change Week.

As part of the week, the Leadership class asked students and staff what wishes they would like to be granted. The practice is a continuation of last year’s wish-granting initiative, led by then-senior Jennie Werner. Last year, several wishes were granted during at the assembly, ranging from a story in the yearbook about senior Andy Chen to playing a video from sophomore Amanda Meserve’s father, a serviceman who was stationed in Afghanistan. This year, the initiative was led by junior Luke Salin.

Though it received dozens of requests, Leadership was able to grant 25 wishes, ranging from larger ones like those from senior Blake Propach and Andrew York, who wished to anchor SHS TV, to small wishes like giving gummy bears and flowers to junior Nandita Mohan. In Mohan’s case, a fellow student wished for her to receive her gifts.

“I was really touched that someone thought of me when they could have wished for anything else,” Mohan said.

At last Friday’s assembly, several more wishes were granted. Senior Jessica Uong received a video message from 2014 alumnus Jason Li asking her to prom in the spring, and senior Christina Crolla received the chance to be principal for the day.

Maintenance workers were given gift cards to various restaurants, and students were awarded a weekend of no homework on the Friday before Spring Fling week. Senior Randy Tsai also asked for a stress-free day with his mother. He and his mother received two tickets to the San Francisco Symphony.

“I was really surprised, because all I wished for was a dinner with her,” Tsai said. “But they really surprised me and my mom with the concert tickets. San Francisco symphony is one of the best, most famous symphonies in the U.S., so it'll be amazing for us to be able to be right next to them as they play.”

The Leadership team plans to continue to try to make even more wishes come true as the year goes on.

“We just tried to choose reasonable wishes — ones that were doable,” Salin said. “As our theme this year is ‘Ignite Your Spark,’ we want students to learn to find something that they're passionate in and once again, learn to find the balance between school and fun.”