The origin of Speak Up for Change

In recent years, the week of the Martin Luther King holiday has meant one thing at the school: Various students and staff members step out of their comfort zones, whether by sharing their stores with the school or participating in activities, to “speak up for change.”

Speak Up For Change (SUFC) week was conceived after the suicide of Audrie Pott in 2012, when the ASB president at that time, Sasan Saadat was inspired by activities from other schools and brought the idea to the leadership team. The SUFC assembly “played an important role in getting student voices more involved in school culture,” assistant principal Kerry Mohnike said.

For the past few years, SUFC has revolved around themes like “Ignite Your Sparks” and “One Team, One Dream” and issues such as mental illness and sexual harassment.

Activities director Matt Torrens said that prior to SUFC, the leadership class coordinated an event called Challenge Day, during which organizations ran workshops to spark discussion and raise awareness of important issues like mental health, family, friends and peer pressure. It was a way to encourage students and adults in a non-threatening way to share personal experiences, eliminating barriers that these issues naturally build.

In general, Torrens believes that SUFC serves to promote school spirit outside of academics and sports and bring to light issues affecting the student body.

During each SUFC week, the leadership team has invited guest speakers in the form of professional motivational speakers, such as Scott Backovich, Keith Hawkins and Jason Hewlett, as well as alumni like former ASB president David Mandell and graduates Brandon Oliveri and Jon Jow, Mohnike said. Although the speakers change every year, SUFC has historically followed a similar format: a speaker-led assembly on Tuesday, activities in classes on Wednesday and Thursday and a student-led assembly or activity on Friday.

“Each year, some components of SUFC change slightly as the need or desire for different experiences dictates,” Mohnike said.

For example, the school started a wish-granting activity called Make a Wish during the second year of SUFC. Anyone could fill out a wish request on Facebook or on paper, and the leadership team would try to fulfill wishes to the best of their abilities. The activity added a fun element to SUFC and sparked excitement among students and staff.

In 2015, there was a wish granted for science teacher Lisa Cochrum to come to school with her hair straightened.

“I’m getting a spa day!” Cochrum told Humans of Saratoga High (HOSH) as she was getting her hair straightened.

In 2013, the leadership team hosted a carnival complete with games and inflatable obstacle courses. The event was well received as a way to relieve stress, Mohnike said.

This year’s activity strayed away from the these of previous years. During a 50-minute period on Friday, workshops were set up at various classrooms, where students could participate in activities like a business panel, community service, yoga, basketball and meditation.

“We want to make it more practical for the students so they can learn about other ways to deal with stress and mental health issues,” Torrens said.

Junior Puja Maheshwari, a member in the Outreach Commission planning for this event, said that in past years, the impact of SUFC felt short-lived. This year, the commission sought to “make the impact longer and remind people to always keep in mind that we should always be aware of those things,” she said.

Most teachers and students involved with the planning of SUFC said that ultimately, SUFC is not meant to be a life-altering event, but rather to remind SHS of important values and lessons.

“No one believes that a single activity or week long focus is the cure-all for the issues that surround us. What we do know and hope is that it will continue to open more eyes and set a spark, a glow that leads to a better place for individuals and the institution alike,” Mohnike said.