Students in the News

Photo courtesy of Juan Martin

By Sara Bruestle

The Beacon

When Jeanette Sepulvedas term ended as student adviser for Edmonds-Woodway High School last year, she was determined to fill her seat on the Edmonds school board with another Latino student.

That student is Juan Marin.

Marin, a senior, is one of three Edmonds-Woodway student advisers serving on the school board for the 2009-2010 school year.

Im the only Latino student on the school board, so I get to represent my Latino community and get to show the district how us Latinos are going through the school system and how it affects us, Marin said.

He hopes to work with the school board to solve the problems Latino and other minority students face in the Edmonds School District, including language barriers and stereotyping.

I want to let the district know that the Latinos are here and that we cant be disadvantaged, Marin said. We want to be treated equally and given the same chances in school, so we can make something out of our lives.

As the minority in otherwise all-white classes, Marin said Latino students arent always treated the same way or given the same opportunities as everyone else.

For example, when another Latino student showed up late to one of Marins classes, the teacher lectured him on how his tardiness was irresponsible. But when white students were late to class, the teacher didnt say anything.

Marin has also heard stories from other Latino students who said some teachers tried to discourage them from taking AP classes.

The teacher didnt think they could do it, when actually they could, he said.

Principal Michelle Trifunovic said she is proud that Marin is representing Edmonds-Woodway on the school board.

Juan is from the Latino population, which is a growing demographic at our school, so he will be able to relate to what kids like him are dealing with, Trifunovic said.

Marins strong communication and leadership skills have helped him in his role as student adviser, said board member Susan Phillips.

Juan has been doing an excellent job, Phillips said. He is a good listener and asks important questions.

Marins commitment to helping others in the Latino community goes beyond the school board.

He is a member of Colores Unidos, an outreach club at Edmonds-Woodway for Latinos. Through the club, Marin volunteers for LETI, a non-profit organization that offers scholarships to students in the Latino community.

I try to volunteer as much as I can, Marin said. I like giving back to our community.

He also goes to as many Latino student seminars as he can. Last summer he attended Freedom School at Edmonds Community College, where he spent six days learning about the effects of racism in the educational system and how to undo its harm.

Two weeks ago he went to the Latino Youth Leadership Institute at Bellevue College and discussed ways to help Latinos in the community go to college with other students from across Washington state.

Post-high school, Marin plans to go into an engineering program at a local university, like the University of Washington or Central Washington University.

Im not really sure yet of which area of engineering specifically, Marin said. But Ive always liked being creative with design and using math and applying it to build stuff.