Accompanied by student government adviser, Principal Advisory Committee member and teacher Kate Boucher, East Islip High School junior Alison Rosati and sophomore Caylee Smith participated in the annual Long Island Regional Student Forum on Feb. 28. Organized by Eastern/Western Suffolk BOCES, this event brings together students from across Long Island to share their perspectives on issues that directly impact their high school experiences. This year's discussions focused on mental health, academic pressure, learning methods and school environment.

“I had such a fantastic experience,” Rosati said. “I met so many wonderful people and got to hear their thoughts and opinions. It really broadened my perspective and highlighted just how important it is to understand how everyone feels about a situation.”

“I really enjoyed the forum on Friday,” Smith said. “It was fantastic to hear everyone's thoughts from all over Long Island and realize just how many kids share similar feelings on various topics. Plus, meeting new people was such a wonderful bonus – I probably wouldn’t have met them otherwise.”

“The day provides a valuable opportunity for our students to connect with peers from other Long Island districts and exchange their experiences,” Boucher said. “Our students return with insights that we share with the PAC, helping us enhance the overall school environment at EIHS.”