5-10-2022 4:34am

LOCAL 8TH GRADER REFLECTS ON

MEET STUDENT LEADER ANISA KALIL

The Baltimore County Junior Council is nearing the end of its first year, and Anisa Kalil, a Grade 8 student at Dumbarton Middle School, is looking back on her year as its chair.

“I see the Baltimore County Junior Council as a platform for middle school students to voice their concerns about issues like mental health, diversity, and environmental awareness,” Anisa says. “Another main goal is to ensure integration between middle schools and high schools, making sure students have the same kinds of opportunities as they transition from middle to high school.”

“I see the Baltimore County Junior Council as a platform for middle school students to voice their concerns about issues like mental health, diversity, and environmental awareness.” - Anisa

Anisa Kalil

While Anisa acknowledges that going to school during a pandemic is “challenging,” she says that BCPS student leaders have learned that holding virtual meetings “can make things more accessible and equitable and help us reach more students.”

Anisa says, “I think, for me, it is really about being able to lead others and having an inclusive community that really includes everyone. Through the different events, I want every participant to get something out of each one.”

The diversity of Baltimore County is one of the things Anisa likes most. Her family moved to the Towson area from Iowa City, Iowa, when she was in Grade 5. “The diversity here is greater than it was in Iowa, and I hold an appreciation for it,” Anisa says. “But diversity is always something that can be improved.”

“The diversity here is greater than it was in Iowa, and I hold an appreciation for it. But diversity is always something that can be improved.” - Anisa

Anisa also notes that while Iowa City only had around 30 K-12 schools, there wasn’t much connection between the schools or as many opportunities for students as there are in Baltimore County.

Anisa served in her first student leadership position earlier than most. As a Grade 1 student in Iowa City, she was class representative in the school’s student government. “It wasn’t as serious as what I do now,” Anisa laughs. “We mostly talked about behavior in the lunchroom and trying to create more activities for students and trying to institute extracurriculars during lunch.”

Once she moved to Baltimore County, Anisa attended Riderwood Elementary School and then Dumbarton Middle School. At Dumbarton, she is a member of the school’s equity panel. “We talk about how to improve school climate,” Anisa explains, “and give monthly presentations to homerooms. We stress how it is important to recognize everyone at our school. Maybe especially because we are an ESOL [English for Speakers of Other Languages] school, it is really important to have that integration.”

As a Grade 7 student, Anisa got involved with the BCSC Diversity and Equity Committee and, through that committee, she met other student leaders around the county and attended general assembly meetings. As a Diversity and Equity Committee member, she helped plan the first-ever BCSC Black History Month summit. It was these experiences that led her to run for BCJC chair.

Anisa, center, wearing pearls, with other student leaders at the swearing in ceremony for the 2021-2022 Student Member of the Board

Asked about her favorite subjects in school, Anisa names American history, math, and science, but quickly adds, “A lot of things interest me.”

Three of those interests are music, sports, and martial arts. Anisa plays the violin, plays on Dumbarton’s tennis team, and has earned a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. “I have been taking lessons in Tae Kwon Do since I was about five,” she says.

In the fall, Anisa will be headed to Towson High School and its Law and Public Policy Program. “My sister graduated from Towson High,” she adds. Anisa says she is looking forward to the academic challenges as well as Towson High’s student government and extracurriculars.

She is also looking forward to supporting the new leaders of the BCJC and continuing to develop personally as a student leader. “As I continue my student leadership journey,” Anisa says, “it is really important to ensure that there is enough outreach to students in every demographic. As a leader, I think you need to remember that having your voice heard helps others around you.”

She continues, “I think serving as a student leader helps you build on your own strengths and what you thought were your weaknesses. I think being involved in student government has helped me grow in a lot of ways, it has helped me understand what leadership is about: communication and connecting with others. Helping others is the main highlight. I hope to go wherever I will be able to serve others.”

"I think serving as a student leader helps you build on your own strengths and what you thought were your weaknesses." - Anisa

“As a first-year officer leading a new middle school leadership program, Anisa has worked hard with her team to build skills to continue to grow leadership,” says Nora Murray, BCPS program specialist overseeing student leadership programs. “I look forward to more years of working with her and watching her grow.”