Kayla Wijesekera

Kayla Wijesekera attends high school in Seattle, Washington. 

I am a mentor in the Faith Friends program within the St. James Cathedral. This program supports children with cognitive, physical, and intellectual disabilities through various activities, lessons, and social events. In addition, I have been a member of the Water1st International Youth Board for four years and a summer camp counselor at Girls’ Rock Math for the past three summers. I am also a member and state officer of Washington FBLA. 

 I want to mainly focus on promoting racial and neurodiversity inclusivity in elementary schools. Through advocacy, my goal is for more young students to feel respected, valued, and heard among their classmates. I witnessed this issue as an elementary school student when I noticed that there was a lack of education surrounding the importance of our differences, and this led to many students feeling disconnected and doubted within the classroom environment. Additionally, volunteering with children has helped me realize that elementary school is a pivotal time in life when students are easily influenced, and their actions can significantly impact their peers. I want to develop a presentation to be shared at local elementary schools to teach students about inclusivity and unity. I want to promote the idea that our differences should be celebrated through engaging and relatable activities that resonate with the students.