Almeera Mushtaq: A Governing Voice For Change

From inside student government meetings to being a District 219 student board representative outside of school, Almeera Mushtaq does it all. You might even find Almeera competing in the Model United Nations or fundraising for the French Honors Society.

Her interest in participating in the student government started back in middle school. She enjoyed being part of the planning and work that happens behind the scenes for the student body. “I feel like it’s important that students have a voice in the decisions that impact them. Student government has always been a way for me to be involved in the student body, so I wanted to continue that passion,” Mushtaq said. 

Being involved in student government has impacted Mushtaq’s high school experience by allowing her to gain a wide lens of perspectives on Niles West issues. Student government has given Mushtaq the opportunity to branch out, meet and talk to students, faculty and community members that she wouldn’t have had the chance to interact with if it weren’t for her role in student government. Almeera values that the student government is truly a place where people from all backgrounds are brought together to make a difference.

Coupled with her diligent work in student government, Mushtaq takes on the important role of representing the West student body with monthly reports that are shared with the District 219 board of education. This position comes with the responsibility and hopes of bridging the gap between the administration and the student body.  “It really is a privilege to be the student-liaison for such an amazing student body, but that privilege definitely comes with a lot of pressure. Since I’ve taken on this role, I feel a really big responsibility to be aware of the concerns the student body has and make sure I’m there to amplify them. I’ve also had the great opportunity to learn about all the amazing things all the Niles West activities accomplish through my role as a board representative,” Mushtaq said. 

Additionally, Mushtaq urges all students to get more involved in board meetings. “I feel like more students should know that they deserve a seat in that room just as much as the adults. I really encourage students to sit in on the board meetings or watch the live stream and submit public comments. I want to commend Black Student Union for doing just that; they truly inspired a lot of students! Each student should know that they have a right to speak at the board meetings,” Mushtaq said.

When Almeera isn’t voicing for the student body, you can find her competing in Model United Nations (MUN). She first joined the club for fun, as the idea of representing different countries in competition intrigued her.

She continued with the club because she developed a passion for debating world politics and noticed the potential the club had to be successful. “Almeera has been such a strong and amazing leader for Model UN and much of the success and organization of the club should be attributed to her hard work and leadership. Whether it be preparing fun and engaging activities for club meetings or creating a comprehensive guide for conferences, Almeera has shown on a weekly basis her passion for the club and care for her teammates. And her hard work has paid off as our members have consistently won individual awards for ‘Best Delegate’ and ‘Outstanding Delegate’ at conferences this year. The highlight of the season was when our team won ‘Best Small Delegation’ at this year’s St. Ignatius Model UN Invitational where Almeera also won Outstanding Delegate,” MUN sponsor John Lee said.

Mushtaq’s leadership has shined in all elements of MUN.

“I can always count on her for an innovative idea, a helping hand, or last-minute pep talk. She brings these qualities into her leadership in MUN, creating an engaging club for our members. Almeera always impresses the club with her activity ideas, advice, and post-conference encouragement speeches. MUN could not have improved drastically without her unwavering leadership,” MUN Co-President and friend Prisha Singh said.

Almeera’s leadership and unwavering passion for political science will follow her beyond the walls of Niles West. Mushtaq hopes to pursue policy-making and government in the future!