Middle and Upper School Students Cultivate Community at Club Fair

“The purpose of the Community, Equity, and Inclusion (CEI) Club is to ensure that all students have a place at an institution where they feel welcome,” said Coordinator of Community, Equity, and Inclusion, Delia Tran. “Letting students lead these clubs is also important, because they know best what’s going on in their communities. They also know what issues matter most to other students like themselves.” 

CEI Club invites varied perspectives, encourages bold questions, and breeds new ideas that strengthen the relationships between students from different backgrounds. By showing appreciation for one another’s lived experiences, they can grow into more courageous thinkers and compassionate leaders. During this year’s club fair, several students took charge and created clubs based on their classmates’ needs and diverse passions. 

“I wanted to create an Art and Advocacy Exhibit using work from artists who have struggled with addiction and/or homelessness,” said Middle School student Ramla A. '32. “The goal of the exhibit is to elicit empathy and change perspectives on how people view homelessness. We would use their art to tell their stories.”

Ramla is a student leader and the creator of the Art and Advocacy Exhibit, a new club striving to change how people view the unhoused Seattle community who struggle from the opioid crisis by showcasing their unique artistic abilities. Through educational panels, community engagement, art exhibits, and auctions, the club aims to promote understanding and amplify voices. Ramla’s first goal is to inform the Bush community and then share the club’s impactful message throughout Seattle. 

“I was hoping to first organize an art exhibit at Bush,” Ramla said. “And then we would hopefully create a traveling exhibit, where we’d partner with non-profit organizations and Seattle art exhibits.” 

Other students have introduced new clubs to Bush centered on encouraging their peers to lean into their individual strengths and work as team players.

“This will be Bush’s first official year doing Mock Trial,” shared Upper School student Gia G. '27. “There’s a legal case that comes out around October, and we’re working as a team to form our argument around it. We’ll assign different roles, such as being a witness for those who love to act, or an attorney or prosecutor, for people who like speech and debate. Or, you can be in the background, forming the argument from the ground up.” 

Mock Trial, a new organization that empowers students through experiential learning in the courtroom, fosters critical thinking, public speaking, and a deep understanding of the legal system. 

“The highlight is the civic engagement,” said Neeyah F. '26. “I think there’s a lot of stigma around this club; people tend to think it’s only for students who want to be lawyers or attorneys, or are super extroverted. But there are two sides to Mock Trial–the attorney’s and the witness's side. We’d love to encourage people who love acting to give this a chance, too, because every role is important.” 

Gia and Neeyah hope to partner with the Performing Arts Department to bring a variety of skills and character to Mock Trial in order to dispel anxieties around public speaking. With many significant roles to choose from, students can contribute and be part of something bigger.

“At first, I wasn’t huge on debating or talking in class,” Gia said. “But I joined several extracurriculars focused on debate, which pushed me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to lead with courage.”