Today, we’re featuring Osman (he/him), a senior and first-year FEEST Student Organizer. In this conversation, Osman shares what brought him to FEEST, why students deserve a voice in the food served at school, and how Summer Camp opened his eyes to new possibilities for student wellness. He also talks about building friendships across schools and his dream of entering the medical field.

Dev: Thanks for joining me! To begin, can you share your name, pronouns, grade, and a fun fact about yourself?

Osman: My name is Osman. My pronouns are he/him, I’m in 12th grade, and this is my first year in FEEST. A fun fact about me is that I recently became the varsity basketball captain at my school.

Dev: Okay, so we’re balling! Congratulations, captain. What position do you play?

Osman: I play small forward.

Dev: I love that! I could talk about basketball all day, but I will attempt to do the other parts of my job. What made you want to join FEEST?

Osman: I saw that a lot of my friends from my leadership class were in FEEST. They told me about the program and how FEEST helps people. I also saw around school how FEEST helps out and gives food to other students. I thought, “I want to be part of that.”

Dev: Shoutout to friends bringing friends into the work! What is something you care deeply about changing at school or in your community?

Osman: I’ve noticed that, for some people, the only time they get to eat is at school. Some people don’t really have home-cooked meals or anything like that.

I think something I could do is volunteer at a food bank or help change the lunch menu into something students would prefer.

Dev: That makes a lot of sense. It also raises a bigger question: students may have access to food during school, but what happens after school? Transitioning a tiny bit, if someone asked you what FEEST is and why they should support it, what would you tell them?

Osman: I think people should support FEEST because it is a program that helps you and anyone in our community. It’s not really only for the people in the program. It’s about helping everybody around the community.

Dev: That is beautifully said. You joined FEEST’s Summer Camp. What stood out to you and made you want to keep coming back?

Osman: The community stood out to me. There were a lot of people and new faces that I had never met before, but we all came together and bonded pretty easily.

That’s what made me come back. All the people were really nice, and I made a lot of new friends from different schools.

Dev: That makes me happy. Students from neighboring schools do not always get many opportunities to meet one another, so those relationships matter.

Summer Camp also included conversations about student mental health. When students need a break during the school day, what kind of support do you think should be available?

Osman: Summer Camp really opened my eyes. During my freshman and sophomore years, when I needed a break during class, there was nowhere to go. I would ask for a bathroom pass and wander around the school.

I noticed that our school needs a safe room. I didn’t know what to call it at first, but students need a room they can go into when they feel drained, tired from school, or need a little break.

Dev: We call those Wellness Rooms at FEEST, but I also appreciate you calling it a safe room. How do you think students could help make a space like that happen?

Osman: I think the first step is communicating with people like the principal and vice principals and seeing how we can make it happen.

Dev: That is organizing right there: recognizing what students need, bringing the idea to decision-makers, and working together to create it.

Let’s talk more about food justice. What do students deserve from the food served at school?

Osman: I think students should get what they want. Sometimes, the food is kind of nasty. Sorry. 

Dev: No need to apologize, it’s okay to tell the truth!

Osman: I think students should vote on what they want to eat or what they want to see served. Maybe there could be a QR code or a link where students can choose, so they have a say in what they eat.

Dev: I love that idea. Beyond voting or completing a survey, how else could students be involved in improving lunch?

Osman: I don’t know how far of a stretch this sounds, but maybe the culinary class at our school could help make lunch. We have a nice culinary room, and the culinary class usually makes food for themselves. What if, during class, they helped make the school lunch?

Dev: I love that idea!

Osman: Yeah, students would have a hands-on role, and they would know what they were eating.

Dev: Exactly. It could give students practical experience while helping create meals that students are genuinely excited to eat. It also recognizes that improving school food requires resources beyond food. Often, our cafeteria staff are doing their best with limited ingredients, equipment, time, and staffing. Great idea Osman! 

I want to ask about your dreams. What are you looking forward to in your future?

Osman: I eventually want to become a doctor or a nurse. I want to go into the medical field because I want to help people. I’m interested in becoming an anesthetist.

Dev: That takes real skill and care. I’m excited to see where that dream takes you! Is there anything else you’d like to share with our community? 

Osman: As a new student who is part of FEEST, I would say that, so far, this has been an amazing experience. Summer Camp was fun. I met a lot of new people and made a lot of long-term friends.

It can only go up from here. I think this is an amazing community to be part of.

Osman joined FEEST because he saw his friends supporting their classmates and community and wanted to contribute. Already, he is envisioning ways students can shape their schools: creating spaces to rest, communicating directly with school leaders, voting on lunch options, and bringing culinary students into the process of preparing meals.

His reflections show how quickly a welcoming community can help someone see new possibilities. We’re grateful Osman chose to join FEEST, and we’re excited to see how he brings his care for people, collaborative spirit, and leadership to his senior year and beyond.