FARMINGTON—Viewmont senior Patrick Neal wants to serve his fellow classmates and believes working as a student board member will give him that chance. Neal is one of two students who sit on the board to look at things from their point of view.

“I want to be an example for other people,” said Neal. “I wasn’t the most popular kid in school and this allows me to talk to kids in a more meaningful way.”

Neal will help report to the school board how kids are doing. “You can tell the board really cares about the kids by how much they talk about them and they want them to succeed as much as they can.”

The student members have an SBO council that meets once a month. “Different SBOs come down and meet with us,” he said. “We can get down to the meat of what we need to do to better serve others. Leadership is serving others.”

Superintendent (Dan) Linford said the SBO sweater gives them more access in the school, said Neal. “There are unique challenges in every school. One school was working on the homecoming dance and another one shared what they’d done. It was awesome to see them work together and collaborate to benefit the other school.”

It’s the multiplier effect, he said. “You have a multiplier effect when you interact with multiple students.”

As a senior, Neal has the opportunity to mentor the younger class. “We all had a unique experience with the pandemic,” he said. “We want to know how we can make it better for the sophomores and juniors so they’re ready to take over when they’re seniors.” 

According to his mother, Neal is a go-getter and a shiner upper, he said. “I’m co-captain of the debate team, I’m in DECA and FBLA, marching band and the wind ensemble. I’m working on my Eagle Scout and trying to get it before I’m 18.”

Neal also works at In-N-Out Burger and loves working there. “There’s never a boring day in my life.”

Serving on the school board will give him an opportunity to see other’s perspectives, said Neal. “Having a student voice is really important. There are different view points across the district and I’m happy to share mine.” λ