Freshman Aahaan Jain took in the surroundings of Bangalore, India. The familiar chaos of motorcycles revving and cars honking accompanied a grey, unsettling layer of smoky pollution that filled the air. A year ago, Jain returned to his hometown for an ordinary trip, only to fall ill due to the pollution. The air of Bangalore left a mark on him that he’d never forget. From then on, the place he calls his home city has sparked his resolve to advocate for environmental sustainability.
“Getting seriously ill was a turning point for me,” Jain said. “I became curious about what caused the pollution, as it was something personal to me and my background.”
After returning from Bangalore, Jain started researching sustainability and how he could make an impact. Miller Middle School social studies teacher Nicole Gasparik and Monta Vista High School science teacher Kavita Gupta, the program’s adviser, invited Jain to apply for the California Climate Youth Policy Program, where he learned to write policies regarding environmental matters.
Now equipped with policy-writing skills, Jain explored sustainability in his community. After discovering how FUHSD’s current climate policies weren’t aligned with many state regulations, Jain was determined to write a resolution to improve the district’s green initiatives.
As Jain had never written official policies for the district, he looked to climate resolutions written in the past for inspiration. With guidance from climate organizations, such as the Sierra Club, Citizens Climate Lobby and the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, as well as district members, such as Gasparik and FUHSD superintendent Graham Clark, Jain extensively revised the resolution policy.
“The amount of organization and networking Aahaan did was really impressive,” Gasparik said. “It’s beautiful to see all these great skills that he has applied to larger issues that impact his fellow students in the district.”
After hours of drafting, networking and revising, Jain built off a previous sustainability resolution in 2021. He finalized the three major components of his resolution, all in line with recently passed California state laws. The resolution consists of district-wide initiatives to mandate climate literacy and education, create a compost program and implement a yearly sustainability report.
However, the journey to the finalized resolution was a bumpy road. Miscommunications with district leadership, difficulties with scheduling a board meeting and a tight schedule for the resolution draft complicated the process for planning and presenting the resolution. Constant communication with board members such as FUHSD Board of Trustees Pat Carpio-Aguilar allowed Jain to overcome these challenges, shaping him into a better speaker and communicator.
“The experience was really important for me, as it allowed me to connect with my community and be more outspoken,” Jain said. “I constantly communicated with the superintendent, even learning the specifics of a board meeting.”
Even after writing an entire resolution regarding sustainability, Jain looks to continue working with the many organizations he’s a part of.
