"Congratulations! We wanted to tell you that, after the calculations were done for the mid-term period, you officially have the highest GPA in the school! However, district policy stipulates that we unfortunately cannot name you Valedictorian." Despite having attended Kearny High for the majority of my four high school years, the specificity of this policy deems me ineligible for my earned title.

As a youth in foster care, I am well-acquainted with the hurdles associated with school mobility. It's a struggle that disproportionately affects those highlighting similar backgrounds - the foster youth, the homeless youth, the children of military families, and those under hitherto overlooked circumstances outside of our control. The existing district policy 18A:11-3, which requires valedictory and salutatory candidates to have attended Kearny High School for both their junior and senior years, inadvertently shuts us out from ever reaching for the honors of a valedictorian or salutatorian. It inadvertently undermines the academic achievements of the transient student population. 

Engaging in multiple school transitions is a struggle faced by nearly 1.3 million homeless students and 400,000 foster youth nationwide (U.S. Department of Education). It's a testament to our resilience when we overcome such transitional challenges while maintaining exceptional academic performance. Yet, policy 18A:11-3 rewards longevity over academic proficiency, ignoring the ability of students like myself to surmount personal struggles.

It is only fair that accommodations be made for those students who must navigate life differently than the average teenager. The change in policy 18A:11-3 I propose isn't merely personal; it has the power to influence other districts across the country to revise their policies and foster inclusivity.

Let's grant all students, with consideration to the nuances of their personal circumstances, a fair chance at earning the academic distinctions they wholeheartedly strive for. Please sign this petition to support the amendment of district policy 18A:11-3, allowing for exceptions to this unfairly black-and-white stipulation. As is the title of this bylaw, let us strive to truly honor student achievements, rather than limiting them.