December 20, 2024 • 11 mins
We have many student leaders at Oregon High School and they make an incredible difference in our community. Today we are talking with Jacsyn Disrud, one of our students who is serving as a representative with the Dane County Youth Governance program.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER1:
We have many student leaders at Oregon High School and they make an incredible
difference in our community. (00:10):
undefined
Today, we're talking with one of our students who is serving as arepresentative with the Dane County Youth Governance Program.
SPEAKER2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids. (00:24):
undefined
Here is your host, lifelong educator, and our superintendent, doctor LeslieBergstrom.
SPEAKER1: Hello and welcome to Inside the OSD. (00:37):
undefined
Could you please introduce yourself to our listeners?
SPEAKER3: Hi, I'm Jacsyn Disrud and I'm a senior at OHS. (00:43):
undefined
SPEAKER1: Thank you. Can you tell us a little bit about the Dane County Youth Governance Program and your role in it? (00:47):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Um, yeah. So I am, like, a youth member of one of the Dane County boards, the Public Protection and Judiciary (00:53):
undefined
Board. And what they essentially do is review, like, all requests, and theydraft, like, amendments to the
proposed budget.
(01:13):
And so they work with, like, the sheriff's department and the jail, and they doall of that type of stuff.
SPEAKER1: That sounds so interesting. (01:20):
undefined
How did you get involved in this program?
SPEAKER3: Um, Mr. Wiegman, the--one of the history teachers at OHS, um, sent it to me in an email and it was just like the link and just "interested (01:25):
undefined
question mark?" Um, and that--and I opened it up and I looked into it and itlooked really cool, so I applied.
SPEAKER1: You know, what's really amazing to me is that sometimes it just takes one person presenting an opportunity and saying, "this made me think of you." And when you (01:44):
undefined
pursue that pathway, it can open up so many doors like this.
This is just so cool.
Like, who would have ever expected that you would be doing this kind of work?
SPEAKER3: Yeah. This is something that I might have run into on my own, but I don't think I would have. (02:03):
undefined
And I'm really happy that he sent it to me.
SPEAKER1: Yeah. Me too. (02:11):
undefined
Is there any specific coursework that you have participated in that helpedprepare you for this?
SPEAKER3: I, I did take the political science class last year, and I'm cadetting it this year. (02:19):
undefined
Oh, good. Um, it didn't really teach anything about local politics, though.
I feel like county government is one thing that you don't really learn about inschool or really in general, because it's so, like specific.
(02:40):
Like you learn about Oregon and then you learn about Wisconsin and the countryand you don't really think of Dane County.
So.
SPEAKER1: Um, um, for people who aren't quite sure, can you say what "cadetting" means so they know what you do in the political science class? (02:50):
undefined
Yeah.
SPEAKER3: So I'm basically, like, assisting the class. (02:58):
undefined
So I help set up.
Everybody has little placards with their name on it.
And, um, I do anything that the teacher needs me to do.
I'm also the president of the political science class.
Um, so they're like, introducing bills and, like, voting on it.
(03:23):
And as the president, I'm allowed to veto or sign any of the bills.
SPEAKER1: Well, actually, I was able to watch one of your sessions a couple of weeks ago, and we have a future podcast coming up on this because it was so interesting. (03:27):
undefined
And I would think that that experience at least gives you some foreshadow intothe work you're doing on the youth governance in the youth governance program.
SPEAKER3: Yeah, they use the same like rules of procedure, like, um, the seconding and like all the motions are like identical. (03:46):
undefined
They both follow like Robert's Rules of Procedure.
SPEAKER1: Yes. (03:57):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Um, and like, just the way in which you talk about things is also very similar because you are talking about people that like with people that (03:58):
undefined
disagree with you.
SPEAKER1: Right. (04:09):
undefined
SPEAKER3: And so I really like the political science class, because I got to talk to a lot of people that had very different opinions than I did. (04:10):
undefined
Yes. And I feel like it really prepared me, not just for the Dane County YouthGovernance program, but also like the world.
SPEAKER1: Yeah, absolutely. (04:26):
undefined
Just like other classes, no matter the subject area, when they're teaching youto be a critical thinker and a critical consumer of information, I'm sure that
helps you in not only the youth governance program, but anything else you'rechoosing to do.
SPEAKER3: Absolutely. (04:42):
undefined
SPEAKER1: So why is it important to you to make time for this program? (04:43):
undefined
Because there are so many demands on a student's time.
I'm sure you have multiple other things that you're engaging with in your life.
SPEAKER3: Yeah, this program is really important to me because it's just such a great experience to learn about. (04:55):
undefined
Like the stuff that they talk about in this committee is just so far, like outof my wheelhouse.
It's like talking about the deferred action program and the jail system and thesheriff's department, and those are things that I don't
(05:20):
really know about.
And so it's, like, a really great learning experience for myself.
And then they also, um, all of the youth that are in the program, um, cometogether and create a project to work on together.
SPEAKER1: What is the project that you guys are working on now? (05:35):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Um, it's still, like, up in the air and in the works, but we're focusing on composting initiatives actually at schools. (05:38):
undefined
So, um, I still have to draft an email to Mr.
Pliner and the school board, but I'm going to ask about possibly doing, like,um, a waste audit for the school, which is like
(06:01):
where you assess, like the trash that you do.
I honestly don't know what Oregon has done about, like, the waste and stuff,but I think it would be a really cool opportunity to, like, see
what we have and if composting would be, like, a valuable investment.
SPEAKER1: I am so, um, interested in the fact that you brought that up, because I work with a group of students in the superintendent's Student (06:19):
undefined
Advisory Council, and one of the things they brought up a couple of weeks agois they would love to see the high school participate in composting.
So knowing that you might be studying that as a part of this group, we shouldbring both groups of people together to see what we can do with more numbers.
(06:47):
Right. That's exciting.
SPEAKER3: I love how we're having like, this networking discussion during the podcast. (06:48):
undefined
It's great.
SPEAKER1: So what stands out as the most significant thing you've learned in your time so far with the program? (06:53):
undefined
SPEAKER3: That--that's tough. (07:00):
undefined
I, I've learned just so much about it.
I think the most significant thing would be what exactly a county does.
Because when I --hen I applied for the program, they didn't really say likewhat I would be doing even on a county committee.
And so I had like no idea what I was walking into.
(07:23):
Um, but they do so much like I didn't realize how much the county does.
SPEAKER1: I think that's a pretty, um, important piece of learning for anybody, because honestly, I think it's more than just high school students who aren't quite sure (07:30):
undefined
what the different levels of government, what they each accomplish.
So I have a feeling you're ahead of most of us now in understanding the role ofcounty government.
Yeah. Is that something you think you'd like to get involved with um, in anelected capacity at some point in the future?
SPEAKER3: Yeah, that's --hat's my end goal is to be involved, I think, in probably local politics, like, um, town (07:56):
undefined
or county, maybe school board.
SPEAKER1: That's really exciting. (08:08):
undefined
So what would you say to future students who may have an interest in this area?
SPEAKER3: Um, I'd say connect with the people that, like, know of the things like I did with Mr. (08:16):
undefined
Wiegman. I think that if you connect with the people who know of theopportunities, you're going to get way more opportunities and then also like
seeking them out for yourself.
SPEAKER1: Yeah, absolutely. (08:33):
undefined
Not being afraid of a new experience, right?
Not only not being afraid of it, but seeking it out.
So-so you're senior, as you mentioned.
And so as you reflect on your time in the Oregon school district, what do youthink you will take away from your time and your experiences here at the high
school? And then what's next for you?
SPEAKER4: Um, my (08:54):
undefined
SPEAKER3: time at the high school, I think what I'm going to take away most is like, not like self-advocacy, but (08:55):
undefined
like seeking out what I want.
Like I'm taking AP US gov online right now.
It's something that I had to like go to the online coordinating Director to askif I can do and set up and work through on my own, and I may
(09:23):
be slightly behind in the class right now, but I I'm gonna finish it by thetime the AP exam rolls around.
SPEAKER1: I'm sure you will. (09:30):
undefined
SPEAKER3: And so I feel like just seeking out what I want the high school has like, prepared me to do that. (09:31):
undefined
And then also like in classroom discussions, getting more comfortable withtalking and like asking questions.
SPEAKER1: That's--those are pretty wonderful things to take away from the high school experience. (09:50):
undefined
So what are you considering for next year?
SPEAKER3: Next year the goal would be to go to a college that, um, wants me to go there and is willing to (09:57):
undefined
pay me some money to go there.
SPEAKER5: Um. (10:09):
undefined
SPEAKER1: All right. So you're still exploring? (10:10):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Yeah, I'm applying to a bunch of colleges, and then the goal is to just see which one works out cost wise and then (10:13):
undefined
like, um, visit them and see which one I feel like is the best environmentalfit for me.
SPEAKER1: Well, I think that's a really good process. (10:30):
undefined
It's been a joy talking to you.
So thank you for your time today.
Yeah.
SPEAKER6: Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website at OregonSD.org/ (10:38):
undefined
podcast. You can find this podcast anywhere you can find podcasts.
Make sure to subscribe if you're listening on one of these apps to getnotifications on the most recent episodes.
(10:59):
We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD where it's all about the kids.
undefined
Today, we're talking with one of our students who is serving as arepresentative with the Dane County Youth Governance Program.
SPEAKER2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids. (00:24):
undefined
Here is your host, lifelong educator, and our superintendent, doctor LeslieBergstrom.
SPEAKER1: Hello and welcome to Inside the OSD. (00:37):
undefined
Could you please introduce yourself to our listeners?
SPEAKER3: Hi, I'm Jacsyn Disrud and I'm a senior at OHS. (00:43):
undefined
SPEAKER1: Thank you. Can you tell us a little bit about the Dane County Youth Governance Program and your role in it? (00:47):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Um, yeah. So I am, like, a youth member of one of the Dane County boards, the Public Protection and Judiciary (00:53):
undefined
Board. And what they essentially do is review, like, all requests, and theydraft, like, amendments to the
proposed budget.
(01:13):
And so they work with, like, the sheriff's department and the jail, and they doall of that type of stuff.
SPEAKER1: That sounds so interesting. (01:20):
undefined
How did you get involved in this program?
SPEAKER3: Um, Mr. Wiegman, the--one of the history teachers at OHS, um, sent it to me in an email and it was just like the link and just "interested (01:25):
undefined
question mark?" Um, and that--and I opened it up and I looked into it and itlooked really cool, so I applied.
SPEAKER1: You know, what's really amazing to me is that sometimes it just takes one person presenting an opportunity and saying, "this made me think of you." And when you (01:44):
undefined
pursue that pathway, it can open up so many doors like this.
This is just so cool.
Like, who would have ever expected that you would be doing this kind of work?
SPEAKER3: Yeah. This is something that I might have run into on my own, but I don't think I would have. (02:03):
undefined
And I'm really happy that he sent it to me.
SPEAKER1: Yeah. Me too. (02:11):
undefined
Is there any specific coursework that you have participated in that helpedprepare you for this?
SPEAKER3: I, I did take the political science class last year, and I'm cadetting it this year. (02:19):
undefined
Oh, good. Um, it didn't really teach anything about local politics, though.
I feel like county government is one thing that you don't really learn about inschool or really in general, because it's so, like specific.
(02:40):
Like you learn about Oregon and then you learn about Wisconsin and the countryand you don't really think of Dane County.
So.
SPEAKER1: Um, um, for people who aren't quite sure, can you say what "cadetting" means so they know what you do in the political science class? (02:50):
undefined
Yeah.
SPEAKER3: So I'm basically, like, assisting the class. (02:58):
undefined
So I help set up.
Everybody has little placards with their name on it.
And, um, I do anything that the teacher needs me to do.
I'm also the president of the political science class.
Um, so they're like, introducing bills and, like, voting on it.
(03:23):
And as the president, I'm allowed to veto or sign any of the bills.
SPEAKER1: Well, actually, I was able to watch one of your sessions a couple of weeks ago, and we have a future podcast coming up on this because it was so interesting. (03:27):
undefined
And I would think that that experience at least gives you some foreshadow intothe work you're doing on the youth governance in the youth governance program.
SPEAKER3: Yeah, they use the same like rules of procedure, like, um, the seconding and like all the motions are like identical. (03:46):
undefined
They both follow like Robert's Rules of Procedure.
SPEAKER1: Yes. (03:57):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Um, and like, just the way in which you talk about things is also very similar because you are talking about people that like with people that (03:58):
undefined
disagree with you.
SPEAKER1: Right. (04:09):
undefined
SPEAKER3: And so I really like the political science class, because I got to talk to a lot of people that had very different opinions than I did. (04:10):
undefined
Yes. And I feel like it really prepared me, not just for the Dane County YouthGovernance program, but also like the world.
SPEAKER1: Yeah, absolutely. (04:26):
undefined
Just like other classes, no matter the subject area, when they're teaching youto be a critical thinker and a critical consumer of information, I'm sure that
helps you in not only the youth governance program, but anything else you'rechoosing to do.
SPEAKER3: Absolutely. (04:42):
undefined
SPEAKER1: So why is it important to you to make time for this program? (04:43):
undefined
Because there are so many demands on a student's time.
I'm sure you have multiple other things that you're engaging with in your life.
SPEAKER3: Yeah, this program is really important to me because it's just such a great experience to learn about. (04:55):
undefined
Like the stuff that they talk about in this committee is just so far, like outof my wheelhouse.
It's like talking about the deferred action program and the jail system and thesheriff's department, and those are things that I don't
(05:20):
really know about.
And so it's, like, a really great learning experience for myself.
And then they also, um, all of the youth that are in the program, um, cometogether and create a project to work on together.
SPEAKER1: What is the project that you guys are working on now? (05:35):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Um, it's still, like, up in the air and in the works, but we're focusing on composting initiatives actually at schools. (05:38):
undefined
So, um, I still have to draft an email to Mr.
Pliner and the school board, but I'm going to ask about possibly doing, like,um, a waste audit for the school, which is like
(06:01):
where you assess, like the trash that you do.
I honestly don't know what Oregon has done about, like, the waste and stuff,but I think it would be a really cool opportunity to, like, see
what we have and if composting would be, like, a valuable investment.
SPEAKER1: I am so, um, interested in the fact that you brought that up, because I work with a group of students in the superintendent's Student (06:19):
undefined
Advisory Council, and one of the things they brought up a couple of weeks agois they would love to see the high school participate in composting.
So knowing that you might be studying that as a part of this group, we shouldbring both groups of people together to see what we can do with more numbers.
(06:47):
Right. That's exciting.
SPEAKER3: I love how we're having like, this networking discussion during the podcast. (06:48):
undefined
It's great.
SPEAKER1: So what stands out as the most significant thing you've learned in your time so far with the program? (06:53):
undefined
SPEAKER3: That--that's tough. (07:00):
undefined
I, I've learned just so much about it.
I think the most significant thing would be what exactly a county does.
Because when I --hen I applied for the program, they didn't really say likewhat I would be doing even on a county committee.
And so I had like no idea what I was walking into.
(07:23):
Um, but they do so much like I didn't realize how much the county does.
SPEAKER1: I think that's a pretty, um, important piece of learning for anybody, because honestly, I think it's more than just high school students who aren't quite sure (07:30):
undefined
what the different levels of government, what they each accomplish.
So I have a feeling you're ahead of most of us now in understanding the role ofcounty government.
Yeah. Is that something you think you'd like to get involved with um, in anelected capacity at some point in the future?
SPEAKER3: Yeah, that's --hat's my end goal is to be involved, I think, in probably local politics, like, um, town (07:56):
undefined
or county, maybe school board.
SPEAKER1: That's really exciting. (08:08):
undefined
So what would you say to future students who may have an interest in this area?
SPEAKER3: Um, I'd say connect with the people that, like, know of the things like I did with Mr. (08:16):
undefined
Wiegman. I think that if you connect with the people who know of theopportunities, you're going to get way more opportunities and then also like
seeking them out for yourself.
SPEAKER1: Yeah, absolutely. (08:33):
undefined
Not being afraid of a new experience, right?
Not only not being afraid of it, but seeking it out.
So-so you're senior, as you mentioned.
And so as you reflect on your time in the Oregon school district, what do youthink you will take away from your time and your experiences here at the high
school? And then what's next for you?
SPEAKER4: Um, my (08:54):
undefined
SPEAKER3: time at the high school, I think what I'm going to take away most is like, not like self-advocacy, but (08:55):
undefined
like seeking out what I want.
Like I'm taking AP US gov online right now.
It's something that I had to like go to the online coordinating Director to askif I can do and set up and work through on my own, and I may
(09:23):
be slightly behind in the class right now, but I I'm gonna finish it by thetime the AP exam rolls around.
SPEAKER1: I'm sure you will. (09:30):
undefined
SPEAKER3: And so I feel like just seeking out what I want the high school has like, prepared me to do that. (09:31):
undefined
And then also like in classroom discussions, getting more comfortable withtalking and like asking questions.
SPEAKER1: That's--those are pretty wonderful things to take away from the high school experience. (09:50):
undefined
So what are you considering for next year?
SPEAKER3: Next year the goal would be to go to a college that, um, wants me to go there and is willing to (09:57):
undefined
pay me some money to go there.
SPEAKER5: Um. (10:09):
undefined
SPEAKER1: All right. So you're still exploring? (10:10):
undefined
SPEAKER3: Yeah, I'm applying to a bunch of colleges, and then the goal is to just see which one works out cost wise and then (10:13):
undefined
like, um, visit them and see which one I feel like is the best environmentalfit for me.
SPEAKER1: Well, I think that's a really good process. (10:30):
undefined
It's been a joy talking to you.
So thank you for your time today.
Yeah.
SPEAKER6: Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website at OregonSD.org/ (10:38):
undefined
podcast. You can find this podcast anywhere you can find podcasts.
Make sure to subscribe if you're listening on one of these apps to getnotifications on the most recent episodes.
(10:59):
We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD where it's all about the kids.
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