Editor’s Note: The following account was written by a former Rio Seco 8th grade student who just completed the 2024–25 school year. She is a 14-year-old honors student who promoted with a 4.0 GPA, is bilingual, a dedicated Girl Scout, and an active part of the school community. Her mother confirms that the letter was written entirely by the student herself, without assistance. Her name is being withheld at this time by request.
Student Perspective: What I Learned (and Didn’t Learn) in ASB
I am a student who has just finished my final year at Rio Seco, and will be attending high school in the fall. This past school year, I chose ASB, or Associated Student Body, as my elective for 8th grade. ASB is a unique elective, considering that students stay in it for the entire year rather than switching every trimester like the others. You also need to “apply” to it by filling out a form, showing that it’s not guaranteed that a student will get into the elective. I chose to apply to ASB because I saw it as a fun opportunity to get more involved with the school and its events.
I ended up getting in, and after experiencing an entire school year in this class, I can confidently express that I did not enjoy it.
My friends didn’t give me much insight on what was actually done in this class, so I went in expecting work. And why not? I had written a form explaining that I was responsible and could uphold Rio Seco values. I knew that being in ASB meant being in a position of leadership, so I was excited to see what I would be doing.
I ended up thoroughly disappointed.
The truth is, in ASB, we practically did nothing. Throughout the year, we’d sometimes have a matter of business, such as a dance or grade competition that we’d discuss as a class for two or three days. The rest of the days were study hall — or literally doing nothing. I’d estimate that at least 80–90% of ASB periods were dedicated to “study hall.” We finished homework, talked to each other, sometimes the Teacher would get us a board game to play because we were bored.
These periods of freedom were pleasant in the beginning of the year, when everyone was readjusting to life in school, but quickly became boring. I started to hear about what my friends in other electives were doing and regretted picking ASB. They were enjoying their electives, they were learning, having so much more fun than I was. I rarely had homework to do at home, but that was at the cost of fun.
I talked to my friends and sped through books in this class, but I didn’t learn anything of leadership, of democracy, or of what we were supposed to be learning. I admit that this class was truly a waste, when I could’ve enjoyed myself so much more in another elective.
Additionally, the days we did stuff weren’t very productive. We made posters for the Fall Festival, and that was about the only hands-on thing we did. We discussed ideas for dances and competitions, but the environment was never lively enough to get more than a few hands. At the end of the year, everyone had to pay for their own fishing trip expenses, because we were never given any opportunity to fundraise. I’d also like to point out that the Teacher was excessively absent, and my friends noticed this too.
Overall, ASB was an unenjoyable class where things were rarely done and actual learning was never a top priority.
East of 52 has verified this student’s identity and credentials. Her experiences are shared here not only because of her academic credibility, but because they reflect growing concerns in the broader Rio Seco community — from parents, teachers, and students alike.
This is not just about electives. It’s about whether students are learning what they signed up for, whether staff are held to the same standards as students, and whether anyone is listening when students speak up.
We are.
If you’re a student, parent, or staff member with a story to share, contact us at [email protected].
