Hello, my name is NaQuaya. I'm 15 and going into the 11th grade. I’m from Southeast High School. I work on a campaign called Elevate Student Health, which focuses on nutrition, physical activity and access to clean drinking water.

This campaign has taught me that some school wellness policies need to be stricter. During a few of my school lunches, I have collected surveys to assess the opinions of what physical activity and nutrition elements need to be improved at our school. People should care about the wellness policies, because many Oklahomans are struggling with obesity.  Unhealthy habits can also cause long-term problems in their body. In my work with YAHL and Elevate Student Health, I have met with school leaders who support the YAHL program and our work with Elevate Student Health. I also talked to leaders about how we can improve our school’s policies and got their support for making improvements.

You should also support Elevate Student Health because you can make a difference in your school. Eating healthy can help you in many ways. You should always have healthy options at school because kids eat half their meals at school.

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By: NaQuaya Ellison, Southeast High School