SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - After attending a five-day Canadian Student Leadership Conference (CSLC) in Olds, Alta., three Sir John Franklin High School students learnt their influence for change extends well beyond their school.

Vishal Costa, left, Lyndon Duong, and Rashmani Chakrabarty said their time at the Canadian Student Leadership Conference taught them more can be achieved when student council works together. - Photo supplied by Robyn Stewart

"Before, I didn't realize how much we were capable of achieving as student council," said Lyndon Duong, student council president.

The three students, all members of the student council, along with two advisers, teachers Robyn Stewart and Stephen Kirkham, were the first Sir John Franklin High School delegation to attend the CSLC held this year from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3.

"They were so excited to have us there. It was the first conference anyone from the North had attended for a while," said Robyn Stewart.

"Out of 750 students there were three from the North."

The student delegation was treated to workshops and keynote motivational speakers who made a significant impression on the students.

"Each one of the speakers were equal, if not better than the last. They were so powerful, they made a major impact on us," said Duong.

When the students returned from their trip, they shared their experiences with the rest of the student council, and several objectives were discussed.

"One of our goals is to be the change we want to see in the world," said Stewart.

"So rather than just making things better for us here in the school, we're going to try and make a difference in our community and the world."

Vice-president Rashmani Chakrabarty said she wanted to get the entire student body behind the goal.

"We want to encourage students out there to realize that it's not just about student council, everyone out there has a say in this," she said.

She added that the culture of the student council had been transformed.

"Student council's more of a whole group thing now," she said.

"We're all a bunch of people getting together, we don't really have roles, we all contribute at the same rate no matter whether you're president or vice-president."

Duong echoed the sentiment.

"You're a human being like everyone else, and you know that everyone is just like you and people have struggles just like you," he said.

One of the council's first initiatives will be to begin sponsoring a poor village in a third world country.

"For example, for each $20 we raise we can by them a goat, or a well, or something like that," said Duong.

While the trip did eat up the council's entire yearly budget, they have already begun fundraising for next year's conference in Montreal.

"Student leadership is something that's really important in any school. In particular, in the North, we don't get the opportunities that they do in the south to attend conferences like this," said Stewart.