The clock reads 9:40 AM, and there is still an hour and a half left in the meeting. Your eyelids slowly fall, and your focus shifts to your other responsibilities. Later in the day, you have to attend a STUCCO committee meeting, and tomorrow, address the HS board. The school’s superintendent asks, “what do you think?” Snapping back to reality, you give a lengthy response to the audience of 3 people. This is the life of a personero.

Most students do not know the role or the responsibilities Mateo Zárate holds as this year’s personero. According to HS Principal Juan David López, campaigns are riddled with impossible promises and further misinformation in students. These promises, and apparent inaction, make people question; what does the personero do?

“I know there are a lot of mixed feelings. You always get those people that say that you don’t do anything. But there are many things behind the scenes that they don’t see,” Mateo Zárate said.

Responsibilities

While many have given proposals such as swimming pools or regular days off, the responsibilities outlined in the student handbook are incredibly different. Some include: receiving and expressing complaints students make, caring for school property, attending meetings, and maintaining the rights and responsibilities of students.

“There is a lot of work that they do as per the student handbook that probably other students don’t really see that has to do with the representation in different committees,” López said.

While many have promised pools and an on-campus Mcdonald’s, another essential responsibility is outlined in the student handbook: promote cultural and recreational activities among students. While it is essential, the fundamental role of a personero is to maintain the rights and uphold the responsibilities of students.

Work and accomplishments

Principal López has worked closely with Zárate throughout the past few months. According to López, most of Zárate’s work goes unseen. For instance, he participates and plays an active role in the committee that chooses the new HS Principal, the comite de convivencia, and the consejo directivo.

“I know he’s been in many different meetings, which is good. And in that way, I’ve seen he’s been a good personero,” Felipe Naranjo, personero election organizer, said.

New merch and clothes might come soon, thanks to Zárate. He is currently in talks with Angela Botero from La Fundación. Yet, it is a complicated process and might take some time.

Zárate is also part of a new school initiative called Columbus Culture, which will focus on improving students’ behavior towards the school and each other. Soon, flyers and posters will be placed promoting the campaign.

“We had a meeting where we discussed the missing plates and cutlery. For example, if a gardener is cutting the grass and there is a fork on the grass, and he hits the fork, it will go flying. That could be dangerous. So it was good to have him, as the student’s perspective on the issue.” López said.

Another project Zárate is working on is his ISC project, which he also works on as a personero. His project consists of a curriculum for low-income students that teaches them life skills and helps them choose a profession.

“I hope it makes an impact. That’s what ISC and being a personero is all about.” Zárate said.

Conceptions and Misconceptions

Students and staff hold mixed opinions. Most students see the lack of fulfilled promises as proof of inaction. On the other hand, staff such as Principal Lopez and Coexistence Coordinator Juliana Sarmiento see Zárate’s commitment as proof of a great personero.

“I don’t notice any change in the school or the students’ daily life. A good personero should interact with the students, teachers, and the current policies in the school, and look at ways to improve the daily life at school,” Sebastian Pelaez, Grade 11, said.

Moreover, teachers are not informed of what Zárate does but are aware of his responsibilities. Naranjo is an example of this; he organizes the personero elections and is the leader of STUCCO, yet he does not know what the personero is doing.

“I don’t know much about what the personero is doing. I think that something we need to improve as a school, using X block or advisory to show his accomplishments, may be something we could consider. Even for this year,” Naranjo said.

Zárate is a personero who focuses on multiple projects, which follow many of his responsibilities. Yet, due to the lack of communication from the school, many students believe the personero is inactive and irresponsible.