Hi, my name is Ryan Deng and I was one of the finalists in the 2024 Connecticut’s Kid Governor Statewide Election. I am now a member of the Kid Governor’s Cabinet, working with 2025 Kid Governor Keudy.
I chose Mental Health as my platform because I noticed that when students struggle with mental health issues, it becomes much harder for them to learn new things. For example, in my math class, I saw that some of my friends who had difficulty grasping new skills also struggled to cope and stay motivated. I realized that if students learned more about mental health and coping strategies, they might be able to maintain a positive mindset and overcome their challenges.
I have developed a three-point platform to address this issue:
- Create educational classes to help 5th graders understand mental health and coping strategies.
- Promote peer-to-peer support programs in schools where students can check in with each other.
- Encourage schools to have “Friday Fun Days” with a menu of fun physical activities that students can try to reduce stress and anxiety.
Since the election, I have been working on my platform by spreading awareness of my community issue in my school. I plan to continue expanding my efforts to other schools to further raise awareness about mental health.
If you would like to support my platform, please email me at Ryan@CT.KidGovernor.org to share your thoughts! You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2025 to learn more about the other Kid Governor’s Cabinet Members and their platforms.