My name is Myra Ruparel, and I attend Center School in Ellington. I was a final candidate in the Connecticut’s Kid Governor Statewide Election, and I am proud to now serve as a member of the 2026 Kid Governor’s Cabinet.
About Me:
I live with my mom, my dad, and my little brother, and I love staying busy and having fun! Sports are my passion; I’m on competition teams for basketball, soccer, and swimming. When I’m not playing sports, you can find me singing, drawing, dancing, reading graphic novels, learning new things, or hanging out with my friends.
Friends are super important to me, so I try my best to be kind, honest, energetic, and a good listener. I believe everyone should feel included and supported. I love cheering everyone up and spreading positive energy, so I always have fun in class and enjoy laughing with friends!
Music makes me really happy! I’ve been singing since I was three years old and am learning to play the guitar and piano. I also love being on stage in musical theater—playing Elsa in last year’s show was so much fun! Drawing helps me express myself, and I was excited to win second place in my local fire marshal’s poster contest.
I love challenging myself by learning new things and problem solving, especially through science experiments and math. Math is one of my favorite subjects.
My Community Issue:
Let me ask you: when you are at school –
- Have you ever had to eat lunch alone, not been invited to play at recess, or pretended to be someone else just to fit in?
- Have you ever felt left out because of your skin color, primary language, disability, ideas, or social status?
If so, you are not alone. Many students feel like they can’t truly be themselves at school.
According to ScienceDirect, 10–15% of children feel rejected. In my own class, I conducted a survey and discovered that 41% of students have felt excluded recently. Exclusion can make people feel sad, invisible, angry, and upset. Sometimes it even makes kids feel like they are not good enough or do not belong.
But the truth is, you can be friends with someone who is different from you—and kids should believe they are good enough, because they are and they can be who they are.
Why does this matter?
This issue is important because social exclusion affects mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of 5 children experience mental health challenges. In a survey by Hope Lab, 50% of children said loneliness was the top reason for their mental health struggles.
In other words, social isolation can lead to mental health challenges, which can then lead to students disengaging from school or even dropping out. That is not okay—and it is something we can change.
My Platform
So how do we fix this? By being socially inclusive.
Social inclusion means making sure everyone feels like they belong—no matter their skin color, primary language, disability, ideas, or social status.
Let’s make sure every child in Connecticut feels heard, seen, included, and knows they are good enough.
Here is my three-point platform:
- Start Mix it up Lunch day: One day per week, sit with someone new. It may feel awkward at first, but a new friend could be sitting across from you.
- Star Student Week: One student each week is the star, so kids learn about that student’s hobbies, stories, and background.
- Includer Points: Recess aides, lunch aides, teachers, and substitutes give points for inclusive behavior. Students earn prizes with points, motivating kids to be inclusive every day at school.
What I’ve Done So Far
So far, I have shared this issue with my friends, classmates, members of the Ellington Board of Education, and other community members to raise awareness and encourage action.
I conducted a survey to better understand how many students feel excluded, and I plan to expand this survey to other classes to identify which groups are most impacted.
Using this information, I will work with my teachers to implement my three-point plan. In the meantime, I actively look out during recess and group activities to make sure no one is sitting alone or being left out, and I encourage others to be inclusive whenever I can.
How You Can Help
I am committed to advancing my platform and continuing to share updates on my progress. I invite you to support my platform in your own school so that, together, we can make Connecticut a more inclusive place where no child feels left out.
You can help by:
- Playing with or talking to someone who looks lonely
- Partnering with someone who does not have a partner
- Helping someone who may be struggling alone
I would love to hear how you are making a difference in your community. Email Myra@CT.KidGovernor.org to tell me all about it. I will continue to write blog posts to share ideas on how you can support my platform, where to start, and what to do.
You can also visit CT.KidGovernor.org/cabinet2026 to read about the other Kid Governor’s Cabinet Members, and CT.KidGovernor.org/ctkgtessa to read about Kid Governor Tessa.