Deborah Selenia Vasuilakeba, a 17-year-old student from Namata Village in Tailevu, is making waves in her school and community as the Associated Student Body (ASB) president at Everett High School in Everett, Washington. Although her parents reside in Fiji, Deborah is living with her aunt and uncle in the U.S., where she has garnered immense pride from her family through her leadership role among the school’s 1,606 students in grades 9 to 12.
Deborah’s journey to becoming ASB president was encouraged by peers and teachers, leading to a realization of her impact on the school community when she received the announcement of her election victory on February 29. Expressing her joy and nervousness over winning the majority of the votes, Deborah remarked, “I realized that the Lord has a plan for me in this life.”
Even though she was born in the U.S., she embraces her Fijian heritage and is proud to represent Tailevu. Elected as the ASB president on September 4, she had been attending Everett High School since Year 9 in 2021.
Her mother, Ana Gasaucalayawa, spoke fondly of Deborah, describing her as a cheerful, confident, and loving child who had always sought to maintain peace among her peers. Ana highlighted Deborah’s talents, including her singing, as she performed the American National Anthem at various school events and games.
Recently, Deborah attended a leadership camp in Mt Adams with her team of student body officials. The camp, which required participants to disconnect from their devices, hosted nearly 500 students from different schools focused on honing their leadership skills. Deborah found the experience transformative, stating, “Little did I know that the next six days were going to be the best of my life.”
Adding to her accolades, Deborah was recognized as one of the three Rotary Student of the Month recipients by the Rotary Club of Everett on October 15, an honor that celebrates outstanding high school students for their achievements.
Teachers have praised her leadership style, noting her kindness and positive influence on others. One teacher remarked, “Deborah leads with love,” while her ASB advisor shared that, for the first time in over 15 years, peers spontaneously applaud and cheer upon her introduction.
When asked about advice for young people, Deborah urged them to lean on their supporters during difficult times and to seek joy through prayer, saying, “Know that there are people around you who will support you and also tear you down.”