Their hands trembled as they read and reread their printed out script. Their eyes flicking across the page over and over again. Senior Fern Biswas sits alongside the adult organizer and a youth panelist of the Alameda County LGBTQ+ Panel. Their heart beat loudly in their chest, pounding in the quiet room. The event began, and all their worries subsided, the disconnect from the panel being held over Zoom disappearing as they began their work to make the world a more inclusive and loving place.

Within the Harker community, Fern engages in many activities ranging from theater to many different diversity clubs, like founding the Transgender affinity group in sophomore year. Fern also works with educators at Harker to shape the community to be a more open and accepting place, as well as learn how to meditate and find common ground.

“When approaching things like diversity work, I like to approach different issues to find out what everyone cares about because I honestly believe that everybody cares about something,” said Fern. “I have this perspective that no matter what a person says, I believe that we all share something in common.”

To highlight people’s voices and opinions, Fern emphasizes the importance of working with many different communities, due to their personal experience as a queer person of color. They work on highlighting people’s voices and opinions through participating in diversity councils and panels. Close friend senior Lindsey Tuckey first met Fern in their Intro to Journalism class in freshman year, where their interests were clear. Lindsey appreciates Fern’s uniqueness and readiness to stay true to themself.

“Fern is very confident in what they like and what they’re passionate about,” Lindsey said. “They’re really a breath of fresh air, and their confidence encourages me to be more upbeat, more authentic and unashamed of my passions and what I’m interested in. I was impressed by how they saw issues within the community and made a change instead of complaining about it, which takes initiative.”

Fern’s mom has been a significant influence in their life, teaching them the importance of kindness over being right, a lesson that has shaped their approach to relationships and advocacy. Aligning with their upbringing, Fern wants to become a public defense lawyer, aiming to challenge societal perceptions and promote understanding among people from diverse backgrounds.

Fern emphasizes the importance of not only bringing unheard voices to light, but also helping communities come together and level their viewpoints. As the mediator within their family and with others, Fern spends lots of time seeing different perspectives, with their favorite part being when people understand that they are not as different as they previously thought.

“Our beliefs aren’t the defining points of who we are,” Fern said. “Our humanity goes above all else. If I expect other people to recognize my humanity, I need to also recognize theirs. Most of the time, it’s the hardest option and most difficult option, but still being able to understand the humanity of those people is the most important thing.” 

Class of 2025 dean and English teacher Christopher Hurshman first met Fern their sophomore year when he taught them in Honors English 2. Hurshman commends their ability to speak thoughtfully on all the subjects that they covered in class without drowning out their peers, as well as their consideration and care for classmates.

“Fern is very introspective and reflective on how they present themselves and how their relationships with other people are going,” Hurshman said. “They want to express gentleness and sensitivity to the people around them. Fern is concerned with how they can understand others and communicate their own kind intentions to others in ways that will be perceived as friendly.”

During the summer prior to 9th grade at Harker’s Summer at the Conservatory program, junior Holly Templeton remembers being intimidated by Fern’s seniority and talent at first, but quickly growing to see Fern’s talent at acting and portraying genuine emotion in their work. The two grew close after working together in choir and on various plays.

“Fern is super steadfast and very persevering,” Holly said. “My favorite memories with them are when we’d be backstage in the holding room for choir or a play. We always chat, and it’s always nice to have somebody to talk to about basically anything. They’re very reliable and have a lot of advice because they’ve been everywhere and done everything.”

Throughout their time in high school, Fern has focused on staying true to their qualities but also making sure to facilitate an environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves and share their thoughts. 

“I want to be known as the person who brought up difficult questions,” Fern said. “In the best way possible, I want to be known as that person who not only stood up for everyone in some way, but also challenged everyone in some way, made people stop and question their beliefs.”