WESTBROOK – Shannon Rielly’s father, Brendan Rielly, has been a member of the Westbrook City Council since she was in preschool. Now, the 17-year-old senior at Westbrook High School is following a long line of footsteps in a family dedicated to public service.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, Rielly was unanimously chosen as the newest student representative to the City Council, taking the seat that her older brother, Morgan, vacated just last year upon graduating.

Longtime City Councilor Mike Sanphy, who heads the interview process for all student representatives, said Monday that he chose Rielly from a group of four good candidates.

“The reason I stayed with Shannon is because she had the best knowledge of the council procedures, and she fits the job real well,” he said.

“I’ve seen Shannon grow as an individual, and I’m looking forward to serving on the council with her,” said City Councilor Michael Foley.

“I’m just glad to see another female there at the front podium to mix it up a bit,” added Mayor Colleen Hilton. Rielly’s student representative counterpart, Trina Sayed, was selected last year.

Following her selection to the City Council, the American Journal spoke with Rielly this week about coming from a family of public servants, her work with Westbrook kindergarteners and youth, and post high school plans.

Q: You come from a family that has a deep history of public service in Westbrook. Why did you want to become a student representative on the City Council? Did you feel any sort of pressure to do so?

A: Growing up in a pro-community service atmosphere let me to not feel any pressure at all to join the City Council. It felt natural that I should sit down, write an essay, get recommendations, and give it a shot. Public service is something that I enjoy and that has always been part of my family. My grandparents met while working in a desperately poor neighborhood in Fort Wayne, Ind. My grandmother has run Westbrook’s food pantry since before I was born. As you know, my father is the president of our City Council. I have lived their lessons every day of my life, as an altar server, renovating homes for needy families with my family, volunteering in the food pantry, and now, as a student representative to the city council. When I was in the seventh grade, my family and I created Re-Play, an organization that collects gently used sports gear to sell and raise money for recreation program scholarships for underprivileged kids. I also love volunteering in a kindergarten class at Canal. I wanted to be a student representative to have the opportunity to work with my father and the other community leaders and to give a voice to Westbrook students. I also look forward to working with Trina, who is such a talented student and a great person.

Q: Your brother, Morgan, served as student rep until his graduation last year. Did you learn anything from him about his time in that seat?

A: I learned to stand by my beliefs and what I think is the right thing.

Q: What do you think is the most important aspect of having student representatives on the City Council? How can you (and Trina) make a difference?

A: The most important aspect is that the council can get data about how their decisions affect us. It is one thing for the city council’s decisions to affect adults, but Trina and I can show what happens to the dependents of the family.

Q: You’ve been in the unique position of growing up around members of the City Council since you were young. Do you think this has given you unique insights into the Westbrook community?

A: Having grown up with Democratic election parties and debates has let me understand broad aspects of politics. It gives me a different insight to the world of politics than most people my age, and it’s all thanks to the council and my family. My Dad has served on the council since I was 4 years old, and my Mom and Dad have both taught my siblings and I the importance of public service. My Dad gives me a politician’s insight to topics, and my mom gives me a citizen of Westbrook’s opinion, which are both extremely valuable.

Q: Outside of school, you intern at Canal Elementary School and work at the Westbrook Community Center. How have those experiences shaped your views on Westbrook?

A: Working with kids has allowed me to develop great communication skills and patience. I have met so many families through working with these kids, and they too help my insight on Westbrook. I’ve seen kids who come from great homes and just bubble with excitement and wanting to learn. It’s also taught me a lot about myself. Nancy Sargent, the teacher at Canal who I work with, is a fantastic teacher. Every day I learn how to be a better teacher while working with her. She is so patient and so creative and so positive. If a kid had a bad day, then today can be a new day. I try to take that same approach.

Q: Representing the Westbrook student body, what do you think are the key issues facing students today? Are there things that deserve more attention?

A: I want all students to feel safe in Westbrook schools and in the outside world. I want them to feel emotionally and physically safe, and safe for the future. For example, feeling secure that a good college is attainable, and that Westbrook is running smoothly and awaits their return to Westbrook after college.

Q: What are your plans for life after graduation? Do you know what you’d like to study in college?

A: I plan to study early elementary education at college and to become a kindergarten teacher.

Shannon Rielly