News Stories

What is your first and last name?

Joseph Daramay

Which school do you attend?

Brooklyn Center High School STEAM

What groups, activities or sports have you been involved in throughout your high school career?

Throughout my high school career, I have been involved in Student Council, where I served as Vice President and later President for the Class of 2026. I have also participated in Varsity Soccer, Varsity Tennis, and Track & Field. Outside of sports and leadership, I balanced school with work and internships, including my internship at SPS Commerce and my job at Topgolf.

What is your favorite memory from high school?

My favorite memory from my senior year was when I was in Mrs. Marn’s class (one of my favorite teachers). I remember she gave us an assignment that was supposed to be done the next day, but the assignment felt almost impossible at the time. I started working on it at 1 a.m., and 30 minutes later I decided to go to bed. The funny thing is that I actually had a nightmare about the assignment, for the first time in my school life. Since then, I always think about that day whenever I pass by her classroom.

Is there a staff member who has gone beyond for you? If so, who? How have they gone beyond?

Right out of the box, all the BC staff are great, but one staff member who has especially gone beyond for me is Mr. Martinez (Ramon Martinez), someone who will always stay in my heart. I remember when I first started school in 2020, I did not know much English, but everything started changing when I met Mr. Martinez in my 8th grade class in 2021. Since then, he would always come early in the morning so we could get some work done together. I remember he was always sitting in the media center waiting for me so we could work, or even help other students. Mr. Martinez was not just a teacher to me, but also a mentor. He was one of the key people who helped me start my landscaping business in 2022, which later grew to more than 35 customers across the Twin Cities.

As Centaurs, we stand front and center. What do you stand front and center for?

As a student who represents the Centaurs, something I stand front and center for is student needs. In 2023, I got the privilege of representing the Student Council as vice president. During my term, I always wanted to make a positive impact on the school, like creating a proposal that would allow students to use a microwave in the cafeteria, which is something I am still working on during my presidency year. I believe asking for students' opinions on changes that will affect the school is one of the best ways to create a meaningful environment for students. For me, leadership is not only about representing students, but also listening to them and trying to make the school a better place for everyone.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I am planning on going to Gustavus Adolphus College to get a degree in nursing and a minor in communication, and eventually pursue a career as a nurse midwife. At the same time, another goal I have is to return to BC as a soccer coach or teacher assistant to support students who are new to the country, as I know how it feels to be in the same situation as them.

What advice would you give someone just starting high school?

One piece of advice I would give to someone just starting high school is to focus on getting your required classes done early instead of waiting until senior year. Elective classes are good, but the closer you get to senior year, everything can start feeling like you are in a bubble full of workload. That is why I would fully recommend getting required classes like economics, civics, and other graduation requirements out of the way early, so senior year can be a little easier and give you more time to focus on scholarships, internships, or college applications.

Speaking of internships, I would also highly recommend students apply for internships like Genesys Works because it gives students real-world experience, helps build resumes, and also offers flexible scheduling while still being a paid internship opportunity.

Finally, thank you Brooklyn Center for giving me the privilege of showing my whole high school experience and helping me grow throughout these years.