Senior Jasmine Casas Flores is working to revive the school’s Military Teens Club and strengthen support for military-connected students.
“I hope creating a club will give students another place to connect to the school and each other,” said Principal Carrie Cope. The club meets Wednesdays at lunch in C-10, where students can share experiences and build connections with others who understand military life. One of their first orders of business is to change the club’s name.
“I want to change it to a name that sounds more inclusive for everyone since it isn’t just a group for military-connected students, but still has that military kid history behind it,” said Casas Flores.
Military-connected students often face unique challenges, including frequent moves, parental deployment and adjusting to new schools. The revived club aims to provide a space where those students can build connections and find support. The club provides a place for students to share experiences, build friendships, and learn about resources available to military families.
For Casas Flores, the effort is deeply personal. After arriving at Burroughs High School during her junior year as a military-connected student, Casas Flores faced many of the challenges common in military family life. She hopes to turn that experience into support for other students.
“Being a military-connected student comes with unique challenges and sacrifices that many people do not always see,” explained Casas Flores. “I was inspired to get involved because I wanted to make sure students like me feel supported, welcomed, and recognized when they arrive at Burroughs.”
Casas Flores said those experiences motivated her to focus on building community for students adjusting to new schools and environments.
“Military-connected students often face frequent transitions that can affect their sense of belonging,” said Casas Flores. “My goal is to help build a welcoming community where they feel supported and connected.”
Casas Flores, who graduates in May, said she hopes to build a strong foundation for the club so it continues supporting students long after she leaves Burroughs.
Another resource is the school’s new Military and Family Life Counselor, who is located in the old Admin building on the north side of campus. Because MFLC counselors operate under confidentiality guidelines, the counselor is not identified by name.
The counselor is part of the Department of Defense’s Military and Family Life Counseling program, which places counselors in schools near military installations to support students and families connected to the military. MFLCs are also in place at Las Flores Elementary and Vieweg STEM Academy.
The MFLC provides support to students across campus, particularly those from military families. With more than a decade of experience, the counselor offers non-medical, solution-focused counseling to those seeking support — emphasizing that conversations remain confidential.
In addition to individual support, the MFLC also works with Mrs. Rosenberg to assist with student groups focused on anger management and loss and grief.
According to the MFLC, military-connected students often experience significant challenges as they navigate frequent moves, new schools, and the threat of parental deployments. The goal of the counseling program is to support students during these transitions and help them build resilience.
Although military-connected students may face significant challenges, the counselor emphasized that they are often among the most resilient young people. With the addition of the Military Teens Club and expanded counseling support, Burroughs hopes to ensure those students feel connected and supported on campus.
The MFLC is at Burroughs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she supports students at China Lake Junior High.
For students like Casas Flores, the goal is simple: making sure no military-connected student feels alone when they arrive at Burroughs.
