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Alumna urges Los Alamitos board to address body-image and mental-health culture in high school
Summary
Mariana Kramer de Luna, a Los Alamitos alumna and current law student, told the board she transferred because choir culture emphasized physical appearance, contributing to mental-health struggles, and urged the district to take action and collect testimonials for the board to review.
Mariana Kramer de Luna, identifying herself as a "proud product of the Los Alamitos early education" system, told the Board of Education that she struggled with body image and mental health while in high school and ultimately left the district because she did not feel safe.
"When I was in high school, I struggled with body image and mental health," Kramer de Luna said, describing a choir culture that emphasized physical appearance and pressured students about weight. She said attempts to raise concerns with a guidance counselor felt dismissive and that she was "steered away" from applying to the colleges she wanted, which contributed to her decision to transfer.
Kramer de Luna told the board she is collecting additional testimonials that she will submit by email before the next meeting, and said the issue is part of a larger pattern that "deserves much more attention." A board member thanked her "for your brave sharing your story" and encouraged her to follow up via district email for continuous-improvement steps.
The board did not take action during public comment but several members acknowledged the district's ongoing focus on social-emotional supports and invited the commenter to provide further documentation to district staff for follow-up.
