Lake Washington PTSA Council was honored to welcome as our 2025 Founders’ Day Luncheon keynote speaker Simon Field, Eastlake High School senior and student leader. Simon (they/them) spoke to 180 luncheon attendees on Feb. 28, 2025, at Matts’ Rotisserie, in Redmond, Wash.
Simon’s moving keynote address captured the essence of this year’s PTA Reflections theme, “Accepting Imperfection.” They reflected on their journey through moments of their youth, including processing the meaning and significance of an autism diagnosis, and learning how to work with—rather than against—generalized anxiety disorder.
Simon also shared powerful and poignant memories of tearing down and destroying a pride flag in their high school cafeteria—in an act fueled by self-hatred. One year later, they would stand before their school’s Pride Club, coming out as gay and owning the shame of that moment with the flag—and then transforming it into a key piece of their story and acceptance of their whole, imperfect self.
“I had hurt them as I had hurt myself,” Simon recalled. “But amidst vulnerability and authenticity, we built a connection, and I formed a community that day, making it one of the best of my life.”
Simon inspired all in attendance to question what defines “normal” and what defines “flaws,” and to understand that our identities go far beyond stereotypes. “True, I’m not what people expect, but nothing is missing,” Simon said. “Now, I’ve accepted that I don’t need to apologize for unmet expectations. I can be gay with no fashion sense. I can be an autistic public speaker. I can lead a student government initiative despite my anxiety. I have accomplished all of these. I am all of these. No one description defines me.”
Joining Simon among our luncheon guests were their mother, a source of unwavering support in their life, and LWSD Equity & Family Engagement Facilitator Adanna Abakporo, who has been instrumental as a school-level and district-level equity champion and mentor.
Simon has been a Lake Washington School District student since kindergarten, at Dickinson Elementary, Evergreen Middle and Eastlake High. They are the second student to be featured as the keynote speaker at LWPTSA Council’s annual Founders’ Day celebration. Council extends our deepest gratitude to them for contributing their talents and time, and for making our event truly special. [View event photo gallery]
“When I say that practice makes progress, I don’t just mean in academics or skills—I mean in how we understand ourselves, how we accept our identities, and how we allow ourselves the grace to be imperfect and still worthy.”
— SIMON FIELD
Simon Field (they/them) is an Eastlake High School senior, and a passionate programmer, photographer, videographer and writer. Simon has been deeply involved in student leadership, serving as a Student Senator, Equity Board member, Link Crew Leader, and the incumbent Vice President of the Pride Club.
They are an active member of the Issaquah Teen Cafe and have also contributed as a teen voice on the planning team for The Garage’s annual Rainbow Prom. On Sundays, Simon volunteers with the A/V team at Bellevue First Congregational Church.
Simon’s dedication to community service and leadership has been recognized with the Rotary International: Sammamish Club Student of the Year Award. They have also twice been nominated as Eastlake’s Wolf of the Month.
This fall, Simon will attend Gonzaga University to pursue a bachelor of arts in Computer Science and Computational Thinking.
Headshot courtesy of Simon Field. Event photographs courtesy of Heather Wong and Carol Lugtu. All rights reserved.