The Student Government currently has over 200 members this school year, making it the highest number of student participants ever seen before.
On Jan. 26, the club planned to hold a leadership conference, an interactive event for an estimated 60 club members to develop leadership, collaboration and planning skills.
It originally planned to be an all-day meeting with role calls, breakouts and the essential topic of what exactly a leader is and how to be one.
The expectation was to have guest speakers, including Carla Erdey, Director of Communications and Community Engagement and Destiny Watson, Alumni CEO of You Matter 2. They would have come down to the Viking Room and discussed how to be an effective leader, along with how to advertise and conduct yourself on social media.
Unfortunately due to unforeseen weather circumstances, the event was cancelled and unable to be rescheduled.
A common answer for why many students decided to join the Student Government this year was to have a voice in their school, like junior class President Sydney Flaherty, and also to evolve their speaking skills, like Ashton Warren, a sophomore and member of the club.
The organization gives that chance by letting students make a difference, whether that is by conducting fundraisers inside and outside the school, planning spirit days, building budget pop-ups or helping students during final exams by providing supportive posters and hot cocoa.
All of these activities help strengthen leadership skills, according to Cayla Tucker, social media manager. Tucker’s job in the club is to post stories about what they are planning to do via social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram.
Problem-solving is inscribed into the origins of these events. Tucker gave an example: “Like if you forgot to advertise this, what’s a new way to advertise?”
In Flaherty’s role she is obligated to attend all meetings and come up with ideas for events the junior class wants to do. Flaherty works with her board of around four members constantly, discussing their next step. Their prime goal as juniors is to plan prom, which is something Flaherty has put her full effort into.
“Once Turnabout is over, all wheels ahead towards prom,” she said. When asked, she stated that the club has “100 percent” aid in her leadership skills. Her position does not allow the individual to be focused solely on themselves. “It’s not putting myself first but everyone else,” she explained.
The seniors want to plan a great bon voyage and St. Patrick’s Day pop-up. Jamaya Wilson, President of the sophomore class, “wants to have a cultural medium about Hispanics, all kinds,” according to Warren.
So in all, the student government has many things to look forward to.
