Good Morning everyone, as you all know, well I hope at least, my name is Mackenzie Quiles and I’m a junior. I’ve been a part of the student council since my freshman year, making this my third year. I’m up here addressing you to let you know why I, would make a perfect fit for student president. I would be a good candidate because I believe I could present as a very strong leader for not only student council but also for the student body. I am not a major fan of talking highly of myself but I guess this will be the exception.
That brings us to the question of, what qualities do I have to offer if elected as student president? To start off, as a member of the student council responsibility is very near and dear to me. Over the past two years I’ve shown unwavering commitment by consistently attending and engaging in nearly every event and meeting. I’m fully able to be trusted and depended on. Moving on to my next point I strive to be humble, work with integrity, and ensure everyone is included. Inclusion has always been important to me especially since people feel excluded so very often, if elected as President I am dedicated to making sure all student council events are appealing to the student body’s interests and includes everyone. And finally, collaborating, in the student council, I’ve consistently embraced a team mindset, recognizing that every member contributes. I strive to foster collaboration and co-create great outcomes from all sides. Those are just a few examples of the qualities I have that make me a very strong candidate.
Now I could tell you all about all my accomplishments but leadership is way more than that, it’s about listening, caring and being present. Throughout my years in the student council I’ve shown prime examples of those things. For example it was the day of our spring fling and we were left alone for a few hours while prepping stuff, it was the time of building the decorations and getting certain foods ready. But we had to work together and get it finished without a teacher to guide us. I set tasks for people to do and in what order we had to do them in helping efficiently get it done but, I let them choose where they wanted to work and what they wanted to do instead of shoving them in spots they didn’t enjoy. I made sure we put thought into what was going on and how we decorated making sure the dance would be pleasing to the student body. I was present the entire time of the dance and constantly helping around and listening to make sure nothing was going wrong, the dance was a success. Being present is also extremely important to me, even in the simplest ways, there were times that not many members could attend something but I tried my hardest to attend and most times I did so successfully, sometimes even bringing someone else along to help. As President I would show these traits in multiple different ways but especially in meetings. As President I would have to preside over the meetings. So I’d make sure I focus all my attention on the members and how they felt about things and why, making sure I’m listening to their points and reasoning. I would also make sure everyone is in on something instead of getting a few loud agreements but not possibly all of them and going along with it, I would make sure I hear every voice. I will also pride myself in attending every meeting and work my daily schedule around the meetings ensuring the main reason I can’t go is because I’m ill or something extreme went on.
Now I’d like to share a tiny story, I moved to Vermont in 6th grade which was during covid. There were maybe 11 kids in the class, some came and some left. I had started to lack the basic social skills and I had major social anxiety. I didn’t even walk down the hallway on freshman orientation to look at the clubs but after maybe a month I noticed stuff the student council was doing and began to grow curious until one day a good friend of mine who was also interested attended a meeting with me. I was horrified I hadn’t done something like that in years, but right away it was welcoming, warm, and just filled with lovely people. Over time I started to come out of my shell more and more. Nonetheless I started to develop a passion for student council, it wasn’t just a club to me anymore. I made it my goal to attend every meeting. I now could actually engage in conversations unlike before and was showing up to about every event of theirs and participating. Slowly I became someone I would have never envisioned myself being, outgoing, friendly, and committed instead of shy, quiet and reserved.
During that time I also dedicated myself to giving back to the community. Since Freshman year I have done over 230 hours of community service and I’m still striving to get more. It makes you feel more connected to the people around you and makes you humble. Which is my main goal as a leader, not to be above anyone but more of right to the side of you.
If I get elected, I promise you all I will listen to your ideas, support every student from the loudest to the quietest, provide inclusive fun school events and guarantee the student body will be heard. I want to make sure we feel proud in the school, make it somewhere everyone is heard and no one is left out.
Being a leader isn’t about being the best but bringing out the best in everyone else, thank you for your time.