Sophomore class offices will be contested by the following candidates. Elizabeth Helm, Eli Pham, Alexander Slagh, and Aaron Wills are running for president; Becca Norwood is running unopposed for vice president; Tegegn Drake and Helen Logue are running for secretary. Below are the views of the candidates explaining why they wish to be elected, how they can contribute as a leader, and what the challenges are facing the school. Elections will be held on Thursday May 15th and Friday May 16th.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
Elizabeth Helm
Why do you wish to be an elected member of Student Government?
I would like to create a better environment for students to thrive in. I believe that every student can focus and thrive in the right environment. The problem is that everyone has different environments that they work in best. I would like to work on an adaptable environment that can suit each person individually and not just as a group. I can work on this by having specialized groups during flex that include others that are all ages that have or had the problem that the student has. This will allow for students to discuss issues from all grades with being that can relate to that student’s problem or how they fixed/solved their problems to help the student feel more relaxed and ready to learn for other classes.
What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to student leadership at SJHS?
An officer at Saint Joe should be welcoming, inclusive, and friendly to all. This includes making sure others inside the classroom or lunchroom are not left out and offering a seat to those students. I see myself contributing in both large and small deeds across the school. These can be as little as making sure those around me are happy and making sure they are welcome by saying hi in the hallway. I also would like to contribute to larger causes such as dances so that a student’s environment outside of the school is also enjoyable. I would like to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and welcome in our school because we all spend 180 days of the year together.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
I feel that students often feel stressed or anxious due to large amounts of schoolwork. A lot of students I have talked to have said that they often have at least an hour of schoolwork per night after a full seven hours of school. This often makes students feel stressed or anxious which I would like to help with. I plan to face these challenges by creating an atmosphere for students where they get their homework done but also feel relaxed and focused. This atmosphere would create goals such as to work for 20 mins and then either play a game, paint a picture, or something that relaxes the student and their mind so that they can work again after their break. This would allow students to both get their work done but not feel frustrated or burnt out afterwards. It would also help the students feel less dread when approaching homework time.
Eli Pham
Why do you wish to be an elected member of Student Government?
I wish to be an elected member of Student Government because I care about our school community and want to see it be a positive and welcoming environment for everyone. Being a member of Student Government would allow me to address and handle the problems I see more effectively. I believe that the voices of students matter and I will make sure that their voices are heard and respected. I will create a community where my classmates feel supported and are proud to a part of SJHS. Through collaboration and dedication, I will ensure a positive school environment for everyone.
What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to student leadership at SJHS?
I believe that the role of an officer or representative is to act as a mediator between staff and students, promote a healthy school environment, and plan school events in order to create a more positive community. I see myself contributing by being a reliable voice for my classmates and making sure that their concerns are heard. I will create a school environment where students feel heard, are motivated to learn, and are inclusive of others. I will work hard to bring people together, whether it’s through clubs, events, or by my everyday interactions. I truly believe in leading by example academically, through my actions, and in by being responsible.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
I believe that many students at our school face an unhealthy amount of academic stress. Although I do believe that it is important to push yourself and work hard, I also believe that it is highly important for students to maintain balance to be mentally healthy. If elected, I will help our community with this challenge by advocating for reduced work load when necessary and promoting communication between students and staff. Conversely, I have noticed that many students at our school struggle with motivation. I believe this happens when school feels repetitive and disconnected from their personal interests. As a result, students may not feel excited or engaged in their learning. If elected, I will support more interactive learning experiences, encourage greater involvement in existing clubs, help create new clubs based on student interests, and promote fun school events.
Alexander Slagh
Why do you wish to be an elected member of Student Government?
I want to make sure that mistakes that are made are taken care of and everyone can get along with each other, meaning I want everyone to be able to feel comfortable enough to be able to walk through these hallways and not have to worry about bullying, and that’ll be done by me going to the counselors office and having them do a check-in with each student.
What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to student leadership at SJHS?
I see them to be well rounded in academics as well as behaviorally fit to lead, meaning that they can maintain good grades and know how to act like a good person St. Joe teaches them to be. I will contribute by being a person people know that they can come to, and I’ll make sure that the students who do need help will get the help they need.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
I think one of the biggest challenges is wanting to “fit in”, however everyone has different opinions of what it means to fit in. Students don’t need to be “cool” and it can be obvious when they think so. I also see people who need the help and are too afraid to seek out to find that help. So, as President I will make it my duty to check in with my peers both behaviorally and academically, and to give them motivation to seek help if they need it.
Aaron Wills
Why do you wish to be an elected member of Student Government?
This year, I had the honor of serving as the class president for the freshman class. I am deeply committed to every voice being heard and valued within our class and community. I am passionate about addressing concerns that affect our class. My vision is to build a positive school environment, where each student feels supported and empowered to succeed. As class president, I am going to keep to my promise of asking people what they want for the school, and do my best to meet their expectations. I’m committed to listening, and taking action to represent the diverse perspectives within our student body.
What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to student leadership at SJHS?
The class president should care more about hearing the class so I can get it out to the rest of them so we can fix it. With strong communication skills, I’m confident in my ability to coordinate with school staff and students. My dedication to hard work, and creating lasting change aligns with the core values of this role. As president, I will ensure that our sophomore year is not only memorable but meaningful, leaving a legacy of positivity and unity. I also took on a role within the P.A.C. meetings with the other staff and students to improve our school’s environment. One of my key contributions was brainstorming ideas for charitable events that could benefit both our school and the community.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
The biggest challenge I see at our school is that people need more help in their classes so that they can earn better grades. St Joe has high expectations for students and it’s equally important that students are given high levels of support to meet those expectations. Additional support will go a long way in preparing students even more for college and the workplace. I could work to pass on any suggestions to our teachers to help support us.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Becca Norwood – Running Unopposed.
Why do you wish to be an elected member of Student Government?
I would like to be elected as a member of student government because I want to make sure all student’s voices are heard at Saint Joe. We currently have full enrollment for the freshman class. That’s a lot of people! I want to make sure that everyone feels like they have a voice. I also want to make sure our classes voice is a positive one, and able to be heard.
What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to student leadership at SJHS?
I think an officer role in student government should be filled by a person who is able to contribute to it. Someone who is able to go to meetings, have ideas, and other things. I also think a role should be filled by someone who cares about their school and classmates. I think someone who fills an officer role should also be able to work well with other people. I see myself contributing to this by brining good collaborative ideas with a positive attitude.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
I think one of our biggest challenges at school is that we aren’t able to express our problems. I think we all struggle to communicate about them. Not for any reason in particular, just because we don’t have someone to talk to! If I am elected again I want to be someone who students can talk to about things they want changed. I would like to help students get their thoughts taken seriously.
SECRETARIAL CANDIDATES
Tegegn Drake
Why do you wish to be an elected member of Student Government?
I wish to be an elected member because I genuinely care about not just the sophomore class but our whole school. Being an advocate for the students is something I deeply care about. Students deserve a voice and I want provide that. Being an elected member of student government would give me a idea about what these students truly care about and what they need.
What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to student leadership at SJHS?
I think being a representative is a job in which a person can advocate for the opinion of the student body. This would not just include what the student’s seek out, but would require that the official look at both sides and find a solution. I see myself advocating for the students’ needs but also taking into account what the administration is able to do. I see myself pushing for what students need and making it known to the administration.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
I believe there are many challenges facing the students at our school, but one of the biggest challenges is stress. Students often have a flex period but people have come to me with concerns relating to when flex is either reduced or completely gone for the day — specifically around the end of the year. Balancing homework and studying with outside life can be very stressful with students and I think promoting different ways to combat that is an important target. I would advocate for flex when it is needed throughout the year and I would urge students to find a strategy with their teachers.
Helen Logue
Why do you wish to be an elected member of Student Government?
I believe I should be reelected as class secretary because I believe students should have an organized space to grow. If students are not organized, how will they have room to grow? I can help them stay organized by participating in every student government meeting and attempting to share my ideas. Being involved in student government gives me the chance to give a voice to the other students that are too shy to speak up for the greater good of the school.
What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to student leadership at SJHS?
I believe that the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should be involved in supporting and caring for the classmates that are left out. I see myself contributing to the student leadership as SJHS by taking care and lifting up others. While spending my first year at SJHS I met multiple of my friends by looking out for people like me. People that are shy, hardworking, and overlooked. Communication is a strong a crucial key in friendships and I would like to use that in how I lead the school.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
I think the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today is communication and inclusion. People separate themselves in “friend groups” and most of the time do not communicate with others out side of these groups unless they are partnered together by the teacher. I would like to helps students facing these challenges by being the “safe place” for those who feel like they do not belong in groups and struggle to communicate with others. I believe everyone should have someone to talk to especially when they really need it. Sometimes a student just needs to talk to another student because sometime it might be hard to relate things to adults.
