The following students are running for class representatives of the sophomore class for 2022-23: Teddy Berente, Tyler Piescchala, Nick Nguyen, Pelayo Muñiz, Cecilia Letherman, Matthew Ritten, Maggie Zielinski, and Emma Richardson. 

Teddy Berente

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

I want to become an officer or representative of my class so that I can positively impact the student experience at Saint Joe. The people making decisions for the school need to be able to hear what the students want, and I am equipped to fill this role. There are certain things that I want to do as well that I feel would help my fellow students as well as myself (EX: clocks in the halls). Additionally, I greatly enjoyed the activities I got to participate in during my year of being a Freshman Class Representative, and I would like to take on more responsibility. I legitimately think that I am one of the best people to fill this role, and hope that I will be able to win the election and occupy this position.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

I think the primary role of an officer or representative at St. Joe is to listen to the student body and make real change from their ideas. They should actively try to make a positive impact on Saint Joseph by showing up to and participating in meetings. I will go to every meeting I can, and will contribute something to the discussion that will improve the student experience. I will contribute to this leadership team by helping come up with ideas to make this school better. Furthermore, I will follow through with these Ideas and put in the effort and time needed to make them a reality. However, I will also be able to work with others on projects to create the best result.

3. 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 that one of the most significant challenges facing the students at Saint Joe is a lack of school spirit. Many students don’t even know our school’s fight song, and they only go to a couple of competitive events if any. I will help increase this school’s spirit level by going to more events myself, encouraging others to go, and helping with dances. Another problem faced by the student body is that they can’t always know what time it is, or if they have enough time to go to the bathroom or get water without being tardy. I want to put clocks in the halls to counteract this. Finally, a major problem faced by the student body is stress due to academic rigor. I think that playing music in the hallways (like what is done during Christmas) could help alleviate some of this and lighten the overall mood of the school.

Tyler Clay Piezchala

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

   I want to be a representative in student government because I feel like I have the ability to hold this leadership role. I believe this past freshman year and having the opportunities of having a leadership role I believe I have what it takes to be the President for Sophomores or a class representative.  I also believe that I will gain more experience of being a leader that will help me in the future to become a very good leader. 

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

   I think the role of an officer and representative should look as that they care for what they are doing. They should be dedicated to what they do and be confident on what they talk about and what they believe in. An officer should also be proud in their choices and be a strong leader. I see myself contributing to this leadership team by helping all students realize that they are all capable of performing great things and that they should purse these things to be an amazing person.

3. 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 the biggest challenges facing students in our school today is the commitment of becoming a great and inspiring person. Every single human person has the ability to perform great things and they just need to find it. I can see multiple people who have the ability to perform great things but don’t pursue it. I will help these students face these challenges by talking with them in the garden that is planned for across the street. This garden that the science club is making, and that I’m apart of, will allow students to sit in a peaceful place and think about great opportunities that they can take part in. 

Pelayo Muñiz

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

I want to be a class representative to be able to not only be representative of my class but also make a difference at Saint Joe. I want to represent my class so that their ideas can be heard. Along with that, I want to be an example to my classmates. When people know that I’m a representative, they know that I’m not only representing my own class, but also student council. In addition to that, because I would be a representative, I would be able to contribute ideas and concerns that people might not have thought of or realized.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

What the role of a representative should look like is someone who contributes to discussions, especially at the student council meetings, but is not overbearing or bossy. This is important because leadership is not who is the most commanding, but who has the best ideas along with the best ways to convey them. I would see myself giving a different angle on ideas and being creative with solutions. In addition to that, I would (and am currently showing) my commitment by attending every meeting and showing my commitment through my actions. Another aspect of leadership is being a leader at all times, even when it’s inconvenient. I’ll make sure to always be professional and helpful even when I’m not at the student council meetings to be a role model for my peers.

3. 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 the biggest challenge students face at our school is staying on task with their school work. I’ve heard way too many of my classmates talking about how they get mediocre grades and that they’re failing, but then they are always late on their work, never study, or pay attention. I can help these students in multiple ways. First, I can literally help them by studying with them in class or helping them with their homework during class or flex. In addition, I can indirectly help them by being an example and showing them ways to stay focused and study.

Cecilia Letherman

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

    I want to be a representative of my class because I feel that I can bring the ideas of the student body to the rest of the council, and change our school for the better. I believe that the students should have a voice. If I am a representative on the council, I will make sure that the students are heard. I think my ability to communicate with others makes me a good candidate for student government. I hope that working together, we can make Saint Joe High School the best place that it can be. Representing such a powerful institution is very meaningful, and I believe that I will be a good representative because I have leadership qualities that will allow me to share the ideas of other students.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

    I think a representative at Saint Joe should look responsible and confident. I think that a representative should be willing to listen to their fellow students, as well as speak with the rest of the student government. I can see myself contributing to this leadership team through my unique ideas and hard work. I am willing to listen to the students, listen to the council, and take action. I enjoy working with other people, and I believe I can contribute both ideas and support to the student government. I am willing to talk to people, and get feedback from students. I am also willing to put in the work, so our school can change for the better. In the end, I think that a representative of Saint Joe should be a responsible leader, and I believe I can contribute these qualities to the student government.

3. 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 the biggest challenge facing the students at our school today is lack of communication. Students are often nervous for tests and exams, because they aren’t sure how difficult they will be. Students worry about sports after school, clubs, and even just homework itself. Ultimately, Saint Joe students need to know what’s coming, so they can prepare for the future. I believe we can help the students face these challenges by giving them a heads up about each week as it comes. I think we should create a policy in which students are told when they won’t have flex, many days in advance. We should update the Canvas calendar with Mass times and schedule changes as well. In the end, I believe we can better prepare the students of Saint Joe through communication and by treating them like adults, and giving them a heads up when changes come around.

Emma Richardson

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

I would like to be a representative for my class because I care greatly about this school community and want to help make it the best it can be.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

I think an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like a leader with good communication and responsibility. 

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

Some of the biggest challenges facing students today are being able to stay focused on priorities with so many distractions like social media and being able to sort through so much information around us every day to know what is right or wrong. I will help students face these challenges by having set times to focus on priorities and set all other things aside.