Kate Villegas, ASB Administrative Coordinator 2019-2020
The Initial Letter - Page 1
It feels like all anyone will ever tell me at the beginning of this year is, “Oh, you’re a junior, well good luck with that!” or “You really know how to keep yourself busy!” My response is, “Thank you.” and “Yes, and I love what I do!” I believe that it is important that I recognize the value of education and extracurriculars, no matter how much it is pushed upon me by other students to believe that school is unworthy and will grant me great mental strain, which we are trying to persuade ourselves is true at this point in moments of pressure. This strain is most definitely true to some degree, but why and how are we still confusing healthy stress with unhealthy stress? School will be a positive learning and social environment this year. I will come to school, persevere, and offer the best effort I can even after the most strenuous days. I am looking to focus and put a lot of my energy into my classes, Leadership, running, the clubs I have committed myself to, and my own personal environmental sustainability & compassion journey. Words aid in giving reality existence, and this is one of the most important messages a student needs: that we can endure this year throughout all the turbulence, and that we are enough. That we are doing our best, and if we aren’t, why is that? I have spent a lot of my high school experience so concerned about after. What is my plan? Who do I need to prove myself to? What college’s expectations do I need to meet this year? These personal questions have been some of the most toxic and stressful concerns I have pushed upon myself regarding school. I am committing myself to the things I care for, I am being raw and honest, this is what I love, and nothing is being forced to beg for the approval of adults, an employer, or any college admission offices.
This year will be difficult, alike all years of high school, but I will always remind myself that my stress is momentary, and it is not worth socially detaching myself from others and in result feeling loneliness due to this. It is not worth forgetting about your lazy days and losing joy in watching even more Yorgos Lanthimos movies or that one really bad Netflix show. It is not worth feeling guilty about static school days where you have nearly no responsibility that day. I am looking forward to this year, and I must remind myself that throughout all the bad days, there is still goodness.
This year will be difficult, alike all years of high school, but I will always remind myself that my stress is momentary, and it is not worth socially detaching myself from others and in result feeling loneliness due to this. It is not worth forgetting about your lazy days and losing joy in watching even more Yorgos Lanthimos movies or that one really bad Netflix show. It is not worth feeling guilty about static school days where you have nearly no responsibility that day. I am looking forward to this year, and I must remind myself that throughout all the bad days, there is still goodness.
Part I: Favorite Quotes - Page 2
“I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone. How you talk. Your smile, and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How did you decorate your home, or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. The way you feel. Life is art.”~ Helena Bonham Carter
This quote is one that helps me remember all the beauty that resides in every single piece of the universe, no matter how small. I love how this quote has helped me appreciate the littlest of traits or even the “blandest” of things found in every different person.
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”~ Mao Tse-Tung
People will always lose sight of some of the most important aspects of life. A negative that we focus on all too much is our personal gain, and we then lose sight of the goodness that can be found in treating others with a kind and selfless heart.
“Hatred is born of ignorance. Fear is it’s father, and Isolation it’s mother.”~ Christian Picciolini
I feel that this quote ties into politics very well. I have to remind myself when I get frustrated with atrocities occurring around the world or seemingly extreme opinions of others, that it all stems from ignorance, hatred, and isolation. There is a reason behind the horrors.
“There is no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”~ Nelson Mandela
Why would I find passion in cutting myself short? In not pursuing what my heart aches for? In not working a little harder, even though I want the positive results? Exactly, I don’t find passion in those things. Humans are capable of such incredible lives, and it is important to remember that you are no exception to that.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”~ Maya Angelou
This quote touches on selflessness in a profound way. All our lives we try to prove ourselves through important words or important events, anything that will build our resumé or our credibility. When really what we should be focusing on to be noticed, is the impact we make on others.
“I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone. How you talk. Your smile, and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How did you decorate your home, or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. The way you feel. Life is art.”~ Helena Bonham Carter
This quote is one that helps me remember all the beauty that resides in every single piece of the universe, no matter how small. I love how this quote has helped me appreciate the littlest of traits or even the “blandest” of things found in every different person.
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”~ Mao Tse-Tung
People will always lose sight of some of the most important aspects of life. A negative that we focus on all too much is our personal gain, and we then lose sight of the goodness that can be found in treating others with a kind and selfless heart.
“Hatred is born of ignorance. Fear is it’s father, and Isolation it’s mother.”~ Christian Picciolini
I feel that this quote ties into politics very well. I have to remind myself when I get frustrated with atrocities occurring around the world or seemingly extreme opinions of others, that it all stems from ignorance, hatred, and isolation. There is a reason behind the horrors.
“There is no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”~ Nelson Mandela
Why would I find passion in cutting myself short? In not pursuing what my heart aches for? In not working a little harder, even though I want the positive results? Exactly, I don’t find passion in those things. Humans are capable of such incredible lives, and it is important to remember that you are no exception to that.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”~ Maya Angelou
This quote touches on selflessness in a profound way. All our lives we try to prove ourselves through important words or important events, anything that will build our resumé or our credibility. When really what we should be focusing on to be noticed, is the impact we make on others.
Part II: Quotes - Page 3
“As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people.” - Joseph B. Wirthlin
As a leader, I perceive this quote as one that stresses the fact that adversity is bound to happen, and as leaders we must view this adversity as something that helps further develop ourselves and our leadership qualities. When I read this quote my mind gets reminded of the growth mindset and the fact that we can overcome obstacles and improve in certain areas of life with will-power and GRIT. We do not need innate talent to trudge through adversity, we need a mindset that can get us through it, which we are in control of for the most part. Even more importantly, we must see this adversity in a positive light and as something that adds value to our life in the end.
Reflection is so important because it allows us to look back on our successes and failures. It allows us to look back on what we felt good about and what we felt not so good about. Reflecting on my experience in the 2019/20 Leadership School Year, I see a lot of adversity in and out of the class for me. The adversity I faced outside of class affected my efforts in Leadership in addition to the adversity I faced inside of class. This school year I have experienced emotional troubles and conflict that have never been relevant to my life up until this year, and it strongly affected my performance in leadership. Looking in retrospect and reflecting on how I did this year, I am not proud. With this feeling of embarrassment and disappointment in myself, I know the only thing I can do is take it all in and move forward. Both the obstacles that I created and the obstacles that I had no control over were necessary, as they are helping develop me into the leader I am meant to be. This is where it comes into my hands, and instead of pitying myself and my situation, I look further into exactly where I went wrong and grow. I am looking forward to next school year and Leadership.
A simple statement can make the biggest impact for the future because it spreads a powerful message with few words. It can be interpreted in many different ways, and each word coming together to form the statement has significance. Simple quotes are so important because they act as reminders, as phrases to lift us, as motivators, and as something to help us reflect.
“As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people.” - Joseph B. Wirthlin
As a leader, I perceive this quote as one that stresses the fact that adversity is bound to happen, and as leaders we must view this adversity as something that helps further develop ourselves and our leadership qualities. When I read this quote my mind gets reminded of the growth mindset and the fact that we can overcome obstacles and improve in certain areas of life with will-power and GRIT. We do not need innate talent to trudge through adversity, we need a mindset that can get us through it, which we are in control of for the most part. Even more importantly, we must see this adversity in a positive light and as something that adds value to our life in the end.
Reflection is so important because it allows us to look back on our successes and failures. It allows us to look back on what we felt good about and what we felt not so good about. Reflecting on my experience in the 2019/20 Leadership School Year, I see a lot of adversity in and out of the class for me. The adversity I faced outside of class affected my efforts in Leadership in addition to the adversity I faced inside of class. This school year I have experienced emotional troubles and conflict that have never been relevant to my life up until this year, and it strongly affected my performance in leadership. Looking in retrospect and reflecting on how I did this year, I am not proud. With this feeling of embarrassment and disappointment in myself, I know the only thing I can do is take it all in and move forward. Both the obstacles that I created and the obstacles that I had no control over were necessary, as they are helping develop me into the leader I am meant to be. This is where it comes into my hands, and instead of pitying myself and my situation, I look further into exactly where I went wrong and grow. I am looking forward to next school year and Leadership.
A simple statement can make the biggest impact for the future because it spreads a powerful message with few words. It can be interpreted in many different ways, and each word coming together to form the statement has significance. Simple quotes are so important because they act as reminders, as phrases to lift us, as motivators, and as something to help us reflect.
Part I: Goals - Page 4
Leadership Goals:
Leadership Goals:
- Stay true to your word. When I make a promise, I will go through with it. Whatever I commit myself to, it will be genuine and people will know they can trust me. Of course there are times where I’ll be unable to follow through with certain commitments due to necessary priorities, but I understand my limits and appropriate prioritizing.
- Focus on improving your communication skills. This is an essential for leadership, school, and almost all aspects of life. It is a very significant aspect of trust, reliance, and success in most every environment.
- Start a PERIOD Chapter. Menstrual awareness is overlooked on an everyday basis. I want to help students around campus understand period poverty, and to debunk global menstruation misunderstandings.
- Be at peace with myself and my progress in life. It takes time to truly see how blessed you are in life without so much judgement against myself. I am constantly feeling as if I am not doing enough, but it is time that I begin to think about it from a more progressive perspective.
- Live a zero-waste lifestyle. This is very specific, but it is something that is very important to me. Selflessness and sacrifice are very important parts of this journey. I know that I can do even more to live a sustainable lifestyle, and I believe it wouldn’t be too difficult for me, considering my passion for environmentalism.
- Immerse myself in new cultural environments/norms. This goal consists of me learning multiple languages, visiting highly differing developing and developed countries around the globe, and always expanding my knowledge. It is already something I love to invest my time and money into.
Part II: Goals - Page 5
Leadership Goals:
Leadership Goals:
- I did not stay true to my word. I was actually terrible at prioritizing things this year and it was the worst it’s ever been. I did not fully dedicate myself to my commitments. I really have disappointed myself here and I have a lot of work to do.
- My communication skills were very bad at the beginning of the year and are still quite bad, but I have had much more of a focus on improving it now than I did at the beginning of the year. I still have a lot of necessary work to do in this area to reach anywhere near where I want to be with my communication skills.
- I did not start a PERIOD chapter. I decided not to pursue it and realized that I was happier doing less and putting more of my energy into fewer commitments instead of less of my energy into more commitments. I was less busy this year and that helped me be less stressed and more happy.
- I’m not really at peace with myself and my progress in life because I am not proud of where I am at right now. I am nowhere near where I want to be, but I am glad that I have recognized this.
- I am still very interested in living a zero-waste lifestyle, but I’ve shifted my focus more towards a low-waste lifestyle instead of a zero-waste lifestyle. I made a lot of strides toward this this year, but I also had to remind myself to be a little more realistic and less hard on myself.
- At this point in my life I am immersing myself into culture by investing a lot of my time into learning Spanish. Although I am very interested in learning other languages, Spanish is my priority right now and I dedicate a lot of effort into learning it.. I do not have much control over how much I can travel at the moment though. Doing well in school so that I can be financially stable and pursue travel in the future is the most I can do, which I am redirecting a lot of my focus toward right now.
Part I: People Magazine Cover - Page 6
Part II: People Magazine Article - Page 7
Kate Villegas is a junior at Ripon High. She is the ASB Administrative Coordinator of Ripon High’s Leadership Program, is involved in Yoga Club, is a class officer of Multicultural Club, and is the president of Science Olympiad. Villegas participates in cross country in the fall season and track & field in the spring season, which are two of her favorite extracurriculars she is committed to. Villegas also volunteers 4 hours a week at Memorial Medical Center as a Junior Volunteer. “Something really nice about time progressing is that when you have been saying yes to everything for so long, you finally feel comfortable saying no and are capable of narrowing down the things in life that you are genuinely interested in,” states Kate Villegas regarding her choices on her commitments. “I was really stressed freshman year of high school, I was a bit confused last year, and this year I am still incredibly confused, but I feel like I understand myself so much better after going through so much, with myself,” comments Villegas.
Kate is currently taking one honors course and three AP courses.”In all honesty, yes it is hard. Half the time I go home and have to teach myself the material, but this is a good learning experience and I keep trying to tell myself that,” declares Villegas. Her course load is very heavy this year, but Villegas believes that this is good preparation for what higher education will feel like. She is learning how to manage her time, how to correctly divide her energy into her multiple responsibilities, and most importantly, she is learning how to appropriately prioritize.
Villegas is not yet sure of what she is vocationally interested in. “For the longest time I thought that I would be successful in the medical field, but now I just don’t envision myself going down that path that clearly,” expresses Villegas. She claims to see herself as a more verbal and opinionated person, which is a strength in multiple other professional fields. Villegas may be interested in political science or law, but she is simply testing the waters right now and is doing her best to venture out of her comfort zone.
As for Villegas’ personal life, she has devoted herself to sustainable living and veganism. She loves this new direction of life that she has decided to follow, and would recommend it to most people. Villegas claims that one of the best parts of diving into veganism and sustainable living has been the community and the way it makes her feel. “When you pick the right crowd to share your experiences with and look to for advice, everyone is so welcoming and forgiving,” states Villegas. She has learned most about this lifestyle through YouTube and Instagram, and she is extremely grateful for it. She exclaims that her health has improved since becoming vegan and she has saved a lot of money by avoiding plastics and single-use items. Kate believes that ethical and sustainable living is truly a benefit for everyone, and only requires step-by-step commitment and to push yourself, but not too hard.
There is also struggles that Villegas feels are important to mention. “I have dealt with burnout. I have lost my purpose in some of the activities I’ve been committed. I have compared myself to others. I have been so overwhelmed that I didn’t meet my expectations in a course. I have messed up, but it doesn’t mean that everything is over,” expressed Villegas. Life gets stressful, but Villegas reminds herself to take things one step at a time and to remember why she does what she does. If she can’t find that purpose, it is okay to say no. Villegas plans to focus on her mental and physical health a lot more. She feels like these aspects of life are so heavily over-looked on a daily basis. People don’t nurture their bodies enough with enough rest, genuine mental relaxation, or good exercise and foods, claims Villegas.
Villegas recognizes that she is only about ⅕ through life. She has a lot more to go, and that means a lot more time to learn and understand herself and others.
Kate Villegas is a junior at Ripon High. She is the ASB Administrative Coordinator of Ripon High’s Leadership Program, is involved in Yoga Club, is a class officer of Multicultural Club, and is the president of Science Olympiad. Villegas participates in cross country in the fall season and track & field in the spring season, which are two of her favorite extracurriculars she is committed to. Villegas also volunteers 4 hours a week at Memorial Medical Center as a Junior Volunteer. “Something really nice about time progressing is that when you have been saying yes to everything for so long, you finally feel comfortable saying no and are capable of narrowing down the things in life that you are genuinely interested in,” states Kate Villegas regarding her choices on her commitments. “I was really stressed freshman year of high school, I was a bit confused last year, and this year I am still incredibly confused, but I feel like I understand myself so much better after going through so much, with myself,” comments Villegas.
Kate is currently taking one honors course and three AP courses.”In all honesty, yes it is hard. Half the time I go home and have to teach myself the material, but this is a good learning experience and I keep trying to tell myself that,” declares Villegas. Her course load is very heavy this year, but Villegas believes that this is good preparation for what higher education will feel like. She is learning how to manage her time, how to correctly divide her energy into her multiple responsibilities, and most importantly, she is learning how to appropriately prioritize.
Villegas is not yet sure of what she is vocationally interested in. “For the longest time I thought that I would be successful in the medical field, but now I just don’t envision myself going down that path that clearly,” expresses Villegas. She claims to see herself as a more verbal and opinionated person, which is a strength in multiple other professional fields. Villegas may be interested in political science or law, but she is simply testing the waters right now and is doing her best to venture out of her comfort zone.
As for Villegas’ personal life, she has devoted herself to sustainable living and veganism. She loves this new direction of life that she has decided to follow, and would recommend it to most people. Villegas claims that one of the best parts of diving into veganism and sustainable living has been the community and the way it makes her feel. “When you pick the right crowd to share your experiences with and look to for advice, everyone is so welcoming and forgiving,” states Villegas. She has learned most about this lifestyle through YouTube and Instagram, and she is extremely grateful for it. She exclaims that her health has improved since becoming vegan and she has saved a lot of money by avoiding plastics and single-use items. Kate believes that ethical and sustainable living is truly a benefit for everyone, and only requires step-by-step commitment and to push yourself, but not too hard.
There is also struggles that Villegas feels are important to mention. “I have dealt with burnout. I have lost my purpose in some of the activities I’ve been committed. I have compared myself to others. I have been so overwhelmed that I didn’t meet my expectations in a course. I have messed up, but it doesn’t mean that everything is over,” expressed Villegas. Life gets stressful, but Villegas reminds herself to take things one step at a time and to remember why she does what she does. If she can’t find that purpose, it is okay to say no. Villegas plans to focus on her mental and physical health a lot more. She feels like these aspects of life are so heavily over-looked on a daily basis. People don’t nurture their bodies enough with enough rest, genuine mental relaxation, or good exercise and foods, claims Villegas.
Villegas recognizes that she is only about ⅕ through life. She has a lot more to go, and that means a lot more time to learn and understand herself and others.
Role Model - Page 8
My role model that I am deciding to write about this year is my great-grandma Phyd. She is pictured at the top left of the photo on the right. My grandma Phyd had a great impact on my family. Seeing that my mother, her granddaughter, and my father, her ex-son-in-law, had always had so much respect for Phyd, I knew that there was a lot more to her than just the typical behavior of a sweet and frail great-grandmother. When we would visit our great-grandma Phyd in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, I remember her thoughtful consideration well. It was routine that she offer us a banana and occasionally some streusel cake, and she would cut the top of the banana peel off so it would be easier for us to peel. She would offer us the box of toys that remained in her home from the two previous generations of kids who needed something to keep them entertained. Besides the generosity she displayed with my sisters and I from the time I first met her, I always noticed how devoted she was to my mom. While my mom lived in Idaho growing up she would frequently stay with Phyd. She knew her grandparents’ home would always be a welcome abode. Now that we live in California, Phyd would have phone conversations with my mom up to three days a week while my mom drove home from work, which was more often than the phone calls my grandma Gail would share with my mom. My mom has said many times that Phyd was a light in her life, in addition to so many others. It was widely known that she always provided an optimistic perspective to any situation. She was also persistent. My grandma Phyd believed what she believed and was stubborn. More or less, that is a reason for her passing; but then again, it is exactly what she wanted. I have picked my great-grandma Phyd as my role model because of these traits she possessed: thoughtful, good-natured, positive, purposeful, and resolute. She was truly a gem and will forever hold a place in my heart. |
Inner Animal... - Page 9
After researching different characteristics that animals possess, I have found that the traits I find in myself are similar to those of an Arabian Horse. I identify with the ENFJ personality type within the Myers-Briggs personality types, and this type is often compared to the Arabian Horse. The Arabian Horse lived outdoors in the desert environments of the Middle East and surrounding Eurasia region. They lived near their owners and their families, which helped them develop an independent temperament and a disposition that is positive and approachable. This also helped them develop a natural, good behavior with humans of all ages. Arabians are intelligent horses that learn good habits quickly, but also learn bad habits just as quickly. Most Arabians have a natural tendency to cooperate with humans, but that cooperation withdraws if they feel that they are being treated poorly. The Arabian will not tolerate any training practices that they deem to be abusive or inept. Arabians display energetic and willing behavior when treated how they expect to be treated. They should not be kept in a stall without any social contact with other horses or humans for a prolonged period of time. This will negatively affect their disposition. I closely relate to all the traits possessed by the Arabian Horse that I’ve shared. I see myself as someone who is very independent, and I have behaved like this for most of my life since I was raised this way. I believe that I am positive and approachable to others, and as a result I naturally cooperate well with people and prioritize this. Something very present in my personality is that I can develop both positive and negative habits very quickly. If I am treated poorly by anyone I lose respect for them and it immediately affects how I engage with them. I never stray from standing up for myself. I also find myself feeling unusually disconsolate when I am socially disengaged from others. My family, friends, and peers are all important aspects of my daily life, and socializing is essential for me to feel energetic and comfortable. |
Part I: The Best Things About Me - Page 10
Part II: The Best Things About Me - Page 11
Dog Days Are Over - Ugo Rondinone
The Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine
Lyrics:
Happiness hit her, like a train on a track
Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with a drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run
Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your longing behind
You can't carry it with you if you want to survive
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come
And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had
And what was left after that too, oh
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back
Struck from a great height
By someone who should know better than that
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses
'Cause here they come
Run fast for your mother and fast for your father
Run for your children for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your loving behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses
'Cause here they come
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses
'Cause here they come
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run
The Dog Days Are Over is a song that is harp based. I feel elevated and in a mystical dimension while listening. It is about finding happiness suddenly, but not believing it right away because of how you have trained yourself to think. The imagery is very strong for me in this song with phrases like, "Happiness hit her, like a train on a track", "And washed it away down the kitchen sink", "Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father", "Can't you hear the horses? 'Cause here they come", and more, making me feel l a lot of direct passion and emotion in the song. I do not necessarily feel that this song represents my entire character, but I feel as if it accurately represents certain aspects of my life, and carries a relevant message that I need to remind myself of. In an interview, Florence + The Machine states that the title of the song came from the art piece shown above by Ugo Rondinone.
I interpret the lyrics of the The Dog Days Are Over as explaining someone who afraid to love and be vulnerable to love, so they hide their heart and deprive themselves. "She killed it with kisses, and from it she fled" shows how willing they are to get close to love, but they cannot accept it, but "Happiness hit her, like a train on a track" shows how powerful happiness and love are, even in times of hardship. I interpret this song as one that speaks on fear and how much it can stop you; living life with your guard up, and perceiving love as a weakness that will turn on you in the end.
"The horses are coming, so you better run. Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father, run for your children, for your sisters and brothers. Leave all your love and your longing behind; you can't carry it with you if you want to survive," is a powerful part of the song. The good of the future is represented by the horses, so you must run toward that good! You must leave behind the baggage that kept you from loving for so long, because the power of happiness is worth the discomfort of vulnerability. This sacrifice is the only way you will be more fulfilled and will allow life the space to exponentially improve in quality.
Lyrics:
Happiness hit her, like a train on a track
Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with a drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run
Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your longing behind
You can't carry it with you if you want to survive
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come
And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had
And what was left after that too, oh
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back
Struck from a great height
By someone who should know better than that
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses
'Cause here they come
Run fast for your mother and fast for your father
Run for your children for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your loving behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses
'Cause here they come
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses
'Cause here they come
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run
The Dog Days Are Over is a song that is harp based. I feel elevated and in a mystical dimension while listening. It is about finding happiness suddenly, but not believing it right away because of how you have trained yourself to think. The imagery is very strong for me in this song with phrases like, "Happiness hit her, like a train on a track", "And washed it away down the kitchen sink", "Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father", "Can't you hear the horses? 'Cause here they come", and more, making me feel l a lot of direct passion and emotion in the song. I do not necessarily feel that this song represents my entire character, but I feel as if it accurately represents certain aspects of my life, and carries a relevant message that I need to remind myself of. In an interview, Florence + The Machine states that the title of the song came from the art piece shown above by Ugo Rondinone.
I interpret the lyrics of the The Dog Days Are Over as explaining someone who afraid to love and be vulnerable to love, so they hide their heart and deprive themselves. "She killed it with kisses, and from it she fled" shows how willing they are to get close to love, but they cannot accept it, but "Happiness hit her, like a train on a track" shows how powerful happiness and love are, even in times of hardship. I interpret this song as one that speaks on fear and how much it can stop you; living life with your guard up, and perceiving love as a weakness that will turn on you in the end.
"The horses are coming, so you better run. Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father, run for your children, for your sisters and brothers. Leave all your love and your longing behind; you can't carry it with you if you want to survive," is a powerful part of the song. The good of the future is represented by the horses, so you must run toward that good! You must leave behind the baggage that kept you from loving for so long, because the power of happiness is worth the discomfort of vulnerability. This sacrifice is the only way you will be more fulfilled and will allow life the space to exponentially improve in quality.
Part I: Homecoming Activities - Page 12
Part II: Homecoming Activities Continued - Page 13
Part I: What I Like Best About Being a Member of Leadership - Page 14
Core Camp: I think I enjoyed Core Camp so much this year because I focused both on getting to know students from my school and getting to know students from other schools. I wasn’t nervous at Core Camp this year, which was the biggest relief for me. In previous years I spent my time being anxious about the next thing I was going to say, or being anxious about how others would see me in our class. I saw this year’s camp experience as a year to mentor and welcome new students, which has a lot of meaning and purpose for me, and makes me feel fulfilled in many ways. I really enjoyed my job session this year, because I met some really good people from Vanden High School in that session, who I will still talk to today occasionally. This year’s Core Camp experience was very calming and bliss for me.
Winterfest Preparation: The preparation for Winterfest this year was a very positive experience for me. Something really bittersweet that happened was my realization of how drastically all of the juniors in Leadership have changed since freshmen year. We talked a lot about regular, everyday things, along with some personal stories, and as we all sat there painting and building, I was so proud of everyone! I felt this joy I hadn’t felt in a while, because I really realized just how lucky I am to have had them all in my life going on three years. After dealing with a lot of hostility during Homecoming that completely drained us, I was a little worried about how Winterfest would run, but instead, preparation for a more stressful event like Winterfest had never felt more personal, and that was something I think we all really needed.
Getting to know the freshmen: Since sophomore year this has always been one of my favorite parts of being in the Leadership program. I think back to when I first joined the program and how nervous and insecure I was, and I do my very best to prevent as much of those negative feelings as much as possible within the freshmen now. It is an amazing feeling to see potential in new, young students, and it’s very interesting to see them carry traits that some of my junior Leadership peers carried in themselves freshmen year. I have always liked the group of freshmen coming in. These are really good kids who genuinely care and are passionate about the different things they do.
Core Camp: I think I enjoyed Core Camp so much this year because I focused both on getting to know students from my school and getting to know students from other schools. I wasn’t nervous at Core Camp this year, which was the biggest relief for me. In previous years I spent my time being anxious about the next thing I was going to say, or being anxious about how others would see me in our class. I saw this year’s camp experience as a year to mentor and welcome new students, which has a lot of meaning and purpose for me, and makes me feel fulfilled in many ways. I really enjoyed my job session this year, because I met some really good people from Vanden High School in that session, who I will still talk to today occasionally. This year’s Core Camp experience was very calming and bliss for me.
Winterfest Preparation: The preparation for Winterfest this year was a very positive experience for me. Something really bittersweet that happened was my realization of how drastically all of the juniors in Leadership have changed since freshmen year. We talked a lot about regular, everyday things, along with some personal stories, and as we all sat there painting and building, I was so proud of everyone! I felt this joy I hadn’t felt in a while, because I really realized just how lucky I am to have had them all in my life going on three years. After dealing with a lot of hostility during Homecoming that completely drained us, I was a little worried about how Winterfest would run, but instead, preparation for a more stressful event like Winterfest had never felt more personal, and that was something I think we all really needed.
Getting to know the freshmen: Since sophomore year this has always been one of my favorite parts of being in the Leadership program. I think back to when I first joined the program and how nervous and insecure I was, and I do my very best to prevent as much of those negative feelings as much as possible within the freshmen now. It is an amazing feeling to see potential in new, young students, and it’s very interesting to see them carry traits that some of my junior Leadership peers carried in themselves freshmen year. I have always liked the group of freshmen coming in. These are really good kids who genuinely care and are passionate about the different things they do.
Part II: A Reflection of a Peer in Leadership - Page 15
Abby Campos is a freshman who has positively influenced me immensely this school year. She is not afraid to go out of her comfort zone. She is constantly going out of her way to talk to the upperclassmen, and doesn’t restrict herself to a specific group. She is an efficient communicator as well. She is not afraid to ask questions she needs answered, and is willing to be vulnerable with others, which is a powerful part of being a good communicator, and is very hard to do as a freshman in high school. Abby is a kind and friendly soul who is looking out for others, laughing at their jokes, and constantly shining a smile. I am very excited to work with her in the ASB team next year. She is very eager to learn more about her position from me, which is so refreshing to see, and makes me so happy! She has become my fourth little sister at this point, and I adore her.
Part I: RHS Pride - Page 16
Part II: RHS Pride - Page 17
Part I: What I Love to Do... - Page 18
Making Vegan Food - After going vegan in April of 2019, food became a lot less convenient for me. Most balanced meals freely available to me usually contained some type of animal product, so homemade recipes started from scratch were the way to go. I knew that I needed to search for go-to recipes that I would be able to thoroughly enjoy after taking so much out of my diet.
Making vegan dishes is one of my favorite hobbies because I love the feeling after I’ve finished creating a delicious dish, knowing that it is a dish I trust and will be making many times in the future. I appreciate the fact that everything is so new to me. I am always trying new vegan substitutes for animal products, and am constantly finding out about ingredients I never knew existed before. (It is such a relief too, because not every vegan dish is a success, of course.)
I enjoy sharing the vegan food I make with my friends and family because it usually leads to shock and the usual, “That is vegan? Really?” It makes me so happy knowing that I can make a diverse variety of delicious dishes from different cultures without the harm of any animals. They are clean dishes for the insides and the spirit, putting my soul at ease!
Making vegan dishes is one of my favorite hobbies because I love the feeling after I’ve finished creating a delicious dish, knowing that it is a dish I trust and will be making many times in the future. I appreciate the fact that everything is so new to me. I am always trying new vegan substitutes for animal products, and am constantly finding out about ingredients I never knew existed before. (It is such a relief too, because not every vegan dish is a success, of course.)
I enjoy sharing the vegan food I make with my friends and family because it usually leads to shock and the usual, “That is vegan? Really?” It makes me so happy knowing that I can make a diverse variety of delicious dishes from different cultures without the harm of any animals. They are clean dishes for the insides and the spirit, putting my soul at ease!
Part II: Letter to Parents - Page 19
I’ve written a few letters to you guys focused on all that that you have done over the span of my life for me, but there is so much that you guys have done for me this year even if you may not have realized it. I had a more difficult year this year, which you both know. You weren’t there to control me and provide strict discipline for how I reacted to hardship, but you instead provided me with gentle reminders of how my journey was looking. You allowed me to figure it out on my own, and even if it is painful for me to look back on now, I have learned plenty of fruitful lessons from being in control of myself and learning how to deal with some change in my pathway by myself.
I am grateful to have you as my support system. You have supported me in all of my endeavors. From me trying out something and it being such a positive and significant part of my life like Leadership, to me trying out veganism and ending up with anemia and deficiencies as a result, but you let me make my own decisions and learn from them, and that is what matters most. I’m still figuring everything out, but I am so happy to say that throughout it all I know that I can go to you.
Throughout quarantine I have gotten such a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with you guys and Abby and Alexa, and this is one of the best gifts I could ask for. I value the time I spend with you and with them because we always share so many laughs and happy times together. Family hardships are probably the most difficult type of adversity, but I would not change it. I appreciate you guys more because of everything we have experienced together. It has helped me truly realize the dense amount of time and energy you devote to us.
You both work so hard to provide for us and I cannot adequately express how thankful I am for that. I can’t necessarily return the favor, but I can promise that I will work to honor you from here on out. I will not only work hard for myself, but I will work hard for my parents. I will take care of and prioritize my well being and health not only for me, but for you after you gifting me with this life. After everything you have given to me, this is only just.
Thank you for everything. I love you so much. <3
I’ve written a few letters to you guys focused on all that that you have done over the span of my life for me, but there is so much that you guys have done for me this year even if you may not have realized it. I had a more difficult year this year, which you both know. You weren’t there to control me and provide strict discipline for how I reacted to hardship, but you instead provided me with gentle reminders of how my journey was looking. You allowed me to figure it out on my own, and even if it is painful for me to look back on now, I have learned plenty of fruitful lessons from being in control of myself and learning how to deal with some change in my pathway by myself.
I am grateful to have you as my support system. You have supported me in all of my endeavors. From me trying out something and it being such a positive and significant part of my life like Leadership, to me trying out veganism and ending up with anemia and deficiencies as a result, but you let me make my own decisions and learn from them, and that is what matters most. I’m still figuring everything out, but I am so happy to say that throughout it all I know that I can go to you.
Throughout quarantine I have gotten such a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with you guys and Abby and Alexa, and this is one of the best gifts I could ask for. I value the time I spend with you and with them because we always share so many laughs and happy times together. Family hardships are probably the most difficult type of adversity, but I would not change it. I appreciate you guys more because of everything we have experienced together. It has helped me truly realize the dense amount of time and energy you devote to us.
You both work so hard to provide for us and I cannot adequately express how thankful I am for that. I can’t necessarily return the favor, but I can promise that I will work to honor you from here on out. I will not only work hard for myself, but I will work hard for my parents. I will take care of and prioritize my well being and health not only for me, but for you after you gifting me with this life. After everything you have given to me, this is only just.
Thank you for everything. I love you so much. <3
Your True Legacy, General Advice (The Letter) - Page 20
The Do’s and Don’ts list is more of a detailed list of your responsibilities and how you should go about doing them, but in this letter I’ll give you some advice as to the type of mindset you want to have going into this school year.
Do not allow yourself to get overwhelmed, because there is in fact nothing to be overwhelmed about. You have a team of three here to support you throughout each of your responsibilities along with Morty. ASB should be a fun experience, so remember to remind yourself that that is what Leadership is about. It should add value and happiness to your life. Although the work that goes into events may be difficult or time-consuming, that isn’t the main focus at all. The focus and most rewarding part is when an event or fundraiser comes together and is deemed a success because of all the hard work devoted to it. We want to improve the school atmosphere and make it an enjoyable place for students.
Diligence is important. It is not worth getting behind on your work. Although, do not view diligence as something that needs to be done, view it as something that will make you feel proud of yourself and as something that assists greatly in the success of what we do! Finishing work before deadlines, being meticulous with an agenda, and whatever else works for you, is a wonderful method to avoid stress, in fact, by dedicating yourself to your work in a positive and healthy manner, your self-esteem will only rise and you will feel more confident in your new ASB role.
Follow what you are interested in. As you enter the role of the Secretary/Treasurer for the whole student body, you are being exposed to new responsibilities that you weren’t required to fulfill last year as a freshman representative. You will either learn that you enjoy this position, or that you would prefer something else. Please do not feel obligated to stay in ASB for the rest of high school. If this is an interest of yours, then I highly encourage you to pursue it, but if you want to experience having a different position in the class like becoming a commissioner or a class officer, then I highly encourage you to pursue that! This all ties in with mindfulness and your mental health. Go for what your heart desires.
The Do’s and Don’ts list is more of a detailed list of your responsibilities and how you should go about doing them, but in this letter I’ll give you some advice as to the type of mindset you want to have going into this school year.
Do not allow yourself to get overwhelmed, because there is in fact nothing to be overwhelmed about. You have a team of three here to support you throughout each of your responsibilities along with Morty. ASB should be a fun experience, so remember to remind yourself that that is what Leadership is about. It should add value and happiness to your life. Although the work that goes into events may be difficult or time-consuming, that isn’t the main focus at all. The focus and most rewarding part is when an event or fundraiser comes together and is deemed a success because of all the hard work devoted to it. We want to improve the school atmosphere and make it an enjoyable place for students.
Diligence is important. It is not worth getting behind on your work. Although, do not view diligence as something that needs to be done, view it as something that will make you feel proud of yourself and as something that assists greatly in the success of what we do! Finishing work before deadlines, being meticulous with an agenda, and whatever else works for you, is a wonderful method to avoid stress, in fact, by dedicating yourself to your work in a positive and healthy manner, your self-esteem will only rise and you will feel more confident in your new ASB role.
Follow what you are interested in. As you enter the role of the Secretary/Treasurer for the whole student body, you are being exposed to new responsibilities that you weren’t required to fulfill last year as a freshman representative. You will either learn that you enjoy this position, or that you would prefer something else. Please do not feel obligated to stay in ASB for the rest of high school. If this is an interest of yours, then I highly encourage you to pursue it, but if you want to experience having a different position in the class like becoming a commissioner or a class officer, then I highly encourage you to pursue that! This all ties in with mindfulness and your mental health. Go for what your heart desires.
Do's and Don'ts List - Page 21
Being in ASB: Being in ASB does not make your responsibilities necessarily much more demanding than any other role in Leadership, but instead there is a strong focus on communication and class knowledge. This isn’t listed as a part of our Job Description, but it is something that you should go above and beyond to do. Make sure to always pay attention as to what is going on with our class, because you want to be a figure that your classmates can go to for help and assistance. This is your second year in the program, so you cannot put too much pressure on yourself, but I know you are so capable of being informed on our current events and the details. Not only does this help you become a supportive figure and reliable communicator for the class, but it helps you stay on top of your game!
Rank and Support System: Communication is very important within the Rank and Support System. Check up on ASB whenever you feel appropriate. This can also help with our teamwork as a whole, so win/win! Ask questions no matter how irrelevant they seem. Something that I made sure to do with you and the rest of the freshmen last year was give you guys reminders of due dates coming up and important days. Leadership students get caught up in all the busy-ness that comes with school, but if you stay on top of things and stay well-informed on the ins and outs of the class as a part of ASB, giving these reminders should pose no trouble at all and are extremely useful to everyone.
Budgets: Before an ASB Formal Meeting you must get the budgets from Gigi so that you can record them in the minutes. There are multiple budgets like our ASB Leadership budget, the dinner dance budget, the Link Crew & Renaissance budget, and more. We don’t always go over these in the meetings, but it is good to have them on hand just in case. Also to help out the class officers, it is fantastic if you grab all the class budgets from Gigi too, and then give them the budgets ahead of time so that they can share at the Formal Meeting for you to record in the minutes.
Ask Questions: I cannot stress how important asking questions is. No question is too small, and I am familiar with this, I ask so many questions! Never be afraid to approach me and the rest of ASB with any concerns or confusions. This is what will allow you to learn about your role to its fullest extent and will allow you perform successfully in it.
Always have forms on hand: This is self-explanatory. Make sure to always have purchase orders, cash box forms, facility forms, announcement forms, and procedure forms on hand. Instead of having to run to the office or Morty’s office every time you, a teammate, or a classmate is in need of one, you will have them on hand in your backpack. Additionally, if you ever need to start filling out a form at home, you will have them with you and ready!
Visiting Gigi: You have to sign Purchase Orders with Gigi! This is what allows sports fundraisers, sports tournaments, dances, and so much more to occur since you must sign each Purchase Order so the funds to spend on these events can be approved. I would come in everyday to her office to stay on top of the signatures. It only takes under 5 minutes almost every single day, almost never more. I come in after school right before I go and change for practice, it is that quick. Many days there is nothing to sign if you are stopping by everyday to check in.
Minutes: The most effective and convenient way for me to type minutes is by making a copy of some older minutes on Google Docs. In this way you do not have to retype the entire format, but instead you only have to replace old information with the new. Sometimes during a meeting the class has a lot to discuss, so for the meeting points you should write out key words and phrases, and then fill them out later once the meeting is over or once you have time during the meeting.
Being in ASB: Being in ASB does not make your responsibilities necessarily much more demanding than any other role in Leadership, but instead there is a strong focus on communication and class knowledge. This isn’t listed as a part of our Job Description, but it is something that you should go above and beyond to do. Make sure to always pay attention as to what is going on with our class, because you want to be a figure that your classmates can go to for help and assistance. This is your second year in the program, so you cannot put too much pressure on yourself, but I know you are so capable of being informed on our current events and the details. Not only does this help you become a supportive figure and reliable communicator for the class, but it helps you stay on top of your game!
Rank and Support System: Communication is very important within the Rank and Support System. Check up on ASB whenever you feel appropriate. This can also help with our teamwork as a whole, so win/win! Ask questions no matter how irrelevant they seem. Something that I made sure to do with you and the rest of the freshmen last year was give you guys reminders of due dates coming up and important days. Leadership students get caught up in all the busy-ness that comes with school, but if you stay on top of things and stay well-informed on the ins and outs of the class as a part of ASB, giving these reminders should pose no trouble at all and are extremely useful to everyone.
Budgets: Before an ASB Formal Meeting you must get the budgets from Gigi so that you can record them in the minutes. There are multiple budgets like our ASB Leadership budget, the dinner dance budget, the Link Crew & Renaissance budget, and more. We don’t always go over these in the meetings, but it is good to have them on hand just in case. Also to help out the class officers, it is fantastic if you grab all the class budgets from Gigi too, and then give them the budgets ahead of time so that they can share at the Formal Meeting for you to record in the minutes.
Ask Questions: I cannot stress how important asking questions is. No question is too small, and I am familiar with this, I ask so many questions! Never be afraid to approach me and the rest of ASB with any concerns or confusions. This is what will allow you to learn about your role to its fullest extent and will allow you perform successfully in it.
Always have forms on hand: This is self-explanatory. Make sure to always have purchase orders, cash box forms, facility forms, announcement forms, and procedure forms on hand. Instead of having to run to the office or Morty’s office every time you, a teammate, or a classmate is in need of one, you will have them on hand in your backpack. Additionally, if you ever need to start filling out a form at home, you will have them with you and ready!
Visiting Gigi: You have to sign Purchase Orders with Gigi! This is what allows sports fundraisers, sports tournaments, dances, and so much more to occur since you must sign each Purchase Order so the funds to spend on these events can be approved. I would come in everyday to her office to stay on top of the signatures. It only takes under 5 minutes almost every single day, almost never more. I come in after school right before I go and change for practice, it is that quick. Many days there is nothing to sign if you are stopping by everyday to check in.
Minutes: The most effective and convenient way for me to type minutes is by making a copy of some older minutes on Google Docs. In this way you do not have to retype the entire format, but instead you only have to replace old information with the new. Sometimes during a meeting the class has a lot to discuss, so for the meeting points you should write out key words and phrases, and then fill them out later once the meeting is over or once you have time during the meeting.
The Contact List - Page 22
Matchomatics
Number: 1-800-665-0396
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://matchomatics.com/index.php?country=usa
Grand Events
Number: (209) 569-0399
Address: 4623 McHenry Ave., Modesto, Ca 95356
Pizza Plus
Number: (209) 599-6161
Address: 110 W Main St., Ripon, CA 95366
Sounds in Motion DJ
Number: (209) 522-5999
Address: 1315 J St., Modesto, Ca 95354
Website: http://site.soundsinmotiondj.com/contact.html
The River Mill
Number: (209) 983-9114
Address: 1672 West Bowman Rd, French Camp, CA 95231
Vince Hobbs (Love Ripon)
Mobile Number: (209) 603-7661
Work Number: (510) 460-8074
Trevor McGinnis (On-Campus Officer)
Email: [email protected]
Gigi Green (Bookkeeper)
[email protected]
Matchomatics
Number: 1-800-665-0396
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://matchomatics.com/index.php?country=usa
Grand Events
Number: (209) 569-0399
Address: 4623 McHenry Ave., Modesto, Ca 95356
Pizza Plus
Number: (209) 599-6161
Address: 110 W Main St., Ripon, CA 95366
Sounds in Motion DJ
Number: (209) 522-5999
Address: 1315 J St., Modesto, Ca 95354
Website: http://site.soundsinmotiondj.com/contact.html
The River Mill
Number: (209) 983-9114
Address: 1672 West Bowman Rd, French Camp, CA 95231
Vince Hobbs (Love Ripon)
Mobile Number: (209) 603-7661
Work Number: (510) 460-8074
Trevor McGinnis (On-Campus Officer)
Email: [email protected]
Gigi Green (Bookkeeper)
[email protected]
The Professional - Page 24
Your Resume and your Cover Letter:
Although we were not able to go through with our MOCK interviews this year, we still learned very important information about how to curate a professional and appropriate resume and cover letter for interviews and for almost any application process. This is some of the most useful information I have learned in Leadership. Having a resume and cover letter already made for you is very useful to have, and smart preparation on your part.
A resume can help keep track of the different activities and programs you have been a part of throughout high school, whether that be inside or outside of school. This is also a way to keep track of projects you have organized. So it is very important to update your resume as time goes on so it is ready and filled with good information at any time. It is important that a resume is clean and neat with minimal color (this minimal color adds a nice, classy touch). The reader should be able to easily skim through your resume to find what they need. It is also important that your resume is only one page long and only contains content that is relevant to what you are applying for. Good sections to have in a resume are Experience, Activities, Projects, Volunteering, Education, and Skills. The header of your resume should include your name, email, address, phone number, and LinkedIn account or Website if you have either of the two.
It is a proactive choice to have a cover letter made and saved before you go about actually needing one for an application process. Having a layout created that has your name, email, phone number, address, date, the address of who you are writing to, and the outline of how the content of the cover letter should be written is very useful as you can alter it as much as you need for every different situation, and you have your base! A cover letter should also be only one page long. There are three sections: what you are interested in, your past experience (why you are qualified), and what you will do with earning the position you are pursuing. This should not have any fluff and should get straight to the point; it’s not an essay! With the closing of your cover letter you should include a signature above your typed name to display professionalism.
Your Resume and your Cover Letter:
Although we were not able to go through with our MOCK interviews this year, we still learned very important information about how to curate a professional and appropriate resume and cover letter for interviews and for almost any application process. This is some of the most useful information I have learned in Leadership. Having a resume and cover letter already made for you is very useful to have, and smart preparation on your part.
A resume can help keep track of the different activities and programs you have been a part of throughout high school, whether that be inside or outside of school. This is also a way to keep track of projects you have organized. So it is very important to update your resume as time goes on so it is ready and filled with good information at any time. It is important that a resume is clean and neat with minimal color (this minimal color adds a nice, classy touch). The reader should be able to easily skim through your resume to find what they need. It is also important that your resume is only one page long and only contains content that is relevant to what you are applying for. Good sections to have in a resume are Experience, Activities, Projects, Volunteering, Education, and Skills. The header of your resume should include your name, email, address, phone number, and LinkedIn account or Website if you have either of the two.
It is a proactive choice to have a cover letter made and saved before you go about actually needing one for an application process. Having a layout created that has your name, email, phone number, address, date, the address of who you are writing to, and the outline of how the content of the cover letter should be written is very useful as you can alter it as much as you need for every different situation, and you have your base! A cover letter should also be only one page long. There are three sections: what you are interested in, your past experience (why you are qualified), and what you will do with earning the position you are pursuing. This should not have any fluff and should get straight to the point; it’s not an essay! With the closing of your cover letter you should include a signature above your typed name to display professionalism.
Change - Page 25
A frustration that occurred this year in Leadership was the class’s inability to sell the amount of tri-tip tickets they needed to sell to support our program financially. This has been a pattern with the class year after year and fundraiser after fundraiser. Some students sell more than the amount they were expected to sell, and some students sell much less to none of the amount they were expected to sell. The difficult part about this all is that we cannot make tri-tip ticket sales an assignment in the gradebook for leadership students since it has to deal with money. So essentially there is no tangible consequence for students if they decide not to sell all their tickets. I am an understanding person, but I know for sure that many students are hardly putting in an effort to sell tickets, because if that was the case we would have them all sold. It is not too difficult of a task.
This year ASB made it a competition to motivate the class to sell tickets so that they could win a prize of a $50 Amazon gift card. I am glad that we changed the ticket sales to a strategy like this because it was something new to test out. Ticket sales did increase compared to our last tri-tip fundraiser we had, but it still wasn’t adequate enough. I think what made students sell more tickets was the fact that they had to be held accountable because we separated them into groups of 4-5. We strongly recommended that they go out and sell tickets as a group on a route that is given to them, and if they do go out as a group, they send us a picture. I think we need to continue making ticket sales a team effort, because it naturally puts more on an obligation on students to go out and put forth an effort to get rid of all their tickets.
ASB has reflected and discussed what worked and what didn’t work with the sales competition. Creating a leaderboard that is sent out everyday could be a fun way to motivate students, and I still of course think that we need to separate students into groups (however that may operate) to hold them more accountable for these sales. ASB could also put together a presentation showing what really happens financially when our fundraisers aren’t making enough money as they should be to support the program. Since students don’t fully understand how the behind the scenes finances work, this could open up their eyes.
A frustration that occurred this year in Leadership was the class’s inability to sell the amount of tri-tip tickets they needed to sell to support our program financially. This has been a pattern with the class year after year and fundraiser after fundraiser. Some students sell more than the amount they were expected to sell, and some students sell much less to none of the amount they were expected to sell. The difficult part about this all is that we cannot make tri-tip ticket sales an assignment in the gradebook for leadership students since it has to deal with money. So essentially there is no tangible consequence for students if they decide not to sell all their tickets. I am an understanding person, but I know for sure that many students are hardly putting in an effort to sell tickets, because if that was the case we would have them all sold. It is not too difficult of a task.
This year ASB made it a competition to motivate the class to sell tickets so that they could win a prize of a $50 Amazon gift card. I am glad that we changed the ticket sales to a strategy like this because it was something new to test out. Ticket sales did increase compared to our last tri-tip fundraiser we had, but it still wasn’t adequate enough. I think what made students sell more tickets was the fact that they had to be held accountable because we separated them into groups of 4-5. We strongly recommended that they go out and sell tickets as a group on a route that is given to them, and if they do go out as a group, they send us a picture. I think we need to continue making ticket sales a team effort, because it naturally puts more on an obligation on students to go out and put forth an effort to get rid of all their tickets.
ASB has reflected and discussed what worked and what didn’t work with the sales competition. Creating a leaderboard that is sent out everyday could be a fun way to motivate students, and I still of course think that we need to separate students into groups (however that may operate) to hold them more accountable for these sales. ASB could also put together a presentation showing what really happens financially when our fundraisers aren’t making enough money as they should be to support the program. Since students don’t fully understand how the behind the scenes finances work, this could open up their eyes.
The Ideal Leader - Page 26
An ideal leader is altruistic yet diligent. They do their best to balance their efforts equally among all that they do and the people that are a part of their lives. Peace and love are values in their lives. They are strong individuals who are not afraid to support and speak for what they believe in, but speak their truth with good intentions. When their ambition lacks during certain times in their lives, they persevere and do their best to find purpose in their work again. They recognize the importance of punctuality and being a reliable figure in others’ lives. They are also the individuals who put others before themselves and are willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of humankind.
The Leadership Course at Ripon High School consists of a substantial amount of work that requires great work ethic from it’s students. As leaders we must hold ourselves accountable for our actions and behavior and must surrender some of our own time and needs in order for success to ensue in our events for the students at Ripon High.
Leadership students are expected to use the time they are given with responsibility, considering we are required to meet all deadlines. Students are given a lot of freedom in the course, alike how the professional world operates. This only means higher expectations of the execution of our events and planning procedures.
Student Government is a strong and impactful program at Ripon High, and although a lot of time and effort is expected from it’s students, it is a program worthwhile that assists in professional development and the growth of both new and old leaders. As for an ideal leader, altruism, diligence, balance, strength, perseverance, and reliability, among even more significant character traits, are values all leaders should hold near and dear to their heart. I believe that this is the true key to success within Leadership in our world.
An ideal leader is altruistic yet diligent. They do their best to balance their efforts equally among all that they do and the people that are a part of their lives. Peace and love are values in their lives. They are strong individuals who are not afraid to support and speak for what they believe in, but speak their truth with good intentions. When their ambition lacks during certain times in their lives, they persevere and do their best to find purpose in their work again. They recognize the importance of punctuality and being a reliable figure in others’ lives. They are also the individuals who put others before themselves and are willing to make sacrifices for the benefit of humankind.
The Leadership Course at Ripon High School consists of a substantial amount of work that requires great work ethic from it’s students. As leaders we must hold ourselves accountable for our actions and behavior and must surrender some of our own time and needs in order for success to ensue in our events for the students at Ripon High.
Leadership students are expected to use the time they are given with responsibility, considering we are required to meet all deadlines. Students are given a lot of freedom in the course, alike how the professional world operates. This only means higher expectations of the execution of our events and planning procedures.
Student Government is a strong and impactful program at Ripon High, and although a lot of time and effort is expected from it’s students, it is a program worthwhile that assists in professional development and the growth of both new and old leaders. As for an ideal leader, altruism, diligence, balance, strength, perseverance, and reliability, among even more significant character traits, are values all leaders should hold near and dear to their heart. I believe that this is the true key to success within Leadership in our world.
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