Sophomore Class Presidential Candidate

Name: William O’Brien

Sophomore Class Presidential Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I believe that this year as a freshman has taught me a lot about problem solving, a lot about commitment, a lot about perseverance, and a lot about taking on a challenge. I don’t like to admit it but my grades at the beginning of the school year were not very good, at least for my standard. At the beginning of the second trimester I told myself what I needed to do to improve, and I did it. I met with teachers, I studied harder, and did everything I could to better myself as a student. It worked. I improved by two grade levels (B- to a B+, for example) in all three of the classes of which I did poorly in the first trimester while maintaining a satisfactory grade in the classes that I did do well in. I persevered and I improved. That kind of attitude is what I would apply to Community Council, if given the privilege next year. Identify what I need to do to achieve a goal and do everything I possibly can to achieve it. I personally believe that if a person applies that attitude to any aspect of their life, success is inevitable. I also believe that this attitude is what a person needs to be a dedicated class president. I can assure every one of my peers that I have that attitude and I can assure them that I am worthy for the responsibility that comes with being class president.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

As many students who attended Hackley last year may know, I was on community council in eighth grade. I helped organize events such as the Halloween movie night, the bounce trip before winter break, the spirit week, and the trip to Rye Playland Amusement Park at the end of the year to celebrate our graduation from the Middle School.

What are your goals if elected?

My main goal if given the privilege of class president is to create a grade wide atmosphere that can be described as new and improved. On the topic of new, I have many ideas that I believe can straighten friendships, create new ones, and most importantly build the community as a whole, all while being exceedingly enjoyable. These ideas include but are not limited to, a challenge night, an event where students can form groups, and compete in solving puzzles and challenges such as who can solve a rubik’s cube the fastest, who can build the tallest tower out of cards, who can stack blocks to create the highest structure, and who can stack cups the fastest, with the winners getting a prizes related to the event that they have won, a family feud event, where students can form groups of between three and six of their friends, and compete in a family feud tournament, with the winner possibly winning Hackley merchandise or even a dress down for their homeroom(s), and at the end of the year a camp out where students can watch a movie, roast marshmallows while chatting with friends and telling stories, and even, if possible, sleep over. These are just some of the new events I would like to introduce into the Hackley community next year. Also, I would like to improve upon preexisting events. One thing I noticed this year was that all the events were mostly activity based and there was not a setting in which students could just relax and chat. I remember when leaving Snowball this year seeing about thirty students by the front entrance just sitting on the floor because the music was too loud to talk in the main event and there was nowhere else for the students to go. This is why at events that are mostly activity based, like Snowball, I would like to introduce a place for students to go, to have a snack and just chat for a bit, and if they wish, go right back into the main event. Also, I would like to improve upon events that were done in the past, like the spirit week, and bounce. I think that the ugly sweater day done before winter break this year was great but I think a spirit week right before break would be better. One day people could come in dressed in spirit for the holidays where the next day people could come in to show their patriotic spirit, all while entering to win prizes for the best show of spirit for that particular day. Also, I would like to bring back Bounce, a trip that I considered to be very successful last year, but not at the right time of the year. For those that attended last year you may remember that it was done right before winter break, but I think it should be done right after the exams as a way to de-stress, have fun and to relax after the hours of studying that was done in the weeks prior. These are my goals if elected next year, to introduce new and improved events that strengthen friendships, create new ones, build community, and are still greatly enjoyable.

 Name: Emily Afriyie