This Thursday, Upper Schoolers will vote on the next Head of Athletics and Student Council President in Town Meeting. Recently, I interviewed the two candidates for Student Council President, Chelsea Gardner ’16 and Mina Khan ’16.
Chelsea Gardner, 11th Grade Representative
Chelsea Gardner came to Hewitt in 7th Grade, and she is now a rising senior. In the past, she has participated in a variety of school activities, but this year, she has zeroed in on her passions. She is currently the co-editor-in-chief of the The Hewitt Times, a member of the Spectrum club and has played Varsity Basketball during the winter season. Chelsea also takes Advanced Photography. Her work has reflected themes relating to social justice and identity. She has been a committed member of Student Council for the past 2 years. Outside of Hewitt, Chelsea tutors 4th and 5th grade public school students every Saturday in English and Math to prepare them for the entrance exam for Prep for Prep, a program that she is an alumna of. Other than that, Chelsea religiously reads The New York Times in order to keep herself informed, especially on issues concerning social justice, human rights, and international affairs.
What made you want to be in student government?
I joined student council in the 10th grade. I did not run in 9th grade for grade representative because I was not sure that I could take on the role since being a member of Student Council is very important! When I saw our representatives leading grade town meeting and planning events for us, I was jealous because I wanted to be in their positions. I think that serving as the voice of reason for your grade and being the liaison between students and administrators is something that I am more than capable of doing; I know that I am up to the task because I have done it many times before. I’m pretty positive that I have a great relationship with everyone, and I think that is one of the most important qualities of a Student Council Representative and President.
Tell me a little about the work that you’ve done in Student Council.
I have met with Mr. Uliano to complain about the slits in the sides of the bathroom doors because I admit it is very uncomfortable to have to use the bathroom with those open spaces there. I did some research, and I found that there is a solution called “privacy covers”, so Mr. Uliano arranged for them to be installed. I think that has helped everyone! A big thanks to him and the maintenance staff for working with me on that idea. Student Council members were a part of the search for a new head of school, and I think that was one of the most important things that we were a part of this year. We were really involved in such a significant decision in a way that we’ve never been before. On top of that, I helped to plan our many events such as Talent show, Teach-A-Class, Haunted House, and Movie Morning.
What are three changes that you are looking to implement into the school next year?
- The Stacks is truly a student space, and I would like to work with Mr. Uliano to secure classrooms ahead of time that students can go to in case that the Stacks is being used. It is tiring to run around looking for a free classroom. I understand that space is limited at Hewitt, and I do not support having our maintenance workers carry tables and chairs up and down the stairs. That’s not right if you ask me. I think a good solution is to have other alternatives to work in place of the general library area.
- I want to inform students about what Student Council is doing. I think that the only view people get of Student Council is the president leading Town Meeting, but we actually do a lot more and more people are involved in the work that Student Council does. I want to make sure that students know what we’re doing by writing a weekly address on The Hewitt Times or whatever platform the students prefer.
- I would have to communicate more with Mr. Uliano about this, but I think that we need to widen the food options that we get for break. Pretzels, goldfish, and cheese gets tiring and boring. In addition to those snacks, we could add something new every month. I would love it if we could get Oreos, but I know the school is just not going to allow that. We could have granola and yogurt and 100 calorie snack packs in addition to pretzels and goldfish.
What qualities do you have that make you a leader?
Three qualities I have that make me a leader are:
- I’m very decisive. I think leaders have built up enough confidence in themselves to be able to be direct and straightforward rather than unclear or vague when directing her constituents. I think for this reason many people have confidence and faith in me because they know that I’m going to accomplish the goals that I’ve set.
- I don’t like to lead all by myself, but I like to encourage everyone else to be a part of the decision-making process. I think the process of us voting in a leader is representative of a democracy, so that is what I’m going to call Hewitt. In a true democracy, it is a true joint effort, and I will be reaching out to everyone through the grade representatives for input. When we’re not making any headway, that’s when I’m probably going to have to come to a final decision with Ms. Stevens’ input of course, but I want to make sure that everyone is involved as much as possible.
- I am resilient. I do not let one failure influence my attitude towards everything else. I’m human, so I’m going to be bummed out for like a few days because I’m upset, but I bounce back really quickly because the world still goes around and I still have responsibilities. I don’t approach any challenge in a frantic manner, but I have a very calm disposition and I am not impulsive.
Are there any experiences, other than being on student council, that you think have prepared you for this role?
Yes, I was co-president of Model UN this year, and as everyone knows by now, the club was discontinued in January. I think that taught me about being realistic. There are certain situations that are out of my power and out of our power as students. Hewitt is an organization, and like all organizations, there is a hierarchy and there are levels of power. There are certain things that are going to be done before they start. I think as Student Council President I will have a good handle on realizing what absolutely can be done and pushing through for it.
Are there any other extracurricular activities you will be doing next year? How will you manage your time doing Student Council President work and any other work you may have?
If I am elected as President, my only other leadership position will be co-editor-in-chief of The Hewitt Times. I plan to be in ACTION and Spectrum and play basketball. I think that I will have enough time to be President and to really serve you all well. If you don’t know by now, I’m a realistic person. So if I didn’t have time to be your President, I wouldn’t run.
Lastly, is there anything else you would like to add?
You should vote for me because I have all of your best interests at heart. I know that all students have challenging programs, and we all take on so much. My job being on Student Council is to alleviate as much of the little stresses as possible, so that you can worry about your essays and lab reports and things of that nature. I will also continue many of the fun events that we’ve planned this year.
Mina Khan, 11th Grade Representative
At school, you can often find Mina in the stacks with an Oren’s latte in one hand and a Eli’s banana chocolate chip muffin in the other. This and writing are her favorite pastimes. Her two main school commitments are Venturer and Student Council. To Mina, both clubs allow her “to give a voice to the voiceless, to those who prefer not to speak up”. After school, she can be found at Rockefeller University, participating in a lab research program where she sequences DNA. On the weekend, she may be found at a protest, exploring New York City neighborhoods, or watching Netflix with her cat, Penguin. Mina takes her academics and in-school relationships seriously as it takes up a majority of her time. She has a passion for social activism and discussion. Furthermore, Mina has a passion for the stage and for the badminton court. Most summers, Mina can be found in a writing program, followed by a coding program, and followed by some traveling. Throughout the summer, she keeps a sketchbook for her drawings, as well as a calendar marking the days off till September – when she has the opportunity to see her peers everyday.
What made you want to be in student government?
I was one of those… less talkative kids in middle school. Meaning that I was one of those kids in black hoodies with short, straight black hair and shortly cut black nails. Overall, not many people spoke to me. But according to movies, high school is the time to reinvent yourself. It’s the time to immerse yourself into an environment of strangers, free of the stigmas of your pre-pubescent self. In Hewitt, on the other hand, that is not the case. I have been in Hewitt since I was 5, and I realized that if I were to reinvent myself, I would have to push for it.
I tried what I never had before. I auditioned for my first play and ran for Student Council. By some miracle, I got it, probably because of this terribly corny tie joke I made, which I will mention tomorrow. My peers laughed. It was the first time I had ever made them laugh. And that’s when I realized that I loved making them happy. It’s the little things, you know?
Tell me a little about the work that you’ve done in student council.
Last year, I help start what seems to have bloomed into a tradition: a tenth grade event with (ooooh) boys. This year, the 10th grade had a bowling night with Browning. The year before, we had a community service event at Project Cicero. It had its flaws, but what interested me was that it was mainly with co-ed schools like Fieldston or Horace Mann. That led me to an idea for future years that I will expand on in my later response.
But really, when you’re not a president, you’re more of an idea person. Francesca Caracci ’14, the president last year, said to me, “You’re one of the few bold people left in Hewitt. Keep doing that.” She was fabulous. She supported my ideas when we were brainstorming for Haunted House last year, my favorite Hewitt event. She is the first person to show me that my ideas and therefore, everyone’s ideas are valid, no matter how unheard of they may be.
Earlier this year, I had an idea that did not have to do with scaring children in a haunted house. I thought of something simple, yet effective! What if the seniors were to raise money by selling hot chocolate in front of the school on particularly cold days? This was when the seniors were not allowed to have bake sales and were searching for new ideas. Much to our delight, the hot chocolate was a success, especially with the younger folks!
What are three changes that you are looking to implement into the school next year?
I’m focusing on the big picture: changing the school as a whole in a way that changes will continue to be made after I’m gone.
Lucy Featherston’s father is the president of Town, a lower and middle co-ed school. At Hewitt, boys are seen as these mystical creatures that obviously, must be completely different from girls. This mentality is unproductive. I aim to change that by having frequent events between the younger kids Town and Hewitt. It would be good for them to interact with a co-ed school, rather than a single-sex male school, as to reduce the mysticism of the opposite sex.
Next, is the apparel site. After more effort than should’ve been necessary, we have Hewitt apparel online. But that doesn’t mean that every product is attractive. I know students in this school have an eye for fashion; many even want to go into it as a career! Students should be able to submit their own designs to be put on the website. Imagine wanting a career in designing jackets, for instance and seeing some student wearing your design in the halls!
Lastly, I want wider representation of the student body. This year has been quite prom/seniorcentric. It’s important to remember that there are other students in the school and that we should look at us holistically, not focus on one grade over the others.
What qualities do you have that make you a leader?
I am responsible, I have good time management skills, and I don’t panic easily.
Responsible: I have been on the council for three years and have learned to properly represent my grade. I would love to expand this and take on the challenge of a wider student body. I am also a head of Venturer, so I know how to delegate responsibilities and adhere to deadlines. This would be helpful if I were running a council, as I would be able to give out equal responsibility to each member, no matter the grade level.
Time management: I have been part of sports teams, plays, and musicals at Hewitt. With these responsibilities, I have not let my grades drop; instead, I learn to schedule around my commitments. This year, especially this spring, has been tougher. I am currently in an after school lab research program that starts at 4:30 and ends at 7. I also am part of a writing fellowship, which often takes place from 7-9. I do not get home until 10 or so and then, I study for tests, do homework, do projects, study for APs, SATs, and SAT IIs. Still, I have managed to keep this under control.
Finally, I don’t panic easily. As a junior, there is a lot on my plate, as there would be for Student Council President. I do not crack under that pressure. An example of this is earlier this year when I lost my wallet in the stacks. I live under this rule: if you can do something about it, why stress? If you can’t do anything, why stress? There’s nothing you can do.
I lost my wallet, and I did all I could. I posted in the Hewitt group, asked around, emailed Ms Zinn and searched. But it was nowhere to be found. Instead of crying, I accepted it and remained calm. If there is nothing that I could do, there is no point in panicking. Luckily, a couple weeks later, my wallet mysteriously reappeared on a table! It was grand.
Are there any experiences, other than being on Student Council, that you think have prepared you for this role?
I’ve always carried a lot of responsibility, which is something I didn’t realize until recently. My parents are immigrants; my dad is from Pakistan, my mom is from Korea. They both do not speak great English. However, they are small business owners and enjoy having signs to advertise what they’ve recently stocked up on. Sadly, they cannot write these signs. My brothers are older and left for college when I was around eight. From that age on, my responsibilities included writing these signs, advertising for the store online, and writing letters to landlords. Since I was 8, I have had a sense of responsibility and priority that no doubt, will make me an efficient Student Council president.
Are there any other extracurricular activities you will be doing next year? How will you manage your time doing Student Council President work and any other work you may have?
Next year, I will be head of Venturer with Olivia Tracey ’16. Other than that, I will not be doing much during the fall or winter seasons. Venturer is a commitment that I adore, but not one that I am worried about. I already had a high position this year, thus I know my way around the magazine. Therefore, I would be able to devote a great deal of my time to being Student Council President.
Lastly, is there anything else you would like to add?
My main goal, my entire angle, is the greater good. I want to focus on Hewitt as a whole, not in parts. And I want to put other people’s preferences above mine and that involves listening and respect. I advocate for less of a divide between the grades and appreciation between those grades, simply for their individual existences. I hope this appeals to you, and thank you for considering me as your 2015-2016 Student Council President!