What’s up, class of 28! My name is Justin Zhang and I’m running for class representative. I hope you consider voting for me because I can lead our class towards a more enjoyable four years at Peddie. I like to think of myself as a ping-pong ball. I’m quick to adapt, bouncing between solutions and execution to make things happen. I’m resilient, as no matter how hard the challenge, I stay in the game. Most importantly, I always move with purpose, connecting people and ideas to strengthen our Peddie community.
The most important quality for this role is the ability to see the class as both a unified group and as individuals with unique perspectives. I will achieve this by actively listening to each student’s ideas and promoting collectiveness by organizing communal activities such as regular forums or surveys. On a personal level, I’d make an effort to connect with classmates individually, so no one feels left out of the process. I’m always approachable, empathetic, and open to hearing what matters most. This makes me a strong candidate for the position. I have proved that I am able to lead while I was a class representative at my middle school. During my time on the student council, I promoted activities such as Gatorade sales and concession stands during athletic matches. I worked on getting to know my class better by putting up suggestion sheets in homerooms and sending out forms to check up on the classes’ status. Additionally, I led activities such as Chess and Rubik’s Cube tournaments.
Finally, by facilitating such projects, we raised enough money for TWO BASKETBALL HOOPS! Such recess equipment was much desired by the middle school since its opening in 1999, as the gym was unavailable during lunch hours. These experiences taught me the importance of listening to my peers, identifying what matters most to them, and turning their ideas into meaningful results. You might ask, “But Justin, you are at Peddie now, what if you don’t have time to do these things”? That’s a valid question, but I assure you that balancing responsibilities is one of my strong qualities. I thrive on organization and prioritizing what matters most. Some of you have seen my color coded tab groups that I use to stay organized. Furthermore, I have already begunplanning how to dedicate my time to your guys’ benefit. For example, we can create communication threads for each class block. This way, you guys don’t have to go up and ask
for everybody’s contact (though that is a good excuse to get someone’s number). Other ideas include allowing freshmen to stay in the library after 8 or improving the day student prefect program, but the most important ideas are the ones you suggest. I’ll make sure to accomplish them.
I know that I just wasted a lot of your time (my bad), but you can make up for that time by voting for me! Thank you to everyone who locked in to read/listen. VOTE JUSTIN ZHANG, HE’LL LEAD THE GANG! ALA VIVA!
How will you ensure that your leadership is inclusive and representative of the entire student body?
To ensure that my leadership is inclusive and representative of the entire student body, I will focus on fostering open communication, valuing diversity, and remaining transparent. Firstly, I will create multiple mediums of communication for students to share their feedback, such as sheets posted around campus, anonymous suggestion forms, or school-wide surveys. I intend to engage with students of all backgrounds and interests, not just freshmen. Second, I want to collaborate with clubs and affinity groups to address the needs of underrepresented students, ensuring their voices are amplified. I will promote initiatives that celebrate diverse identities within Peddie, such as cultural appreciation days. Finally, I intend to regularly update my peers about my progress on projects to invite everyone’s input to guide me. I will hold myself accountable by actively asking for feedback and learning from constructive criticism so my actions align with the needs
of the entire student body. By doing these three things, I’ll make sure my leadership is inclusive and representative of the entire student body. I really appreciate your time.
What initiatives do you have in mind to improve the overall school experience for your fellow students?
As I explained in my General Statement, I have many ideas for the student council. These include creating class chats and allowing freshmen to stay in the library after 8. Diving deeper, as you all know, I am an expert in humor (its an example don’t make fun of me). If I am chosen as
a representative, the student council will support your untapped passion and offer workshops and presentations for you to express yourself. In addition, a more fun way to showcase our unique talents would be a “Freshman Talent Night” to celebrate each others’ creativity. Finally, I will advocate for projects to make our daily lives easier. For instance, walking into the main floor of the library during DMX is definitely different than coming after school. However, the ground floor currently isn’t ideal for collaboration. Improving the study spaces to better support cooperative projects and quietness is essential. These are my current ideas for Peddie, but as I stated in my General Statement, it is more important that you provide feedback. Thank you
for your time!
