Candidate Statement: 

Folks, I think it’s high time that pigs fly. Alright, let’s get the obvious out of the way. I’m sure many of you think this is a long shot. Well I’m here to tell you that I’ve always rooted for the underdog; my unwavering allegiance to the Mets and Jets are a testament to this. I’ll start with something that we can all agree on, and that is being a student at Peddie is a privilege. When you experience something every day, it’s easy to forget just how incredible this place really is. The lessons, the friendships, will be with us for the rest of our lives, and the opportunities it will afford us are boundless. Peddie gives us so much, and I don’t want to wait until after I graduate to give back, let’s do it now. I love this school. I will always be grateful to Peddie. And that’s exactly why I’m running for Co-President. Not for a title, not for my resume, but because I genuinely want to make life here better for every single one of you. And let’s be honest, there’s always room for improvement. Whether it’s policies, scheduling, student life, whatever it is, I want to hear what you need. This isn’t about me or you. It’s about us. I believe leadership means listening and building authentic relationships, ideally those that will stand the test of time, and I will strive to do exactly that. Now, I could throw a bunch of empty promises your way, but that’s not my style. What I can promise is this: I will bring everything I’ve got to this job. I will work to make real change happen. And yes, we are going to have a whole lot of fun doing it. Because at the end of the day, school shouldn’t just be about surviving, it should be about thriving. And I want to make sure we all thrive together. So, here’s my challenge to you: Let’s aim high. Let’s shoot for the stars and hope to land on the Moon. And if you’re still on the fence, I’ve got one question for you—what do you have to lose?

Governing student council and the school will take a good portion of your time, what other activities both in and out of school do you plan on participating in? How will you balance them?

As is with all things, it is difficult to foresee what sorts of activities I will be participating in in the future; however, if elected Co-President, I will always be sure to put the job of representing the students of the Peddie School first. This will always take precedence over any other extracurricular or other responsibilities I might have, and I will be wary of taking on external responsibilities in an effort to direct the most amount of my attention possible to the job of Co-President.

What qualities do you possess that makes you a good role model and representative that will allow you to be a leader of the entire school?

My leadership qualities are built on a foundation of active listening and my genuine desire to do what’s right. A good leader is vulnerable and authentic. If one doesn’t know the answer to a question, they shouldn’t pretend that they do. A good leader builds new relationships while strengthening existing ones. I believe that building trusted relationships is key to any kind of meaningful discourse. The only way to be honest and authentic with others is to be honest with yourself. I love meeting new people; I want to get to know them, and I want them to get to know me. I’m sure you’ve heard that trust is built in drops but is lost in buckets.

What ideas do you have for change and how would you implement these ideas? What would you like to continue?

Through the more than two years now that I have been at Peddie, I have taken a great liking to the quiet spaces in which students can visit to study, read, etc. However, I have heard students often say that there are not enough of these spaces. I have experienced this firsthand, and making campus a more friendly environment for day students who need a quiet place to work and boarders who might want a change of scenery from their dorm. Additionally, I believe that we can do more to bring people together on campus throughout the school year. It is always good to have a “core” friend group, but bonding with your whole class or even other classes is unfortunately not something we do as much as I would like to. Whether that is through having more events or other methods, I believe that more connection between classes would benefit us all. In the past few months, I have made some friendships I would have thought impossible, just by going that extra mile to interact with people I had previously never thought to reach out to. In general, I believe that as a community we can do more to come together as one student body. Without the support of our peers, we are nothing, and the more we can expand our horizons and be more inclusive of others, there is nothing we cannot do. In terms of things I would like to continue, I am personally a big fan of the alternating start times and the new schedule structure that includes more frequent no-class Saturdays, and I know that many of you agree. If you do, great. If you don’t, then feel free to share your opinion with me because I’d love to work with you all.

Q & A: 

What are some clubs, activities, teams, or groups that you’re a part of on campus? 

I am a member of a few clubs, such as Quiz Bowl and the Debate Club.

What is your favorite Peddie tradition/Peddie memory?

My favorite Peddie tradition is Vespers.

Favorite book/movie/TV show? 

What song/songs have you been listening to most right now?