Candidate Statement:

Hi Peddie! I’m Renee You, and I want to thank you for taking the time to read my candidate statement. As someone who came from a very large public school, serving on the student body so far at Peddie has felt much more meaningful and authentic. The extra thick layer of responsibility as Co-President makes me an enthusiastic candidate because I want to make the students’ experience here truly memorable.

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?

Through participating in athletics, arts, and community activities, I’ve learned to manage my time at Peddie. One of my favorite things to do is try new things, and while it’s unfortunate to say I didn’t continue JV basketball or took a break from being a coxswain, I’m grateful to have tried. For me, I’ve learned how to balance my social, athletics, and studies by really choosing what I love to contribute to, which is Peddie. Aside from serving on student council, I’m also on the Faculty Student Senate, Arts Committee, Gold Key, and serve as a dorm prefect. Communicating with teachers and discussing planning for future events is something I genuinely love doing. Both in and out of school, I dedicate my time towards music. Whether it’s playing the piano, practicing my viola, or playing “Piano Man” on my harmonica, I’ve found that music keeps me grounded and connected within the Peddie community.

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? 

I’ve been honored to serve as the Class of 2027’s head representative for the past three years, which has allowed me to gain a great amount of experience on decision making/planning. Over the years, I’ve been able to gain new qualities and strengthen my old qualities to help lead our school. I’m an eager student, and whether it’s planning for a school event or attending an athletic competition, I’m someone who wants to be present and involved.

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

Changing the WiFi policy on Friday gold nights is something I brought up in a Faculty Student Senate meeting and hoping to implement as soon as possible. I think being realistic is important when serving on Student Council, and I don’t see why the WiFi on Friday gold nights should be any different from a Saturday blue night. I also understand how stressful exam schedules can be, so I think sending a survey to students about feedback to the exam schedule can take some weight off (especially as someone who has APUSH and AP Bio on the same day…)