Maddie Klitz Essays - , Term Papers, Research Papers

Maddie Klitz 05-03-17 English 2nd Best Takeaway from Auburn In my four years at Auburn I would have to say my most memorable takeaway was being apart of Student Council. I joined student council my sophomore year at the recommendation of a former friend. I wasn't very involved when I first joined because I felt like an outsider. As the year went on I began to play an integral role on the council as "Media Consultant". At the end of year we lost our advisor but Mr. Basque stepped in. Junior year became a rebuilding year as Mr. Basque wanted to start from scratch to make our council apart of something larger;I became Vice President while Eunice became President. Last year was really when I felt that leadership was something I wa nted to learn more about . Student Council became the thing I looked forward to most at school, I was surrounded by kids who had the same vision as I did; make this school somewhere that we can all feel safe and have fun. I planned the entirety of homecoming last year and that was when I realized how little sle ep the human body needs to function. Because of student council I have realized that fact quite a few times. Last year we began red ribbon week, Breakfast with Santa, winter formal, Easter egg hunt, and teacher appreciation week at Auburn. Auburn also became a member of the Illinois Association of Student Councils (IASC) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). I attended my first LEADership conference in Chicago and it was an invigorating experience. Three days surrounded by S tudent C ouncil and NHS's from around the world, I learned so much and returned knowing that I wanted to make our council apart of something larger. I ended last year with attending the IASC convention to elect the next year's state executive board and becoming president of our own S tudent C ouncil. I finally felt as though I belonged somewhere in this school, senior year has been a blast all because of this one extracurricular activity. I again had t he opportunity to plan a homecoming I wa s proud of, every detail was confirmed by me and although I was exhausted by the dance the feedback received made it all worth it. I was able to be part of a group of kids committed to this school and projects I put in front of them. After the conclusion of our highly successful Breakfast with Santa student council was invited to attend the team building winter retreat for our North Central District (NCD). I was able to get to know and network with schools in our area, which showed just how connected this simple extracurricular really is. Attending my second LEAD conference with an even larger and committed group of students was another great experience. I was able to network with even more people and catch up with old friends from so many parts of the country, including kids I had met at IASC and NCD. I am now closing out my year as president and it has been amazing not only from my perspective but from all the positive messages I've received this year. I attended my last IASC conference last week and it was a bittersweet moment. Auburn was selected as an Illinois S tate H onor C ouncil and to host the state conference in 2019, and I couldn' t be more proud of my advisor. At this conference I was also recognized along with four Student Council peers from around the state to receive the pillar award, my particular pillar was leadership and dedication and I couldn't have been more proud of myself. The last three years S tudent C ouncil has become more than just a club for me; it's become a way of life. My advisor has become my second father and a close family friend of my parents. My fellow members have become my dysfunctional siblings and my VP this year, Daybreon Leach, has become my other half that keeps me grounded no matter how stressed I get . The takeaway from Student Council isn't just the leadership and communication