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Individuals with everyone in mind
By Victoria Fei |
October 27, 2010, Wednesday
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BEING a student council leader at an international school is an amazing experience which can bring about change to the school and improvement to the individual.
Most often, student council leaders face students, teachers and their principal at the same time and discuss practical issues to support students' needs.
Voted into office by students, the student council leaders endeavor to give voice to their peers in order to make school a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
At international schools in Shanghai, student council leaders have presented a common strong desire to serve their schools and students, hold charity events, organize interesting cultural or sports activities and bring all the fun of study to life.
In fact, they are a group of students with brilliant ideas, sound communication skills and strong willingness to be a part of those who can "make a difference."
Dulwich
Rego
The student council at Shanghai Rego International School is formed of class representatives who are elected by their classes. Any additional students interested in participating are welcomed as well.
What distinguishes it from student councils of other international schools is the chance of bringing up issues with the Parent Teacher Student Association. This is often how students voice the biggest issues as they can reach a larger amount of people.
Max Voeglti, the president of the student council, knows many of the younger kids, hearing them bring forward their ideas.
"I find it always interesting. Sometimes they are non viable, but other times they are truly genius,'' says Voeglti, who is from Switzerland. "As someone who's been on the student council, as a tiny Year 7, I appreciate the courage needed to speak to older people.''
Listening and being open to everything is Voeglti's rule to become a good student council leader. "Even if the idea is not great, if you criticize them, those in the lower years will be discouraged to talk.''
To him, the most challenging thing is convincing parents, teachers and above all the principal to give the students a shot and try their ideas.
"I try to bring as many ideas that are brought up in our sessions in front of the principal, often they get shut down, but sometimes we are able to run them,'' he says. "Negotiation is the name of the game.''
To Jack Mur, vice president of the student council, although new to the school, the hardest thing he has ever encountered was to take in all of the student's ideas and decide which ones were feasible.
"Everyone has great ideas, but there is a limit to what we can do in a school year. It is difficult to explain to a certain student why we can't go through with their project proposal.''
The experience at the student council provides Mur with a "behind-the-scenes" view on how the school is run.
"It's crucial that you give everyone the opportunity to have a voice, especially in a student council," Mur says. "You also have to have initiative, and not be scared to take risks or of being turned down.''
Aditi Rao, a 12th grader from Dulwich, is now co-chairing the student council. At Dulwich, the senior school student council primarily acts as a liaison between the student body and the teachers, heads of school and the administration.
"Running this post has definitely made me aware of a great variety of ideas and the various welfare issues of the school,'' Rao says. "It has also enabled me to conduct forums and debate over matters of the school, while taking into account the best for everyone.''
With Rao's efforts, the student council has carried out a number of fundraising activities over the past year, ranging from talent shows, teachers versus students sports games, bake sales and movie nights.
A major project that was undertaken by the student council last year was a combined "Out to Lunch'' rock concert and charity fundraiser. It was primarily a rock music concert, but it had numerous other activities, such as water games, tug of war, food stalls and bike washes, while bands competed for the winning title. Each activity required a ticket, which was purchased by the students beforehand. The whole task was a huge success, as the entire student body actively participated and together more than 25,000 yuan (US$3,753) was raised.
Therefore, Rao listed that a good student council leader should be prepared to deal with a lot of new ideas, learn to assess the situation in the best and most fair manner, for optimal outcome.
She adds that being a student council leader requires a lot of time and effort and one should be ready to work hard.
"Always be structured and organized with everything you do,'' Rao says. "Make sure you are able to connect with the students and be approachable to them, for only then can this link between the student body and the teachers be fully established.''
Being more assured and confident in conducting or leading a group and organizing events and forums, Rao found that the experience at the student council has helped her grow into a leader and build up her character, as she is "much more patient and more assertive now," to listen and then react most effectively.
Most often, student council leaders face students, teachers and their principal at the same time and discuss practical issues to support students' needs.
Voted into office by students, the student council leaders endeavor to give voice to their peers in order to make school a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
At international schools in Shanghai, student council leaders have presented a common strong desire to serve their schools and students, hold charity events, organize interesting cultural or sports activities and bring all the fun of study to life.
In fact, they are a group of students with brilliant ideas, sound communication skills and strong willingness to be a part of those who can "make a difference."
Dulwich
Rego
The student council at Shanghai Rego International School is formed of class representatives who are elected by their classes. Any additional students interested in participating are welcomed as well.
What distinguishes it from student councils of other international schools is the chance of bringing up issues with the Parent Teacher Student Association. This is often how students voice the biggest issues as they can reach a larger amount of people.
Max Voeglti, the president of the student council, knows many of the younger kids, hearing them bring forward their ideas.
"I find it always interesting. Sometimes they are non viable, but other times they are truly genius,'' says Voeglti, who is from Switzerland. "As someone who's been on the student council, as a tiny Year 7, I appreciate the courage needed to speak to older people.''
Listening and being open to everything is Voeglti's rule to become a good student council leader. "Even if the idea is not great, if you criticize them, those in the lower years will be discouraged to talk.''
To him, the most challenging thing is convincing parents, teachers and above all the principal to give the students a shot and try their ideas.
"I try to bring as many ideas that are brought up in our sessions in front of the principal, often they get shut down, but sometimes we are able to run them,'' he says. "Negotiation is the name of the game.''
To Jack Mur, vice president of the student council, although new to the school, the hardest thing he has ever encountered was to take in all of the student's ideas and decide which ones were feasible.
"Everyone has great ideas, but there is a limit to what we can do in a school year. It is difficult to explain to a certain student why we can't go through with their project proposal.''
The experience at the student council provides Mur with a "behind-the-scenes" view on how the school is run.
"It's crucial that you give everyone the opportunity to have a voice, especially in a student council," Mur says. "You also have to have initiative, and not be scared to take risks or of being turned down.''
Aditi Rao, a 12th grader from Dulwich, is now co-chairing the student council. At Dulwich, the senior school student council primarily acts as a liaison between the student body and the teachers, heads of school and the administration.
"Running this post has definitely made me aware of a great variety of ideas and the various welfare issues of the school,'' Rao says. "It has also enabled me to conduct forums and debate over matters of the school, while taking into account the best for everyone.''
With Rao's efforts, the student council has carried out a number of fundraising activities over the past year, ranging from talent shows, teachers versus students sports games, bake sales and movie nights.
A major project that was undertaken by the student council last year was a combined "Out to Lunch'' rock concert and charity fundraiser. It was primarily a rock music concert, but it had numerous other activities, such as water games, tug of war, food stalls and bike washes, while bands competed for the winning title. Each activity required a ticket, which was purchased by the students beforehand. The whole task was a huge success, as the entire student body actively participated and together more than 25,000 yuan (US$3,753) was raised.
Therefore, Rao listed that a good student council leader should be prepared to deal with a lot of new ideas, learn to assess the situation in the best and most fair manner, for optimal outcome.
She adds that being a student council leader requires a lot of time and effort and one should be ready to work hard.
"Always be structured and organized with everything you do,'' Rao says. "Make sure you are able to connect with the students and be approachable to them, for only then can this link between the student body and the teachers be fully established.''
Being more assured and confident in conducting or leading a group and organizing events and forums, Rao found that the experience at the student council has helped her grow into a leader and build up her character, as she is "much more patient and more assertive now," to listen and then react most effectively.
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