Hey LM,
As your former student council president, I wanted to start by saying thanks. Thanks to you, the student body, this past school year was beyond successful and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to serve all of you.
The support of my peers was integral in running a fun-filled school year, but was also integral in one other very important thing: my refusal to be embarrassed.
Embarrassment is defined as an emotional state associated with mild to severe levels of discomfort and is usually experienced when someone commits a socially unacceptable or frowned-upon act that is witnessed by or revealed to others.
In the last year alone, I’ve had many moments where I wanted to hide my face, like when I practiced a dance (with no music) in the middle of the hallway, or heard mocking or negative comments about student council. While these situations would typically be seen as embarrassing, it’s important to remember one thing—they only become embarrassing if you believe they are.
In my sophomore year, I learned to embrace the activities that are usually seen as embarrassing because I started cheerleading. I always heard of the stigma surrounding cheerleading and, for a while, was embarrassed to even admit I cheered. As I continued the sport, I found genuine passion for cheer and a sincere love for my teammates, but these feelings could not exist alongside my own self-consciousness. From that season on, I decided to perform all my activities with pride.
My newfound confidence began to spread to some of my friends. We accepted small woes like food falling on our shirts and embraced the vulnerability of large events, like Amazing Ace.
My mindset shift in sophomore year opened up doors of opportunity that I never would’ve known existed if I worried about what others might say. So to everyone still holding themselves back, find grace in your goof, because you’ll never know what opportunities you may miss.
Your Prez ‘23-’24,
Dani
