Story by student reporter Ashlyn Layton
A new year means a new crop of student leaders ready to make a difference in their school.
Thomas County Central High School Student Council is now in session. Members are planning activities, as well as learning more about how government works.
Most recently, on Nov. 8, 10 council members attended the Georgia Association of Student Councils Leadership Summit 2016 at the state capitol in Atlanta. Participants were: Brianna Cook, Dev Patel, Abigail Jense, Ashton Barwick, Michael Cress, Caleb Moore, Riley Jones, Jeremy Simmons, Caitlyn Atkinson and Beth Sharpe.
“I learned from my fellow leaders,” Dev Patel said. “The point of a leader is not to gain followers but to make more leaders so people learn to lead themselves. By seeing people like me there, I was able to relate to and socialize with them.”
The association has been active for more than 45 years and it is dedicated to training student leaders, per TCCHS Student Council Advisor Teresa Carver. The leadership summit has been held since 2011.
“Thomas County Central has been fortunate to have student leaders attend every leadership session at the capitol since its inception,” Carver said. “Students leave leadership summits with a familiarity of their capitol, governor, senators, representatives and other key state leaders, in addition to gaining knowledge on building their own leadership skills.”
Carver adds the summit “is always a tremendous experience for student council members.”
“Being able to participate in training sessions at our (state) capitol and meeting key state and national leaders inspires student leaders to think about leadership roles beyond high school,” she said.
Students usually attend workshops, listen to speakers, and observe Georgia House of Representatives sessions. Due to chamber renovations this year, students were unable to attend large group sessions and summit attendees were split into two groups: Visionaries and Change Agents.
One group participated in leadership sessions at the capitol while the other group toured and participated in activities at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Carver said. Then, they switched.
TCCHS students, during their time at the state capitol, sat in on mock council sessions and discussed topics such as bullying.
Beth Sharpe said her small group discussed bullying toward the LGBT community, divided groups (cliques), racism, stereotypes of drug usage, and “the misinformation our population feeds off through social media.” She said the experience made her realize collaboration is needed to positively improve these issues.
Abigail Jense said the sessions taught participants “how to work as a group,” as well as how to be involved “as much as possible” and “do without fear.”
“Don’t not do something just because you’re scared you won’t succeed,” she said.
Michael Cress learned the six habits to be a good leader: “be proactive, begin with a plan in mind, put the important things first, think win-win, listen two times as much as you talk, and synergize.”
Caleb Moore said the sessions gave him insight on how to be a better leader and help other students become leaders. He adds he “will most definitely use” the given tips.
Patel said the sessions allowed student leaders to share ideas and brainstorm “on how we as members of our communities could improve them.”
“It takes only a few to change a whole community,” he said.
Both groups experienced the mock lunch counter in the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The activity offered a simulation of a lunch counter sit-in during the American Civil Rights movement.
Jeremy Simmons called the counter “very intense.” Carver said many students left the activity in tears.
“It gave me a great perspective of some of the life-threatening experiences the protesters went through during their fight for equality,” Riley Jones, who called the simulation “amazing,” said.
Brianna Cook said the center’s room that most stood out to her was the one about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
“It opened my eyes as to how harsh and brutal segregation really was and the consequences someone could suffer by trying to end racial disputes and make the world a more peaceful place,” Cook said.
Students also noted exhibits on Nelson Mandela and Estela Barnes de Carlotto, an Argentine human rights activist.
“The National Center for Civil and Human Rights proved to be emotional and eye-opening for students, as they were able to sit on the bus seats and at the lunch counter while simulations provided sensory experiences that no textbook could provide,” Carver said.
Overall, the trip was a positive experience.
“Our student council members are always eager to attend the summit,” Carver said. “They leave talking about returning the next year.”
The school year is only a few months in, but the council has been busy on its home turf. Elections for its freshman officers were held at the end of August. Six officers were selected through a school-day voting system. Class officers include: Langley Wooten (president), Zach Goff (vice-president), Jasmine Gibson (secretary), Kendajah Cummings (treasurer), Keshira Daniels (inspirational leader), and Savannah Moore (parliamentarian).
“I think it is a great organization that helps students get involved with their school,” Langley Wooten explained.
Elections for officers in other grades were held at the end of the previous school year. Students who are not elected for a title receive the rank of senator and serve alongside their classmates.
“All members have an equal voice in club meetings and may bring up any concerns that they have, but the focus is on school improvement and leadership development,” Carver said.
TCCHS Student Council held its first official meeting of the year on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Throughout the year, student council will meet every other Wednesday during club time to discuss various events, improvement possibilities throughout the school, and how to get more students involved in school activities.
“You do have an impact,” member Zachary Sharpe explained.
Council members also participate in community events, such as Keep Thomas County Beautiful. They have added recycling bins to sports events and made posters for students in every grade level to sign, committing them to recycle and keep the school clean.
Members participate in various school activities such as decorating for prom, helping with open house, and signing up teams for Shop with a Yellow Jacket.
SWAYJ is currently one of the council’s main priorities. The event is Saturday, Dec. 17. High school students take young pupils whose families are in need of a little help during the holiday season Christmas shopping at Walmart.
Each team of high school students must raise $100 to take their assigned kid shopping. Residents and businesses also may sponsor teams. The deadline for teams to submit forms is Friday, Dec. 2.