Q & A: Class of 2022: Elijah Conner Files
CAROLINE ROBBINS| SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 | Q&A
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — The 2018 election season is here, along with an incoming group of class officer hopefuls. Be an informed voter and learn about your potential class officers.
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE: So, Elijah, what prompted you to take this opportunity to run?
ELIJAH FILES: I wanted to improve the school for our class, I really wanted to just you know to make it a lot better for us I wanted to provide unique opportunities with class trips and volunteer opportunities, and many other things I hope to create a YouTube channel that I want everyone to participate in as much as possible, cause I think that’s a new unique way to document the class.
DA: Why do you consider yourself an effective leader?
EF: Well I think I have good ideas. Test scores say I'm intelligent so I guess I have good ideas as well. I think I can lead people.
DA: Have you had any prior experience in leadership?
EF: Yes, I was a representative for my school NJHS chapter. When Simran was president, I was representative, I did a lot of hands on work.
DA: What do you value the most? In terms of the presidency and your role as a student here at Stanton.
EF: Well I think branching out and meeting people and creating long term bonds is very good and that’s what I hope to do because everything on my platform is hoping to get all of us closer together, helping us become – I know this word is tossed around a lot- a more unified class.
DA: So, on the topic of unity how would you build unity?
EF: Um well of course getting a lot of participation in pep rallies, a lot of volunteer events, and the class trip I hope to pursue, because on past trips and activities I have made great friends and unbreakable bonds and that's what I hope to do for this class.
DA: If you were to lose, how would you react? Would you still be willing to help out with the new class president?
EF: Oh, of course, back when I only knew Ansh was running, him and I collaborated and talked a lot and if one of us wins the other should be by our side because we know we both have great ideas and the other class presidents do as well.
DA: So how do you plan to handle conflict in your class as a whole? Among class then administration
EF: If something is really split 50/50, I don’t think we shouldn’t have it because you would have a lot of people against it and a lot of people for it, and it would just cause a clash, in the past few is of course we see that go on in our nation and we see that clash and I don’t want that to happen in our class because it is just unnecessary discord among people that should be enjoying their time here together.
DA: How do you plan to manage Staton lifestyle and Presidency?
EF: I think I’ll be able too, I don't really have anything out of school and if I get the presidency I of course I'm not getting anything new. I just hope to balance my time between the two with moderation for my school work but also fulfil my needs as president.
DA: One piece of advice for the new freshman class:
EF: Don't get too divided over the whole president thing because I have noticed already over social media people getting divided over this and I think we should be together on this and we should accept the outcome and help them and make sure to help them and appreciate them when they fulfil a really hard role that they worked really hard to obtain.
DA: Explain the unity plan in 5 steps
EF: First off is winning the presidency and letting people know I am their president and I am there for them. Two, start getting class input as soon as I can. I think I can reach a lot of people on social media and then it would be analyzing the class input with the council. Fourth, I would try to implement as much of the plan as possible and then five would be to just keep outreaching and implementing.