Q & A: Class of 2022: Elise Gideon

KATELYN COLLEY| 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: If you won the election, what would be your first course of action and how would you do it?

ELISE GIDEON: My first course of action would be to help plan for homecoming and, before that, the spirit week. I’d meet with all the other upperclassmen presidents and see what page they’re on, how far they’ve gotten, and if they need any help with anything. If they still need student input, I could interview some students asking them what they want or give a poll on social media.

DA: What skills do you have that you think will aid in your presidency?

EG: I’m really friendly and approachable and I feel like that’s important because Class of 2022 needs to be able to approach the government if they find something that needs to happen or they feel like something is not the way it should be. I’m also very outspoken. Being able to stand up for our class, like if we’re being mistreated or if we’re being left out of major decisions by the other grades could also be important.

DA: What made you want to run in the first place?

EG: Since I’ve had three older brothers that have all gone here, I’ve seen what Stanton can do to people and how it can impact people’s relationships and just better improve their high school experience. So, I want to make sure the Class of 2022 freshman experience is the best it can be and that definitely inspired me to run. I just want to be able to be apart of what makes Stanton great.

DA: How have the role models in your life influenced your leadership abilities?

EG: My grandparents and my brothers have all taught me to be this hard-spoken girl who always stands up for what she believes in and that will definitely help me with the presidential campaign. I just want to make sure that the freshman class isn’t mistreated by the other grades, like I said before. Since I have three brothers and they are all major role models in my life, they’ve all shown me ways to better improve myself and because of this self-improvement, I feel like I can be able to change the way Stanton students are viewed. Some people believe that Stanton students are just geeky people who are only smart and don’t do anything fun, but that’s totally not true. We have sports teams, too, we have fun events, homecoming, and pep rallies. My role models have definitely helped me be able to be who I am today and are a big part in how I’m running.

DA: What are some past experiences you have with leadership and how would that help you in this new role?

EG: In eighth and seventh grade, I was a student ambassador for Landon, so I helped do tours around the school for incoming sixth graders and that’s definitely a big part because I did a lot of public speaking then and had new groups of people every other hour. That will help me because I can do programs such as Stanton bridge, which is basically the same thing as ambassadors, but a week long and that will help me highlight the experiences of Stanton that are the best, so the freshmen aren’t as worried as they normally would be coming into a high school and new environment.

DA: How would you apply the Ubuntu philosophy in your presidency?

EG: I’d apply the Ubuntu philosophy into my presidency because it’s definitely a major thing at Stanton. So, I’d help make sure everyone’s going by that and being kind to everyone, even if they maybe don’t deserve it. When they do deserve it, definitely make sure that you help them see that they’re doing good. Ubuntu should be followed by the freshmen because if it isn’t, what does Stanton go by? If I got elected, I’d definitely make sure that if they do something praiseworthy, they’d get a slap on the back.

DA: In what ways would you work with administration and teachers (not just your class)?

EG: A big part of the Stanton experience is the teachers because they’re the ones that show us how to do stuff and teach us all the necessary life experiences, so I’d make sure that the teachers are understanding of what the students might be going through during a certain period. I want the teachers to be a part of big things like homecoming and prom and make sure they’re recognized for being the great people that they are. I want to make sure the teachers are aware and applauded. For admin and dress code, I want to make sure that they don’t give referrals to people who are against dress code right off the bad. Maybe, they could give them a warning first, then call home, and then after that they get a referral. There should be these different steps so that you don’t have a big scar on your reputation just for one small infraction of dress code.

DA: What is one weakness you struggle with and how do you plan on overcoming it during your presidency?

EG: I definitely struggle with talking in front of crowds. I like it and I enjoy it, but I’m not the best at articulating my words properly. So, during my presidency, there will be a lot of times when I’ll have to talk openly in front of the whole freshman class and possibly even more than just the freshman class. Through that, I’m hoping to instill me to become a better public speaker. It’s something I think can be improved and changed.

DA: How do you plan on allowing all the students in your class to feel engaged and not separated from your government body?

EG: We can do polls randomly on social media about different stuff we’re going over as the student body and get our students involved with homecoming (what music do they want to hear?). We can also go around at lunch and survey people about what their experiences are like so far at Stanton to make sure that they’re getting the best and not getting cheated of their high school experience. We should get involved with polls, surveys, interviews, and even some volunteers to come in and sit in student government meetings and listen to what they think.

DA: Overall, why should freshmen vote for you?

EG: I think they should vote for me because I definitely have the past nine years of experience with my brothers. I was culturally introduced to high school very early and I think I have more knowledge of Stanton and the teachers because of my brothers. If someone needs help with a certain class, I can hook them up with a teacher that I know from my brothers. In general I think that I would be a good president for the freshman class because I am very honest, open, and strong-willed. I would do whatever it takes to make sure that the freshman class is being included in major decisions at Stanton.