From color day sign-ups to countless hours of unnoticed hard work, being the student council president is no easy task, especially as a rookie.
The student council requires consistency, hard work, dedication, and the ability to be a strong leader. The class president must possess these qualities, as they are responsible for all of the events taking place in their respective grade. Anica Maksimov tackles these difficult tasks daily, proving her consistency and commitment to her performance; however, it is no easy task. Maksimov says, “I was under so much pressure and needed to fill out and do so much.”
Although the position of student council president is challenging, especially considering the numerous difficulties and qualities required, Maksimov explains that she previously possessed these qualities from her experience as a dual-sport athlete. As the youngest member of the student government, she exemplifies selflessness, leadership, courage, and the ability to work collaboratively with others.
Stepping into such a position, which is largely composed of upperclassmen, requires maturity, courage, and a willingness to learn and face obstacles head-on. Maksimov has worked closely with the freshman executive board and the student government from each grade to ensure that every voice is heard and valued. Especially when dealing with a complex event such as Spirit Week, Maksimov takes input from her peers about the spirit dance, sign-ups, and themes. This has proved to be the foundation of the student council’s success, and this team-oriented leadership is appreciated by many. Another freshman at KHS, Shreya Janwale, is also a part of the student council and thinks that “[Maksimov] is really good at getting participation and making sure everyone is engaged and involved in the activities we do.”
Planning school-wide events can present great obstacles, such as organizing sign-ups, sending messages to ensure student participation and awareness, and organizing choreography for the spirit dance. and require work that extends far beyond the classroom. These events are complex and require a lot of time and organization. Although Maksimov has commitments such as sports that require a lot of her time and energy, she still puts a tremendous amount of effort into managing these tasks. “I like to take both things very seriously.”
The executive board spent numerous hours planning Spirit Week, color day, organizing fundraisers, and trying to improve programs in the school; events taking place, and even implementing new ideas. Their various meetings, communication, and strong leadership by Maksimov allow them to thrive as a team and work well together with the upperclassmen as well.
What distinguishes Maksimov from the rest is her commitment and communication. She truly values the opinions and input of her peers. In meetings, she is less inclined to take an authoritative position, and instead facilitates productive conversations accrediting her peers for their input.
Through her tremendous growth, she strived not for perfection, but instead for good leadership. Maksimov has proven her commitment to this position and redefines what it means to truly be a collaborative and efficient student council class president.
