Transitioning from a small, private, religious school to a giant public school was a rough change. T[he switch I found the most difficult was learning the culture of my new school- there were certain clothes to wear, extracurriculars to participate in, and activities to do on the weekend. In addition to this clear-cut culture, my school is one of the most academically competitive in the state- easily seen in the amount of under eye bags and coffee cups visible in the hallways. This was staunchly different from my private school, where a majority of our culture revolved around easy courses and mutual values, passions, and interests. I felt alone in the transition of schools and yearned for some advice from those around me, yet no one seemed to understand my situation. This propelled me into applying to be an Ambassador for my school. …show more content…
Being the first Junior President of my school’s most selective program intimidated me; however, my religious values instilled within me a passion for inclusion, and I was eager to exude this through my leadership. My ideas began small: I wanted to make sure that our Ambassadors, who visited freshman homerooms weekly to give advice, catered their guidance to every freshman, not just those who began at public school. I ensured that each Ambassador urged their homerooms to not only join clubs and pursue their passions, but also aim for leadership. I strongly suggested that every week the Ambassadors leave their homerooms by saying, “You’re going to be ok, I hope you have an inspiring day.” Walking the halls and hearing my simple quote repeated to 750 freshman was a tangible way of me hearing my creation of a new culture of comfort at my school. At the time, I believed this to be my greatest accomplishment; however, my second term still proves to be exponentially more successful than the