Daniel, Year 13, Century Park Campus

I was the class representative for Y12 during the 2015/16 school year, and it was a very meaningful experience. It taught me a lot; not only about the school and the people around me, but most importantly, it helped me realise some things about myself.

I think the most important thing I realised were the limits of my capabilities. Before student council, I thought I was able to do certain things: I thought I was great at persuasion, but then when I needed to promote attendance for an event, I fell short of my own expectations. I thought I was good at planning, but when I needed to contribute ideas, I fell short again. Through these experiences, I realised that I am not the person I thought I was, but with this realization came an important epiphany. I worked to change and improve myself, and it was very helpful to first have a clearer perception of myself and my abilities. If it weren’t for the student council and the tasks I needed to perform as a representative, I might never have known these areas where I could improve.

This self-realization is only one of the many benefits I gained from my time on the student council. In addition, I also gained an increased empathy for authority figures, organizational leadership, listening skills, and much more.

Being on the student council is quite a unique experience at YCIS. It gets you involved in your community, pushes you to actually listen to any concerns your peers have, and inspires you to take action to solve any issues. Discussions take place, ideas are anatomized, and different perspectives are considered, and the experience of being involved in this has contributed to my personal growth and development. I would definitely encourage other students to get involved in student council, as it’s really something special.