Who is Maddie?
Tell us about yourself?
I am Maddie Coleman, I am 17 years old and a Jr. at Syracuse High School! I have loving and encouraging parents and three loving siblings. I love to do anything social and love any opportunity to express my creativity! I am very outgoing and love to help others, and most important, love love love being a Titan!
How important is school to you?
School is very important to me. School is an opportunity to strengthen your self socially, talk to people face to face, and also mentally. You learn new vital skills to make you more successful in your future and life in general. School is a lot of time and dedication and you might as well make the most of the time while you are there.
How would you feel about being placed in a position you are not actually applying for?
Sometimes we can't see our own strengths and others can. I may think I am good at something and see my strengths, but sometimes that may not be the case. You may need others to see them for you and know where your strengths would be placed best. I may not necessarily see where my strengths would be best suited to help others and Syracuse High School, because in the end that is what an officer does no matter what your position is.
Why do you want to be an SBO?
Student Body Officers are the face for the high school and are the reason that school is more enjoyable. Lets be honest, nobody enjoys waking up early, doing homework, studying all night, but the officers are the people who will greet you on those early Monday mornings and cheer you up, give you activities to make new friends and make the memories that you will remember for your whole life. Most of the memories that you could make in high school are there and ready for you, and I want to help motivate others to make those memories and get the most out of all of their high school career.
What is one weakness you have and how do you overcome it?
Saying "No". In school they teach "just say no" but I never thought to apply it when it came to helping others. Whenever people ask me to help them and do tasks for them I want to help them in any way I can. Sometimes it feels like I am asked to do things when I am already super busy with other, more important tasks. The way that I overcome this is by prioritizing, and if I truly am to busy and I wouldn't be able to accomplish the tasks I already have, I have to say no. When this happens I also try to help the person find someone else to help them with what they need done.
What is one idea to improve the school?
One way that we can improve Syracuse high is acknowledging people who are a benefit to our school and make Syracuse High such and loving and diverse place. We can give out an award called the "True Titan" monthly and have a prize associated with it. People will nominate others by writing their name and who they are nominating and why. This will encourage others to be better students and get involved.
How do you handle criticism?
Criticism is not meant to be negative, and not meant to be confused with judgement. Judgement is when others think they are better than you and criticism is when others want to help you so that you can be the best you can be. There is a famous quote given by Bill Gates that helps me remember this concept, "We all need people who will give us feedback, that is how we improve" Bill Gates didn't just wake up one day and create the iPhone, he had lots of trial and error, lots of tester products, and critics. If he would have taken everything someone said about his product in the beginning personal then he would have never created the wonderful product we have today. This can be applied to people as well. We need others to help us become the best people that we can be!
What are your top 3 SBO Appointed positions you are applying and why.
My top three choices would be #1, Artist. I love being able to express my creativity either digitally on a computer, or by hand. Creativity is something I value and enjoy and am very grateful for and I wish to put my abilities to good use for the school. My #2 and #3 are both of the Assembly positions. Assemblies are an opportunity for students to take a break from school and see how enjoyable the activities are that the school hosts and all of the enjoyable students here at Syracuse as well. Students also have the opportunity to see the humorous side to their peers and make them all feel more united and can give the students more school spirit and more fun memories.
What are some of your past leadership opportunities?
I love getting involved and love involving others. I have had the opportunity to do this through school and my home life. I was the captain of my NAL Team (National Academic League), and also was the captain and leader of my MESA and STEM team! I have served in multiple callings in my church. I have been the president of my classes and also served in a leadership position at the Stake level.
Tell us one activity you would like to see happen at the school.
I would like to see the High School coordinate with another high school or the community in the area and do a social gathering of some kind. Students in the area who choose to attend different high schools for reasons that are rumors and are not necessarily true need to see what it is really like to be a titan and all of the things that Syracuse High stands for!
As an officer how will you make every student at Syracuse High School feel important?
I think the best way to make everyone feel important and essential to the Student Body is essentially one simple thing, Respect. By respecting every student and not gossiping, loving everyone, making new friends, and cheering up every ones day, I am showing my love and respect for not just the students but the reputaion of the school. Everyone is a person and deserves to be treated as such. Everyone has gone through different trials, have a different home life, and come from different backgrounds and all of those things can't be seen by looking at someone. A person is not their past definitely not their physical features. This can come down to one simple thing i would repeat every day in elementary school, "Treat others as you would like to be treated."
what could you add to the Student Body Officers?
I am a very hard worker and don't fear challenges. When I first looked at all of the requirements to apply to be an officer, I thought to myself, "this is a lot of work just to maybe get a position" As I thought more about it, I came to the conclusion that if I wanted to be an officer, I cant turn away from a challenge. I need to be able to put so much work into it and all of my time and effort.
Who is your hero, and why?
This may sound cliche but I would have to say my Mom! My mom has gone through so many challenges and hardships in her life and somehow she keeps her head held high and always gives 100%. (and sometimes when it is necessary 110%!) She goes above and beyond to make everything in her life the best it can possibly be. She is the hardest worker I know and she inspires me every single day to always try my best and never quit. She has taught me the importance of loving everyone and forgiving others. Whenever I go through a challenge and feel like nothing is going my way, she always says this quote from one of my favorite movies, "If you can choose to be anything, choose kind". "
Give an example of how we can showcase what the students do.
As someone who is both a part of the Track team and a member of the Orchestra, I can say that a lot of the students who are part of the musical arts programs feel under appreciated and like the main focus of the students is sports. It is not a bad thing to support the athletic department but in order for the students in the musical arts department to feel like they play a vital role in our school, which they do, we need to do more promotions for them. Last year the sports department came to one of the concerts and it made everyone feel so important and special which was so amazing. One way we can make sure that the students can feel like that constantly is to have a musical arts assembly. Have some of the musical arts classes perform and showcase all of their talents which are equally important and will gain recognition for those groups so people will change their stereotypes about them.
How would you get others involved?
The best way to get others involved is to make sure that they are wanted and feel comfortable. This can be done by making sure that the activities that are planned will be enjoyed by a wide variety of the student body. I can also make as many friends from different social groups in the school, such as the music department, athletic department, and STEM department. When you have a variety of friends then when they attend they will bring their friends and it will spread and there will be a domino affect and lots of people will attend.
How would you support the school?
I would support the school by upholding the respect the school deserves and be the best student I can be for the school. I will be the student who works hard and gives my 100% in both academics and my social life. I will be the student who respects and supports the other students at Syracuse high and make them feel loved and love Syracuse as much as I do! I will be the student who no matter what, will love anyone and be friendly and uphold to the rules and code of being an officer.
What extra curricular activities have you participated in?
I have participated in a variety of extra curricular activities. I am apart of the Syracuse High orchestra and I love the environment and expressing creativity through music. I am also a member of the Syracuse high Track team. I love being part of a team and such a remarkable track program here at Syracuse and love the coaches and how everyone comes together and includes everyone and is so motivating and inspiring.
How have you, and how do you show your love for Syracuse High School?
One way that I show my love for Syracuse High is attending all of the extra curricular activities the school puts on. I go to school dances, participate in spirit weeks, attend sporting events, and musical concerts. I love the energy of the student section and when I go to football games especially, I encourage people to come with me and participate in all of the festivities of the student section. I have a variety of interests and I have friends in all different aspects of Syracuse High school. It makes it easy for me to show my love to others and the school.
What are some of the things that has shaped you to who you are?
Everyone has faced adversity in their life, and I am no different. Ever since I can remember I have faced challenges and struggles. For along time I would have the mentality of "why me" and "this inst fair". It took me a long time to realize that I needed to change that state of mind. Wherever I go in life I will face people who will judge me for who I am and what I stand for and there is nothing I can do about that, but I can adjust how I react and take the situations. This has helped me in so many ways. I have learned to take criticism in a more positive way and not take things to personally, and I am so grateful for the adversity I have faced and who it made me into.
Give your favorite activity from this school year and why you liked it.
My favorite memories from this school year is not necessarily the biggest, grandest event. It was all of the home football games and the energy that comes from the student section. I love dressing up to match the theme and getting everyone to cheer, even though they may feel awkward, and I love getting people out of their comfort zones. I love how much effort and time the school puts into the little events and all of the little details of every event.