Junior Class Vice President

Nick Gudgell

Candidate Video

Question and Answer

Question #1: What are two initiatives you will work on as a class officer next year if you are elected?

The first initiative I will work on is to continue increasing the sense of belonging at cottonwood. Letting students know that they belong will not only strengthen our bond as a class, but also as a school. Every student here belongs, and they deserve to know and feel that. 

My second initiative will be to get students to attend and participate in assemblies. I see my peers skipping assemblies all too often, which not only negates the work we put in as a student government, but also can make assemblies less fun for the students that do attend. 

Question #2: What does it mean to you to be a Colt?

Being a Colt not only means im a student of Cottonwood, but im held to a higher standard day in and day out. Being a colt is a privilege I am lucky to have, but a privlege I must work to maintain. I love my fellow colts. 

Question #3: What is one way you would develop activities to make everyone at Cottonwood feel welcome and included?

I would develop activities to make everyone feel welcomed by considering multiple opinions while planning events and activities. Having input from multiple sources makes sure the activities we choose are interesting to a large group of people (hopefully all students at Cottonwood) and encourage more people to participate.  

Question #4: What advice do you have to stay motivated with attendance and academics throughout the year?

Remembering that high school is a short experience you only get to live once is a big encouraging factor. The time I miss now can't be made up later, so the best thing I can do for myself is to show up every day and do my best. Its also important to remember that my grades now can affect me down the road. They can affect the oppertunities I get, decisions I make, and even my career path. 

Question #5: What are some qualities that make a great leader?

The best leaders I know are great communicators. Making sure your peers know what is needed of them and what will be going on is the most impactful factor to succeeding as a team. Some of my favorite leaders have been just good people to talk to and be around. It goes a long way to making your peers more comfortable and willing to work with you. Another quality I see in great leaders is that they are organized. This doesn't mean they have to be perfectly neat, organization can look different to everyone. It means that they know what is going on and how it will be executed. 

Question #6: What is a leadership quality you have and how will it help you be a good Class Officer at Cottonwood?

I have great communication skills and the ability to socialize and make connections. This helps me be a good class officer because I can communicate expectations, roles, and other important information about events to my peers, as well as make connections with not only fellow class officers, but many important people around the school. 

Question #7: What specific qualifications do you have for your intended position?

This will be my fourth year of student government, and 2nd as a vice president. During this time, I have learned to improvise, grow as both a leader and a person, and plan activities that appeal to a majority of individuals. This helps me with planning homeroom activities, taking over for the president (shoutout Charlie Woodward) and making lasting friendships with the people around me. 

Task

Task: Create a list of at least 4 Homecoming Homeroom activity ideas that you think students would enjoy and how you think those ideas will create a sense of belonging and unity in the school. Additionally, write two questions you could ask students to answer for the Humans of Cottonwood Instagram account. 

Humans of Cottonwood questions:

Who has had the biggest impact on you as a Cottonwood Colt and why?

What is one hidden talent or interest you have that most people wouldn't expect from you?

These questions aim to give students a chance to express themselves in a way they may not have had access to before. This plays into the goal of Humans of Cottonwood in the sense of showing who students really are and their stories.