Tennessee Association of Student Councils 2017 State Conference,

Ronald Young & Molly Lukas

My experience makes me unique. Student Council has been a very significant part of my life since the 6th grade. I served as the School President at Bon Lin Middle School and the 10th and 11th grade at Arlington High School. In other years, I have served as secretary and a board member. I had planned on being Arlington's president since I walked through their doors. Yet, this year I decided to do something different which opted me out of running for School President of Arlington. In March, I ran for the position of Secretary Co-Host of the Tennessee Association of Student Councils along with my friend, Molly Lukas. We campaigned at our State Convention to win the votes and hearts all of the schools around the state. We won our campaign and was given the duty of hosting the 2017 TASC State Convention at Arlington. As my summer was filled with a  lot of planning for this convention, I decided to apply for the Memphis Bar Association SLIP Program. This program allowed juniors and seniors to receive the opportunity of working between the options of a law firm or courtroom. I was placed at Bailey and Greer Law Firm. While I was in this program, I went to a trial, mediations, depositions, and sat in on client meetings. There were only 50 kids selected in this program and I was the only person to receive the experience that I did. After the internship was over, Bailey and Greer offered me a job. I accepted the job at which I still work as an intern. Through the superintendent's knowledge of the convention I was hosting and my job at Bailey and Greer, I was selected to be the emcee at the Arlington Teacher Inservice Program. I met with teachers and administrators through this program to understand the true principles of what ACS was about. I formed many relationships with most of the workers in Arlington Community Schools as well. During this program, Mark Anthony Garrett, the speaker of this program, stopped his speech to offer his mentorship for my future. I accepted his offer and we keep in contact very often. In late August, I was selected by our principal and superintendent, Chris Duncan and Tammy Mason, to give the commissioner of education a tour around Arlington High School and engage in a student-led meeting with her. We discussed topics such as post-secondary opportunities, extracurricular activities and simply how to improve education in Tennessee. Through these many events I have worked with, I have met many people within the town of Arlington, town officials, and business leaders. Recently, I have been selected by the Young Democrats sponsor to serve as a student election worker for the 2016 Election. I was selected as a Senior Communications Council Rep by our grade counselor which has the main responsibility of keeping seniors informed on college representative visits. Recently, Mr. Duncan, our principal, selected me along with 3 other seniors to serve on the Lead Arlington Cohort. The Lead Arlington Cohort has meetings where 30 business members, town government representatives, educators and students come together to collaborate, align, and connect information about our local education system, businesses and town government. I am a part of Beta Club, Key Club, Multicultural Club, Young Democrats, TedED Club, FBLA, SGA, DECA, Discipleship, Student Ministry, and FCA Club at Arlington. I am in love with Arlington High School. My experiences and personality make me stand out. I am a hard worker who strives to do bigger and better. My dedication to making things at Arlington better allow me to be open and receptive to change. Change is key if we want to make the world a more efficient and loving place.