Advice of Sound

The senior class representatives, Emma Hiss, Riyan Jones, Emma Mullins and Maggie Reintjes were selected for these positions based on their involvement in the STA community and their willingness to be contributing members of the school. Because of their passion for the STA mission and sisterhood, they have been asked to share their advice about traditions and leadership within the STA community.

Reintjes, the president of the senior class at STA, is an active member of the school. Through helping in Campus Ministry, playing sports, participating in volunteer work and many other activities, Reintjes has certainly made her mark on STA and has been acquainted with many people along the way. Her work, specifically while in this position, has helped create change and strengthen many aspects of both the senior class and the St. Teresa’s community.

Reintjes has been able to use her experiences to bring the class of 2023 closer together. She strives to understand how to be the best leader she can be, while keeping in mind both the needs of her classmates and herself. “These activities have helped me become more aware of different work ethics, different ways to problem solve and definitely how to be flexible,” Reintjes said. “Things always can get canceled, things can change so it makes me kind of have an understanding for people who are super busy.”

Her role as president requires many tasks. This has meant that she, as well as the other class representatives, have had to step into their roles and define what they mean. Additionally, they needed to discuss how they would realize senior traditions. They did so by creating a guide.

“There is not a whole lot that is on paper,” Reinjes said. “But, at the beginning of the year, the other class representatives and I met and we shared a document and called it “The Handy Dandy Notebook” and we wrote down all of our class meeting dates and categories like bonding techniques, bonding events, themes and every single event that would have representative involvement. What we struggled with, because nothing was written down, is that we had to do it all by memory, or look back at Instagram posts. We tried our best, but there were definitely things that I vaguely remember from my freshman year that we didn’t do.”

Mullins is the vice-president of the senior class of 2023, and like Reintjes, has been very engaged with STA activities. Mullins has been a member of the Student Government Association for the past three years at STA. She especially values the school community, noting that her friends and the bonds that she has formed have been what has truly made her time at STA special. She believes that she has been able to grow and become a well-rounded individual

The STA community that she has involved herself in has given Mullins the opportunity to strengthen her leadership and advocate for her peers. As Reintjes mentioned, there are aspects of roles in student government that need to be personally defined, and Mullins has certainly done that through her connections in the community – she has used her experiences to bring the senior class closer together through listening and understanding.

“These activities have made me learn how to branch out and meet new people that I now love. They have also caused me to want to be a leader and take steps towards being a leader,” Mullins said.

Moreover, Mullins realizes the value and importance of encouragement towards upcoming leaders within STA. It has made an impact on her, and she wishes to continue this aspect of community when passing on her leadership role to future class representatives.

“I will let [the future class representatives] know how amazing they are for leading their grade and how great they are going to do in their positions,” Mullins said.

Jones is the secretary of the senior class. She is also involved in the community and has served as a class representative for one year. Her participation and experiences have positively impacted her time at STA. Being actively involved in student admissions, Black Student Coalition, Campus Ministry and various volunteer opportunities has shaped her leadership and understanding. She finds that these extracurriculars are essential to her STA experience.

“Through participating in school activities I have met all different types of people, many of whom I wouldn’t have talked to without our shared activity,” Jones said. “By making a variety of friends I have been able to better connect with STA.”

In her role as secretary in the STA student government, Jones does much of the planning.

“I help organize different class events such as class day or senior sunrise,” Jones said. “I also help plan class meetings as well as organize our Friday dress-downs. I try and assist our president with whatever she needs as well as keep our grade in the loop of what’s going on around campus.”

Jones’s contributions do not stop there, and like Reintjes, she encourages leadership. Most recently, Jones led the rally against gun violence at STA, where she was able to utilize leadership skills that she intends to pass along to others in the STA community, something that is so important to carry along as classes graduate and move on from STA. She, too, references the blueprint that the class representatives have put together in an effort to relay important information and traditions to the lower grades.

“By being a leader I have helped underclassmen become leaders,” Jones said. ” I try my best to be a good role model and mentor to those around me and through leadership I have been able to do this efficiently.”

Hiss is the treasurer of the senior class. She is also greatly involved in many activities in the STA community. Hiss has especially placed an emphasis on school spirit while in her role as a class representative. Being a member of Spirit Club, Hiss has endeavored to inspire a fun, STA-centric atmosphere.

“As a class representative, I think I, along with the other representatives, have done my best to encourage school spirit and make it known that anyone in our class can be a leader,” Hiss said.” I am so proud to say that the class of 2023 is full of wonderful leaders who are so prepared and ready for what the future holds.”

Additionally, the role of treasurer comes with the responsibility of managing many of the finances of the class, and Hiss notes that having such a vital role has boosted her confidence.

“I think being a class representative has made me a more confident and decisive person,” Hiss said. “It can be nerve-wracking to speak in front of the school or grade; however, the position has caused me to develop confidence. I also think I have become a more decision-oriented person when it comes to planning events for the class of 2023.”

Hiss notes she has great confidence that the work that she and the other class representatives have done has been impactful; she also believes that the class of 2024 will carry on the legacy of leadership very well next year.

All of the class representatives have the shared responsibility of passing on traditions and encouraging leadership in the following classes, and they collectively trust the capabilities of the school to continue these traditions following their graduation. Hiss says of the class of 2024:

“As they enter into their senior year, I would leave them with the advice: work together to make it the best year of your high school career!” Hiss said. B