exploring BANTER

exploringBANTER

One conversation at a time, Matthew O’Stricker works to help everyone climb the mountain.

by grace ross

he name Matthew allow himself to grow from them. O’Stricker was well- “When people critique you, they’re coming from their perspective,” known among students, teachers O’Stricker said. “If you accept everyone’s critiques without and administrators around campus. understanding who you are, you have no perspective. [At] that point, While many may have been familiar you’re not necessarily leading. You’re not actually yourself, you’re just with O’Stricker because of his role as whatever everybody tells you to be. Know who you are as a person, take SGA president, many did not know the critique, and then adjust it based on your own principles.” about his involvement in the school’s podcast club, Eagle Exchange. “The goal of [Eagle “There’s a fine line between listening Exchange] is to allow access for students to use their voices about to people and hearing them.”certain issues that interest them,” O’Stricker said. “That can be serious issues and be current events, it can be things that are going on in the Woodward community, and it can Matthew O'Stricker also be fun stuff that we like talking about.” Dr. Elizabeth Burbridge, history teacher, inspired

O’Stricker to create his own podcast club during his sophomore year. Eagle Exchange was casual in its beginning stages, only consisting of “[Dr. Burbridge] explained she had her own podcast, ‘Footnoting O’Stricker and a number of his friends.

History,’” O’Stricker said. “I asked, ‘does Woodward have [a podcast “All of his friends who were in the club were male and black,” Dr. club],’ and she said no.” Burbridge said. “It was kind of like their lunch table had O’Stricker asked his come together [to] talk about things.” friend Ozie Adams ‘20 However, as the podcast gained more traction and to join him in creating expanded its audience, O’Stricker knew he had to diversify. the school’s first podcast “If we were going to be the voice of the school, we club. had to be more representative,” Dr. Burbridge said. “We Initially, O’Stricker had to bring on white students, other students of color, experienced backlash for and we had to acknowledge that everyone should be able his interest in pursuing to have a voice.” podcasts. He said many According to Dr. Burbridge, since the onset of Eagle of his peers considered Exchange, there have always been members that share podcasts outdated and differing political and world views. Thus, to ensure that felt they were irrelevant. each opinion can be expressed during a given podcast, “There’s gonna be Matthew O’Stricker ‘20 and Nick Wright ‘20 interview Callie Riggs members do not plan out an entire script ahead of time. people that are gonna Dauler ‘04 and Jeff Dauler about their podcast “The Upside.” Photo by Dr. Elizabeth Burbridge Instead, they come prepared with individual ideas and doubt you, people that thoughts, which have not been edited or revised by other are gonna make fun of you,” O’Stricker said. “You’re going to have peers or faculty. people that love to critique you.” “A podcast is a conversation in and of itself,” O’Stricker said. “We do O’Stricker decided to try and understand his critics’ perspectives and not need paper.” 24

As a podcast host, O’Stricker guided conversations and ensured they No matter what role he was in––whether as president of the student flowed, but O’Stricker’s responsibilities extended far beyond simply body or Eagle Exchange––O’Stricker gave it his all. He put others’ needs guiding the conversations. Behind the scenes, O’Stricker organized and before his own and remained modest. led meetings, assigned members to each episode and arranged practice “Being in these leadership roles, I would say it’s a humbling experience dates. and [an] experience that “Matthew is one of the just makes me realize most organized people there’s more,” O’Stricker I know,” Dr. Burbridge said. “There’s more to life said. “He’s really good at than just yourself. I’m not organizing [and] saying, ‘hey necessarily just serving we’re going to meet these the student body, I’m also days, and we need to meet serving people that are this amount of time[s] a going to be the next SGA month.’ When I [say] I don’t President and the next do any organizing, I don’t.” podcast club heads. I’m In addition to his serving them because I’m proficiency in organization, going to be the example O’Stricker brought additional that they’re going to have leadership skills to the table. to follow. I’m setting the While it is often difficult precedent.” to make every member Though O’Stricker of a team feel recognized, finished his senior year and O’Stricker got the job done. planned to continue his “I think he does a studies at Duke University, really good job of making For his off-campus podcast “Not an Anomoly,” Matthew O’Stricker ‘20 interviews Tim’m T. West, a he continued to serve the people feel important,” Dr. Cinncinnati-based educator and activist, at the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. student body through his Burbridge said. “[He feels Photo courtesy of Matthew O’Stricker appointment to the newly that] there is like no job too organized Anti-Racism small––you need someone for every job.” Task Force. According to O’Sticker, the Anti-Racism Task Force Along with inclusivity, O’Stricker strived to lead with a sense of is a group of individuals who are “rallying together to create and equality and humility in mind. implement policy” that will make sure Woodward is a racism-free “[W]hen you remain humble and don’t environment. look at yourself as above [everyone else], As the only recent graduate on the you have a better understanding of who Task Force–and the only individual under [your team members] are and what they’re 40-years-old–O’Sticker said he knows he going through or what their opinions are,” has a lot of responsibility to relay what O’Stricker said. “I find the true power the student experience on campus is like someone can hold is when they have the now. respect of the people they’re leading.” “My role features providing guidance Micaela Stewart ‘20, Eagle Exchange and my experience to the Anti-Racism member, said she believed O’Stricker was a Task Force, which will assess all of the strong, successful leader. information shared with the Academy and “Matthew is an amazing leader because make detailed recommendations on policies he does a great job of managing everyone’s and procedures to address accountability, personality,” Stewart said. “[He] makes sure disciplinary actions, and equity for all,” everyone gets to speak up and voice their O’Stricker said. opinions when it comes to group meetings.” While O’Stricker didn’t anticipate this Ms. Jill Bounds, a faculty advisor to new role so soon after senior year, but SGA, also took note of O’Stricker’s his experiences on SGA and Eagle “extraordinary” leadership abilities. As Matthew O’Stricker ‘20 visited the Georgia State Capital with Dr. Stuart Gulley for GISA (Georgia Independent Exchange left him feeling prepared for the student body president, O’Stricker aimed School Association) Day. Photo courtesy of Matthew O’Stricker responsibility. to remain humble. Just as he did in Eagle “Both taught me how to understand other Exchange, O’Stricker valued everyone’s people’s backgrounds. That’s extremely opinions and took them all into account. important when you’re in any role or on any board making decisions “Matthew is the definition of leadership,” Ms. Bounds said. “He for others. No one set group of people are monolithic in their lives or has done such a fantastic job as the SGA president and takes his job experience. You need to try to diversify and integrate by listening to extremely seriously. Matthew has made a huge effort to really get to people from different ages, different backgrounds, different spectrums. know how the students are feeling about various issues around campus. Both of those organizations helped me in that sense, of having a better He feels strongly that SGA needs to be the voice of the student body understanding of who I’m representing.” and has worked hard to do this.”