Gabriella Ilardi, Link Crew and Renaissance Coordinator, 2021-2022
Hello junior year!! I can not believe this is already my third year of highschool. It feels like the other day I was walking around the halls of Ripon High not knowing where a single room was, and now I am telling freshmen where to go. They weren’t joking when they told us these years would go by fast, and now senior year is already around the corner. There is so much to think about this year and despite the stress and anxiety, I am actually very excited to explore more in detail about my future pathways. In the leadership world this year, it is my third year being a part of Link Crew and the Renaissance position and it finally feels like I have a solid role in the class. My two trainees this year are amazing, and I can’t wait to show them all the ins and outs of our position. Our first event already went amazing and it was awesome to see all of the support from the link crew members at freshmen orientation. With only a few minor issues, we were able to work with what we had and preserve past the hardships. My initial thoughts going into this year were that I was going to have a lot on my plate. Freshman orientation definitely kept me on my toes and fulfilled those initial thoughts. With me now being the head of the position, I had/have a lot of responsibilities. There are a lot more eyes on me this year, especially with my trainees learning from my every move. My intentions for the year are to portray a good image to all of the public including my teachers, community, peers, and anyone else; as well as putting forth the best link crew team any group of freshmen has ever seen. Other than link crew, my intentions for renaissance are to get students excited about academic rewards again, and make them more motivated to do well in school. Learning is important, and here at Ripon High School we valve the academic success of the students here on campus. I hoping to advertise this program more, and I can’t wait for what this year has to bring!
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.”- Chris Grosser
I just recently came across this quote, and I am so grateful that I did. I have always struggled with seeing people get things handed to them, so this quote reminded me that not everyone has a life where everything is already planned out. I know from personal experience that there is a big difference between having hope and working hard. Hope is not guaranteed, however hard work is. If you are putting in the time and effort 24/7 then more than likely it will pay off. This ties into opportunities because it is not just every day that a random opportunity appears. One in a lifetime chance maybe, but there’s a reason why it’s called, “once in a lifetime.” If you want something badly enough then you will go out of your way to make that happen. This is why I think that it is important to remember that you are in control, and you create your opportunities.
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“You swing your best when you have the fewest things to think about.”- Bobby Jones
Golf quotes are probably my favorite quotes because I can relate to them on a different level, and they are so beneficial to life in general. This quote specifically relates to the mental side of golf, which is what I have been struggling with recently. In golf, it is important to keep a clear mind once you are about to hit your shot because it is very easy to let your doubts slip in. There are so many different factors to the golf swing and if your mind is processing too many things at once you will forget about the number 1 task, which is executing the shot. This quote also reminds me of how we as humans have the ability to give power to the thoughts that run through our minds. When we are putting the energy into unnecessary thoughts, we typically are distracted from the important things in life. So just like golf, your life is the best when you have the least amount of things on your mind.
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“Confidence is the hinge on the door to success.”- AnonymousAbout a year ago, I came across this quote on a fortune cookie and it has stuck with me ever since then. I am a firm believer in the idea that whether you think you can or can’t do something, that will determine your outcome. When you do not have confidence in yourself then it is hard for you to branch out of your comfort zone and reach your full potential. In order to accomplish your goals in life, you have to be able to take that leap of faith and push yourself to the next level. Despite all of the hard work you have to put in, confidence is the main thing that leads to your success, which is why they use the analogy of it being the “hinge on the door.” I use this quote to push myself to be more confident so I can reach my goals one day!
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“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder for consensus.” - Martin Lurther King
This quote has a great connection to my effort towards my job position and leadership position this year. Coming into my second year as link crew & renaissance coordinator I really wanted to step up my game and push myself. These two programs are not very appreciated by the student body and that saddened me. This motivated me to be a “molder” not a “searcher.” MLK Jr. was an inspirational human being that was very passionate about what he believed in. I put my belief in this program and tried to completely change it for the better. To my luck and help from my trainees, we truly did all we could to gain participation and build a better reputation for renaissance. Reflecting back on my efforts this year has opened my eyes, and it made me realize that I have stuff to be proud of. It seems like such a simple statement would not have such a huge effect on a person, but words truly have the power to change, move, and enlighten people. As a leader, the ability to reflect is probably one of the most important abilities.
This quote has a great connection to my effort towards my job position and leadership position this year. Coming into my second year as link crew & renaissance coordinator I really wanted to step up my game and push myself. These two programs are not very appreciated by the student body and that saddened me. This motivated me to be a “molder” not a “searcher.” MLK Jr. was an inspirational human being that was very passionate about what he believed in. I put my belief in this program and tried to completely change it for the better. To my luck and help from my trainees, we truly did all we could to gain participation and build a better reputation for renaissance. Reflecting back on my efforts this year has opened my eyes, and it made me realize that I have stuff to be proud of. It seems like such a simple statement would not have such a huge effect on a person, but words truly have the power to change, move, and enlighten people. As a leader, the ability to reflect is probably one of the most important abilities.
Leadership Based GoalsCore Camp allowed for me to rethink my time here on campus at Ripon High, and I feel as if the messages I learned there almost influenced my goals towards leadership this school year. This year I am going to focus most of my energy towards my trainees so they will be as prepared as they can for next year when they will have to run my position on their own. When I was a trainee in this position Covid had just hit so I was not able to get trained properly. This led me to have to do a lot of extra training on my own so I only feel obligated to make sure my trainees do not feel this way in the slightest. My other goal for leadership this year relates more to my position, which is that I want to make renaissance a program everyone is dying to participate in once again. Now that we are in person and can bring back academic gold cards and red cards, I am incredibly excited to see the type of participation we get from the students. I also want to consider revamping the academic block R since letterman jackets are not as popular as they used to be. This will be a big challenge to tackle and might take a few years to find a substitute, but I would like to put that into motion this year.
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Short Term Life GoalsMy short term goals for this school year are to get a job in the summer so I can save up for my future expenses that will come as a college student and to get in contact with around 5 college coaches so I can have a solid place to commit to by the end of my junior year. I have worked so hard on my golf game the past year so I only owe it to myself to reach out to college coaches because then I more than likely will not be able to fulfill my dream of playing D1 college golf. I have already sent over 10 introductory letters out to coaches, but only one has responded and stayed in contact with me. If those are going to be how my odds are then that means I need to expand my horizon and send letters to at least 20 more schools. Even though that sounds like a lot, I am motivated to do so because of the fire burning inside of me. I have always wanted a more stable job then the one I have now which helps out my coach with golf lessons on Thursdays. I also give lessons on my own to people at Spring Creek, but this isn’t always consistent since my payment depends on if people need lessons or not. I want to get a job to improve my customer service skills as well as time management and organization.
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Long Term Life GoalsThe goals that I have for my future may seem “dumb” because they aren’t phsyically obtainable, but I think they are both very important goals for everyone to have in their life. My first one is to be happy with my self-image, both inside and outside. I want to be able to love my body and personality just as much as I love my family. I just recently learned that I am worthy of that amount of love, and I now want to make efforts towards finding that love for myself. Small things like creating a workout schedule for my body or taking time to meditate for my mind are both two examples I will be using on this journey. My next long term goal is to acknowledge all of the hard work I have put in and give myself enough credit for the success I have accomplished. Throughout highschool I have discounted a lot of the things I have done whether they were academic rewards or golf related rewards. I always seem to downgrade myself, and it is really toxic. The negative energy that flows through my mind will only hold me back so that is why this is one of my long term goals. One day I wish to be as proud of myself as my family is!
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Leadership Based ReflectionThis year my job position has been very positive overall, and I can willingly say I am proud of the progress that I have made in the leadership class. Looking back at my two goals of focusing my energy towards my trainees and transforming renaissance into a program that is compelling to the student body, I believe that both of these two things were accomplished. I have grown so close to my trainees over the past months, and they are such hardworking young women. I hope that they feel prepared enough to carry on the renaissance program, and feel more confident then I did. By the end of the year, I was able to ask them to run events, and they were able to do these things with no questions asked. I am incredibly proud of their work, and I am excited for their future. My other goal to transfer renaissance was definitely achieved. Now I am not bragging or anything, but the participation in renaissance this year was very high compared to previous years. Bringing back the finals passes and changing the way signups were run, made the program more appealing and accessible to students. Although it was a shock to me the amount of work, stubborn students, and issues we were run across, I think it was all worth it in the end (for this year at least).
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Short Term ReflectionFor my short term goals I was unable to make huge strides, but I think I am still on track to accomplish them by the end of the year. The goal of getting a job during the summer can not be approached for another few months, however I do think I might be able to fit one in. I had hoped to work at the country club in town as a cart girl, but with all of the golf tournaments I am signed up for, a committed full time job might be harder than I thought. Instead I have been trying to advertise myself more for babysitting jobs and home sitting jobs. I do a lot of house sitting in my neighborhood, however I can expand my horizons with babysitting since I know a lot of families who need help. Especially with summer coming up I could see this being very easy to pursue. Other than the job goal, I also had the goal of getting in contact with more college coaches. To be completely honest I could’ve done much better at achieving this goal over the past months. I went through some rough patches with golf after my high school season. There were goods and many bads, and it is hard to stay motivated to showcase yourself to coaches when you do not have the greatest scores. I did however keep my connections with the Cal Poly SLO coach, and she ended up getting to watch me at one of my recent tournaments! I am glad to acknowledge the same successes in life.
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Long Term ReflectionFinally, I am happy to say that I have made huge strides towards my long term goals. Now this may seem ironic because I have reached my long term goals more than my short term ones, but my long term goals will always exist because there is always room for improvement. My two long term goals are to be happy with my self-image both inside and outside, and to give myself enough credit for the work I put in. When I was re-reading these goals, it made me so happy because I genuinely can look at that goal and reflect back on all my self growth throughout the year. I have started eating healthier, working out more, going to the golf course for fun, and surrounding myself around people who make me feel good. Life has been so much more positive since I have made these changes to benefit my mental health. I think that my confidence is starting to grow again and part of it is due to my loving boyfriend. He helped push me along when it was needed, and I appreciate him for that. For my second goal of giving myself enough credit, I believe that there still needs to be more work done. I am very very hard on myself, and it is easy to break down whenever I do not meet my high standards. I make progress during the middle of the year, then I feel like I regressed again. I think this goal will be a constant battle until I change my mindset completely.
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Gabriella Ilardi, an 11th grade junior at Ripon High School, is in the process of becoming the top junior golfer in the world at an outstanding age of 17 years-old. This small town girl has a lot to offer and over the past few years she has shown that with 5 Junior Tour of Northern California wins, 2 American Junior Golf Association top 3 finishes, 3 IMG Junior Worlds top 10 finishes, and finally this last year a championship title for the California Women’s Ameutar Championship at the tricky Monterey Penninsula Country Club. For someone who grew up in a town of only 16,000 people, Gabriella never set her bar low, and she has been challenging herself since day one. From her beginning of her golf career in 9-hole tournaments with US Kids to competing on the high school team with her friends, she has grown so much as a golfer as well as human being. All of the knowledge she has gained over the years would not have been possible without her role model and coach, Bill Johnson. She states, “He changed my life, and how I perceive golf as a whole sport. I want to credit him for always believing in me and never letting me give up on my talent.” Bill is a PGA teaching professional at the country club Del Rio, which is 15 minutes away from where Gabbi grew up. Outside of golf, Gabriella has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout highschool, and she passed all of her AP exams so far because she has balanced her studies and golf incredibly well. Next year she plans on attending Cal Polytechnic State University where she will study immunology and play on their women's golf team. She was offered a full scholarship to play on their team and can not wait for that next chapter of her life. She has been working with them every chance she gets, and already feels like a true member of the team. Though she has had many accomplishments already, Gabriella is not ready to peak yet. After many long, strategic discussions with her upcoming coach Sofie Aagard, Gabriella has faith that her team will be able to latch on the the NCAA National title within her four years of being there. The team has some stellar golfers, especially their two juniors who led the team their freshmen year. With her new found motivation after winning the CWAC this year, Gabriella has high hopes for her swing gain and gaining for yards in her driver. The amount of hours she spent as a teenager on the putting green and chipping area finally added up, and now to get the extra edge on her opponents, she thinks these few yards added will do the trick. Gabriella says ‘if she has learned anything in all the years she has played golf it is simply that short game makes or breaks a golfer.’ This is why she spent so much time growing up, honing in on her short game. Gabriella is grateful for all of the memories she has created and opportunities she has gained through this sport. She wants to thank her mom and dad for always supporting her, and pushing her to be the best possible player she could be. She knows that she has a long road ahead of her, and she will cherish every second of it. The Big West does not know what’s coming at them because Gabriella Ilardi has got her eye on the prize and is ready for some action!
Someone that I hold near to my heart and consider my biggest role model in my life right now is my mother. She has always been there for me, and is the most uplifting person in my life. I aspire to hold myself the same way she does, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better to teach me their ways. She radiates positivity in her voice, smile, and whole personality. I know that she can always make me feel better when I’m having a bad day. Life would not be the same without everything that she does for my family. Since she is a stay at home mom, we are able to rely on her more than most people can rely on their moms. She has helped me a lot with emailing college coaches this year because I have a lot on my plate, and I am incredibly grateful for that. My mother is a confident woman who does not let other people’s opinions affect her. I tend to struggle with this, and ever since I was little she has reminded me to only worry about myself and myself only. One day I will hopefully have all of these characteristics and be just like my role model. I have been working on these faults of mine, and part of the reason why I used to struggle so much was because I didn’t have a good enough understanding of my energy. Letting other people’s opinion get to me is using my energy in the wrong way, and I was completely unaware how draining this act was. Whenever I catch myself thinking too much about other people I simply remember my mom's smile and this tends to distract my mind from those negative thoughts!
I struggle with this prompt every year, and I think that it is because I have so many different attributes and characteristics that I can never decide with one animal. There are certain traits that I have that other animals do not, as well as there are certain traits that animals have that I do not carry. With my growth since last year, I think my personality most matches most with a dolphin. I was researching more about dolphins' personalities, and there was a lot about balance and harmony, which I feel that I have made great strides at this over the past year. Getting more into yoga and meditation, I have learned a lot about my energy and mindset. I now only spend my energy on things that serve a purpose in my life, which has reduced my stress levels and allowed me to put more time into the things that actually matter. I feel like I have a strong sense of my consciousness and have grown to become very intelligent, yet I have still remained light-hearted and friendly in certain situations. Dolphins can be underestimated sometimes due to their ability to let loose and have fun, however these creatures are incredibly intelligent and have a greater awareness then most. I am not afraid to dream big and work hard to achieve my goals which is another characteristic that dolphins have. I am glad I asked my friends for help on this prompt because I would’ve never thought of a dolphin, even though it carries most of the same traits as me. I guess sometimes your friends know you better than you know yourself!
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This song has a good message about people hiding their true selves and being afraid of showing their “stranger” to the world. I think that this song relates to me not in the fact that I hide who I am, but that it has taken me a while to grow and be comfortable in my own skin. There are two sides to a lot of people regardless if they like it our not, it is simply human nature. Not everyone lives a good life where everything they do is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes and this song reminds people to not give up completely when you fail, which is something I am a firm believer in. This song lets me know that regardless of good or bad, I should not be afraid to show my stranger to those that deserve to see it. I have been living by this motto, and my “stranger” is no longer hidden but she is controlled!
Leadership isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, and quite frankly most of the time it is not even close to that. There are tears, countless hours of your day spent decorating, backlash from students, and so much more. However, despite all of these things there are reasons that I like being a member of leadership. The hardships I have faced in leadership, especially this year have allowed for me to grow and understand what this program has done for me. I have learned from my past failures, and believe it or not some of the most annoying things that happened this year were some of my favorite moments. This year has been the rebuilding after the covid year, so I got to plan the first freshmen orientation since August of 2020. It was so fun to finally run my first event and be responsible for all of the people helping along the way. From organizing the link crew leaders, to making over 300 nametags, to finally getting everyone on the bleachers on the day of the event, it was chaotic. However, I had so much fun putting this event on with my trainees, the link crew members, and Morty. Another memory that I have from this year that was one of my favorites was when we did praises. I love to hear all of the kind words people have for each other, and it lightens the mood of the classroom so much. This year we did praises after the homecoming, which by the way was an amazing event, and I thought that it was very helpful in lifting up the people in the classroom after a long hard week of work! I received some very positive feedback from my peers and it made me feel very loved. Finally, the last grand memory I have from this year so far is when we had to spend 5-6 hours of our day decorating doors with wrapping paper for Warm and Fuzzy Week. If you ask anyone in the leadership class this event went horrible, however to me, it was one of the most memorable things we have done all year. The intended 3 hours that were supposed to be spent at the highschool turned into much longer due to small mistakes by some members in the classroom. Even though only a few people messed up and the rest were done, we had to stay and finish all the doors together as a class. There was a ton of unorganization, so I had to take a stand and wrap 3 extra doors on my own. This is why it was one of my most memorable moments. When things went to chaos, I stood up and called the shots. I am proud of myself for this moment and it made me reflect on my growth since coming into the program as freshmen.
This year I wanted to reflect on someone who has been of great help to me throughout the year. This person is one of the hardest working people in the class, and she is always on top of her duties. Jenna Skavdol is one of my trainees this year, but I have known her since student council in elementary school. We worked together back then and here we are now working hand in hand. Jenna is always asking questions about where she can help or how she can improve on her work. She is an amazing listener and provides another opinion on the way things are being done. Renaissance sign ups would not have run as smoothly as they did without her time she put in and ideas she came up with. Overall, Jenna is a caring human being who loves to help people around her. I see it throughout the classroom outside of her position. She has done good work with the sophomore class, and she has bonded with other members in the class. It has been a pleasure to train Jenna this year, and I am so glad I got to work with her once again. She will excel in the next position she chooses to run for, whether that is link crew/renaissance or not. Regardless, I am excited to see what her future brings!
(Jenna pictured on the left in the photo) |
Being my third year in the program, I wanted to switch up this portfolio page. In the past I have done golf and teaching golf, so this year I wanted to explore outside of golf because I do have other hobbies. One of those hobbies is listening to music and making playlists. Over a year ago I got a record player for Christmas and it was probably one of the best gifts ever. I am so grateful for this because it is a way to express my love for music, old music especially. Vinyls are so unappreciated, yet they are so resourceful and each have a story. The most fun part of it all is the shopping for the records because you get to look through hundreds of records and discover artists you may have never heard before. My brother introduced me to the appreciation of vinyls, and I have been collecting ever since. I also like being able to connect with adults on certain levels by having conversations about music during their childhood.
Dear parents,
Where do I even begin… It sure has been a long year, but I just want to say thank you. Through all the ups and downs of this year you guys have been by my side supporting and loving me no matter what. Some people were not blessed with a support system like this guys during covid, and that is something that I have taken for granted. It is easy to do that when you guys raised your kids in such a caring household. Since I was only exposed to this loving environment, it's hard to grasp the fact that that is not always normal. Covid allowed me to reflect on how much you guys truly mean to me. I love your compassion and drive to push me to be the best version of myself. It has helped shape me into the person I am today, and I know when I am older, I will be giving all the credit back where it is due. This year I have learned many things and been pushed out of my comfort zone, but no matter what you guys were always there to have my back. I am always able to talk to both of you whenever I have a problem or just need to laugh (dad). Despite the sarcastic teenage remarks that I occasionally make, wink wink, I really do love you both with my whole heart. P.S. I also appreciate the love that you have for each other and the image of happiness that you guys portray from your marriage. So grateful to have two faithful, loving parents like you.
Love,
Gabriella
Where do I even begin… It sure has been a long year, but I just want to say thank you. Through all the ups and downs of this year you guys have been by my side supporting and loving me no matter what. Some people were not blessed with a support system like this guys during covid, and that is something that I have taken for granted. It is easy to do that when you guys raised your kids in such a caring household. Since I was only exposed to this loving environment, it's hard to grasp the fact that that is not always normal. Covid allowed me to reflect on how much you guys truly mean to me. I love your compassion and drive to push me to be the best version of myself. It has helped shape me into the person I am today, and I know when I am older, I will be giving all the credit back where it is due. This year I have learned many things and been pushed out of my comfort zone, but no matter what you guys were always there to have my back. I am always able to talk to both of you whenever I have a problem or just need to laugh (dad). Despite the sarcastic teenage remarks that I occasionally make, wink wink, I really do love you both with my whole heart. P.S. I also appreciate the love that you have for each other and the image of happiness that you guys portray from your marriage. So grateful to have two faithful, loving parents like you.
Love,
Gabriella
Dear Future Link Crew and Renaissance Coordinator,
Welcome to your new lovely position! I admire you for your willingness and courage to take control of this beast of a job. I know that it is only a commissioner position and you may think that it is going to be low maintenance, but trust me you will disagree by the end of the year. Now just because there is a lot of work does not mean that this job is amazing and provides you with a great work ethic. I hope you are excited to push yourself and learn new skills that will help you in the future. Over these past two years my trainees and I have brought back the demand for renaissance, so you will have to deal with around 300 students who sign up quarterly. This means individually packing up their rewards including stars, R’s, cards, and ace tickets all in a ziplock. It will take some time to adjust to the system, but I have already introduced you to it so you should be fine. As far as link crew goes, you will probably get around 60 students sign up for the interview process next year. You must be careful in who Morty and your team selects because these students set an example to the incoming freshmen. Make sure all the events you run have back plans if your original one falls through. If I have learned anything from being a commissioner during a covid year, it is to know how to act when things do not go as planned. There will be bumps in the road but please keep your head up, and even though I am not going to be in the program next year, I will be here to help you with whatever you need. I am also still going to be a part of the link crew, so feel free to contact me whenever you need help or have a question. Don’t be afraid to speak up and introduce new ideas to this position. You are now in complete control of the direction this program will go. Use your grown up voice and be a true leader. As being the lead of link crew, you will have 60 highschool students coming to you for questions, so know your stuff and tell them off if they get out of hand. You’re going to do great, good luck!
Love,
Gabbi Ilardi (Link Crew/Renaissance Coordinator 2020-2022)
Welcome to your new lovely position! I admire you for your willingness and courage to take control of this beast of a job. I know that it is only a commissioner position and you may think that it is going to be low maintenance, but trust me you will disagree by the end of the year. Now just because there is a lot of work does not mean that this job is amazing and provides you with a great work ethic. I hope you are excited to push yourself and learn new skills that will help you in the future. Over these past two years my trainees and I have brought back the demand for renaissance, so you will have to deal with around 300 students who sign up quarterly. This means individually packing up their rewards including stars, R’s, cards, and ace tickets all in a ziplock. It will take some time to adjust to the system, but I have already introduced you to it so you should be fine. As far as link crew goes, you will probably get around 60 students sign up for the interview process next year. You must be careful in who Morty and your team selects because these students set an example to the incoming freshmen. Make sure all the events you run have back plans if your original one falls through. If I have learned anything from being a commissioner during a covid year, it is to know how to act when things do not go as planned. There will be bumps in the road but please keep your head up, and even though I am not going to be in the program next year, I will be here to help you with whatever you need. I am also still going to be a part of the link crew, so feel free to contact me whenever you need help or have a question. Don’t be afraid to speak up and introduce new ideas to this position. You are now in complete control of the direction this program will go. Use your grown up voice and be a true leader. As being the lead of link crew, you will have 60 highschool students coming to you for questions, so know your stuff and tell them off if they get out of hand. You’re going to do great, good luck!
Love,
Gabbi Ilardi (Link Crew/Renaissance Coordinator 2020-2022)
Do: Add photos to the google form sign-ups to help students visualize reward
Do: Do inventory regularly since the number of sign ups varies quarterly Do: Organize sign ups by building then go back and do classroom (use sticky notes + rubber bands) Do: Put renaissance gift bags in teacher boxes instead of going to each class Do: Check people missing on grade sheet with Morty in aries Do: Always buy extra link crew shirts for the upcoming year (base #’s off of last years) Do: Send link crew members out to the counseling office to get students during 8th grade day Do: Plan at least two months in advance for 8th grade day, leaving enough time for interviews and purchasing of supplies Do: Publicize on multiple platforms for renaissance + link crew (flyers on campus) |
Don’t: Only give yourself a week to finish organizing and hand out all renaissance rewards (long process)
Don’t: Assume your facility requests are 100%- something with higher priority could move it (check with Olrich) Don’t: Lose track of your number of R’s, pins, ziplocks, cards, ace tickets, and rubber bands Don’t: Forget to remind Morty when to be communicating with Link Crew members about events and their responsibilities Don’t: Leave Morty to deal with all of the emails complaining about renaissance (always check up on that after putting in boxes) Don’t: Underestimate the amount of time it take for supplies to come in- always triple check your work Don’t: Forget to delegate the work to your co-partners- but remain as organized as possible |
Activities Director- Jill Mortensen: (209) 541-6907 [email protected]
Renaissance card supplier- Vistaprint : 1(866)207-4955 live chat center
T-shirt company- Uberprints: 1(866)440-8237 [email protected]
Renaissance R’s and star pin supplier- The Basix : (916) 486-1820 [email protected]
Renaissance card supplier- Vistaprint : 1(866)207-4955 live chat center
T-shirt company- Uberprints: 1(866)440-8237 [email protected]
Renaissance R’s and star pin supplier- The Basix : (916) 486-1820 [email protected]
One of the main professional development projects is the quarter evaluations. These evaluations are given to you by your Mentor and the ASB president at the time. You receive a grading sheet with a list of areas the ideal leader would be in to compare your actions with them. The Mentor (AD) and ASB president will grade you on your work ethic, organization, following of the core principles, time management, and so much more. Every quarter you are sat down with and taken through your evaluation to explain how you can improve one certain area. This simulates much like a job evaluation when your boss is checking in with you to make sure everything is running smoothly or to let you know you need to pick up the slack. This year we got the opportunity to rebuttal instead of just listening to the reasons the AD graded us the way they did. The opportunity to depend ourselves in front of an authority figure was good preparation for our future when we might have to stand up for what is right in our job.
Another main professional development project we do every year are the Mock Interviews, where we get interviewed by a professional in a potential future career. We started preparing ourselves for the Mock interview process in November by creating our Cover letters and Resumes. With the combination of an information packet and the tips from our well experienced teacher, we are able to create clean, organized documents to present to our interviewer. I once again learned the difference between a skill-based resume and chronological resumes, and the correct time to use either. The actual interview process is probably the most informational part altogether, and it is extremely helpful. Other than the knowledge they provide about the career, talking with the professional is beneficial for your future because they get to give you tips on how you present yourself during the interview. During my interview last year I learned that it is ok to not be afraid to discuss your hobbies with the interviewer so they know that you have a good balance between work and personal life (you can also include these on your resume). There were so many things I learned from this interview, and even though I did not get to have an interview my freshmen year, I still went through the process of setting up my cover letter and resume. This will probably be one of the most important tools for me in my future.
Another main professional development project we do every year are the Mock Interviews, where we get interviewed by a professional in a potential future career. We started preparing ourselves for the Mock interview process in November by creating our Cover letters and Resumes. With the combination of an information packet and the tips from our well experienced teacher, we are able to create clean, organized documents to present to our interviewer. I once again learned the difference between a skill-based resume and chronological resumes, and the correct time to use either. The actual interview process is probably the most informational part altogether, and it is extremely helpful. Other than the knowledge they provide about the career, talking with the professional is beneficial for your future because they get to give you tips on how you present yourself during the interview. During my interview last year I learned that it is ok to not be afraid to discuss your hobbies with the interviewer so they know that you have a good balance between work and personal life (you can also include these on your resume). There were so many things I learned from this interview, and even though I did not get to have an interview my freshmen year, I still went through the process of setting up my cover letter and resume. This will probably be one of the most important tools for me in my future.
This year has been a roller coaster for some, but I honestly think that through all of the ups and downs, I have taken the positive and rolled with the punches. I have learned so much about the people, the events, and the changes in the class this year. There has been frustration, inefficient planning, and other negative situations happening throughout the time we have been getting used to the new “normal.” However, all of these things needed to happen in order to break the habits created during the time that we spent away from each other during Covid. The hardest part for me and my job this year was dealing with the student body. I have never put up with so many inpatient people in my life, and renaissance humbled me. I thought that I could handle a lot of work until I had to take full control of that job and reach my breaking point. Thankfully I had amazing trainees that were always by my side helping me along the way. I grew from that experience however, and I can now say I feel extremely confident taking on any task requiring intense organization and patience.
On a larger scale, the whole class definitely faced some challenges this year, and we have gone from being at each other's throats to praising each other for all of the good work. This kind of shift has helped our class grow so much because we have seen each side of everyone. The good, bad, and the ugly can be overwhelming sometimes and forcing those sides of people to shine was good yet, took a toll on some relationships. Door Decorating this year is a perfect example of unnecessary tension created between classmates creating a void in our family environment. Through tears and eyerolls, our team was able to work together and finally accomplish our end goal of getting all the doors decorated before the start of the school week. It may have taken some bonding and praise, but our class has come a long way and we can now cherish the weird moment.
For the future, especially coming out of a covid year, I think there is a lot to improve upon. Many old traditions need to be replaced because half of the student body has no recollection of the events we used to plan. We as a leadership program hold the job of making school fun and enjoyable for all students on campus. As the world is evolving we need to adapt to the new crowds coming in and be more creative. Life's too quick to live in the past, through observing the participation and overall spirit this year, there needs to be a serious change. Coming up with new ideas and fun events will boost the students' respect for us as an ASB program because they do not understand what we have to offer if we do not.
On a larger scale, the whole class definitely faced some challenges this year, and we have gone from being at each other's throats to praising each other for all of the good work. This kind of shift has helped our class grow so much because we have seen each side of everyone. The good, bad, and the ugly can be overwhelming sometimes and forcing those sides of people to shine was good yet, took a toll on some relationships. Door Decorating this year is a perfect example of unnecessary tension created between classmates creating a void in our family environment. Through tears and eyerolls, our team was able to work together and finally accomplish our end goal of getting all the doors decorated before the start of the school week. It may have taken some bonding and praise, but our class has come a long way and we can now cherish the weird moment.
For the future, especially coming out of a covid year, I think there is a lot to improve upon. Many old traditions need to be replaced because half of the student body has no recollection of the events we used to plan. We as a leadership program hold the job of making school fun and enjoyable for all students on campus. As the world is evolving we need to adapt to the new crowds coming in and be more creative. Life's too quick to live in the past, through observing the participation and overall spirit this year, there needs to be a serious change. Coming up with new ideas and fun events will boost the students' respect for us as an ASB program because they do not understand what we have to offer if we do not.
When I think of an ideal leader I think someone who is strong willed, determined, and has the ability to be vulnerable. A true leader always has a purpose, and no matter the costs they will always persevere. Mentally, it takes a lot to be in the spotlight 24/7. As a leader you deal with all kinds of people which means you have to be adaptable and patient. Leaders make their own rules and set a good example for their peers and colleagues. They demonstrate good character by using the ability to be vulnerable and truly open up to the people around them. Good leaders put themselves on the level of their peers while still maintaining their authority. In our leadership class specially, there are expectations set for us during the daily class periods, planning events, and completing homework. Students are held to high standards, which include professionalism, good work ethic, and organization. The demeanor and attitude that leaders hold affect their followers, and being a part of ASB you are expected to keep a positive attitude and uplift the student body. Slandering the events that are put on by any program on our campus is not expected as a leader at RIpon High School. The image displayed correlates with the reputation that the leadership class holds. There is little slack given to leaders, so in this class you are not allowed to turn in anything late, or be disrespectful to anyone. All of the characteristics that are expected of a leader are raised to the highest standard in the leadership program, and that is why RHS is one of the greatest high schools in the world.
Driven
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