Junior class president Brandon Truong is using his initiative and leadership to make this year one to remember.
Truong, who was sophomore class president last year, is concentrating on organization, class engagement and fostering a sense of unity. His passion to grow from his mistakes, promote inclusivity and make a lasting impression on the class and school is what shapes his leadership.
“School government is such an important thing that people really tend to forget about,” Truong said.
Truong believes he can now handle responsibilities and duties more effectively than in the past. He has been forced to venture outside of his comfort zone in his role as class president.
“I can be very antisocial sometimes, so this position really helped me grow out of my shell,” Truong said.
Truong says engagement has increased as a result of successful advertising and event promotion.
“I truly want our class to be well known; [I want us to be] the class that was fun,” Truong said.
He has effectively promoted events with the assistance of his officers, and junior class vice president Laurel Congdon-Homan believes Truong is an effective leader.
“It’s been great and I really couldn’t ask for a better president,” Congdon-Homan said. “He’s awesome and we get along very well.”
His success is largely attributed to his ability to strike a balance between a collaborative setting and a strong leadership presence.
“Whether they are an [elected officer] or a steering committee member, he is very good at creating space for people to take the initiative and step up in their roles,” Congdon-Homan said.
Truong welcomes the challenges that come with being a leader.
“Stress can be debilitating, but it can also push people to do more,” Truong said.
Truong attributes his success to his team’s support and hard work. He appreciates the teamwork they provide and how they make decisions faster and easier, like sharing content on social media.
“All of my officers—[junior class representatives] Madison Nicosia, Cara Leonard, Isabella Gaskamp, Sydney Dafoe and Lily Dumont—are truly amazing,” Truong said.
In the future, Truong hopes to keep using his leadership to influence the school environment.
“I’m glad I’m approachable because people feel really comfortable coming up to me,” Truong said.
Beyond his time as president, Truong hopes to create a lasting impression on his class and leave a legacy of unity and good times.