Imagine you are running for student body president. What is the number one way you hope to positively impact your school? by Corinne

Imagine you are running for student body president. What is the number one way you hope to positively impact your school? by Corinne - December 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I were to run for student body president, my biggest goal would be simple: to ensure that every student feels like they actually belong here. Not just tolerated or included as an afterthought, but genuinely seen and heard. I want to build a community where people connect through real conversations, learning from each other, and lifting each other.

I know what it feels like to be on the outside. Growing up as a Black girl in a predominantly white community, I was hyper-aware of how people saw me, how I dressed, how I talked, how I carried myself. Being the only Black woman in most rooms came with an unspoken pressure to represent my entire race perfectly. It was exhausting. I was constantly searching for somewhere I could just be myself without outside perspectives affecting who I wanted to be.

That's why my family joined Jack and Jill, an organization dedicated to developing future Black leaders. It became my safe space, a place where I didn't have to explain myself or prove I belonged. It showed me what community could feel like when it's done right.

When I became the teen president of my local chapter, I wanted to create that same feeling for others. I worked to build a space where teenagers dealing with similar experiences could come together and finally exhale. Where they didn't have to be "the only one" anymore. Leading that group taught me that real leadership isn't about being in charge, it's about serving people, listening to them, and helping them feel strong enough to be themselves.

That's exactly what I'd bring to student body president. I want to create spaces where students can learn together, have honest conversations, and collaborate across differences. Because here's the thing: community doesn't just happen. You have to build it intentionally. You have to reach out, stay transparent, and create real opportunities for people to connect.
I'm also passionate about getting students engaged in the bigger picture, especially when it comes to voting and political awareness. So many marginalized communities have been shut out of politics through voter suppression and misinformation, and I believe students have real power to change that. As president, I'd focus on helping students understand how much their voices matter, both on campus and beyond it.

At the end of the day, I want to be the kind of leader who makes leadership feel accessible to everyone. I want to create a campus where community isn't just a buzzword, it's something we live every day. Where students feel like they matter, like their voice counts, like they're part of something bigger. Because when students feel supported, everything else falls into place. They lead better. They advocate harder. They succeed more. And that's the kind of school I want us to build together.