state board candidates
TRANSCRIPT
STATE BOARD CANDIDATES
Meet The Candidates! Learn more about candidates for next year’s State Board.
Northern Region Representative
Anjolie Karrer
What’s your zodiac sign and how has that influenced your leadership?
My zodiac sign is an Aquarius which has a two sides personality of being either shy and quiet or being eccentric and energetic while being deep thinkers. I use to be super shy and did not talk to anyone, but ever since I joined student council, I have switched my personality completely. In leadership I am more outgoing and I am always thinking what is next or how to improve something for the next time. I also try to work smarter not hard in order to accomplish things in a timely
manner while taking pride in the work that was finished.
If you could pick any tv character to help you plan an event, who would it be and why?
I would pick Jane from Jane the Virgin because she is very organized along with being very creative in her own ways. She is one lady who knows what she wants to accomplish and sets goals for herself in order succeed. She always has a plan for everything and can react quickly when something happens. When planning an event, she can help keep people on task and keep everything on time for the deadline. Also, with her being a writer, she has the creative and thinks about the smaller details when it comes to an event. Jane would be addition to any team when dealing with time sensitive projects.
What NASC conference experience is your favorite, and why?
My favorite NASC conference was definitely state 2018 where my school Lowry hosted it. The conference itself was a blast and being able to be one of the delegates during state was way more fun being at my own school. My JC group was probably the best JC group I have had in my entire experience with conferences. My JC was able to click so easily, we just went with the flow and we
had so much fun with the activities. Also, the general sessions were very different and it made the session more enjoyable for everyone. I never wanted that weekend to end.
If you had the world’s attention for 30 seconds, what would you do?
If I had the world’s attention for 30 seconds, I think I would want to have everything sit still for that 30 seconds. Everyone at some point is busy doing something and get stressed out from whatever in their life is causing stress. I think it would be good for everyone at the same time to take a breath, relax and have a moment to themselves. We sometimes get lost in the things we do and forget we are human and need a second to ourselves when it is necessary. 30 seconds may seem small and seems like it is not enough time, but it is better than nothing.
Do you think leaders are born or made? Explain.
I think leaders are made in my opinion. Leaders are those who have the mindset of serving for others and genuinely wants to make a difference for the better. People come into this world with the opportunity to choose which path they want to go down in life. People are exposed to different situations that influence their lives and how that situations influences their lives they have the control to make it positive or negative. Leaders want the outcome to be positive and for it to benefit everyone it affects. Leaders come from all different cuts of cloth, but together can make a difference.
Southern Region Representative
Kayla Smith What’s your zodiac sign and how has that influenced your leadership? Zodiac sign: Gemini
Birthday: June 17th, 2003
A very distinctive trait that Gemini’s carry is adaptability: the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions. Because of my adaptability, I am a strong and quick thinker, good at creating “on the spot” solutions, and am able to make the best of any circumstances. While I have been in student council, I have learned that things will not always go as planned or expected. During these times it is extremely important be adaptable and make smart decisions as needed. I now understand that it is my attitude and reactions to these situations that create success regardless if the event went as planned or not.
Aspen Osmond What’s your zodiac sign and how has that influenced your leadership? I am so proud to be an Aries, which is actually the first sign of the Zodiac calendar and is represented by a Ram. This symbolizes the determination and hard work they portray. Aries will jump head first (just like a Ram) into any situation. I know this has been a major influence in developing my leadership skills as I envision challenging tasks as an adventure just waiting to be conquered. Through motivation and growth, I offer my very best at any task I volunteer for or have been assigned. Executing tasks with a positive attitude makes things easier on everyone, including me. Sometimes, things don’t always work out as planned. However, learning to roll with the punches and making the best out of any situation is something that I have become very good at through my many experiences.
Caleb Stewart What’s your zodiac sign and how has that influenced your leadership? My zodiac sign is Aquarius the water bearer. Aquarians are most known as the bringers of rebellion. This means that I am not afraid to fight for what I believe in, and not afraid to break the status quo. Though Aquarians are known for being detached, that is a useful trait in some situations. It makes you able to be honest in situations where it is hard to. My voice is the voice of the people, and I will stick up for others no matter what. I believe that this is an essential leadership trait. The trust of those who follow is what makes you a leader.
Natalie Flores What’s your zodiac sign and how has that influenced your leadership? Due to my religious beliefs, I do not believe in astrology, but the leader I am still shines through. I believe that any leader should not be tempted by the pressure of society. A leader should stand tall when they do not believe in something and advocate for what they do support. As a leader, I am dedicated to what I want to strive for and don’t stop until I reach success. This has helped me reach new limits and set new standards of leadership for myself, my council, and my school. Staying true to who you are and your beliefs is important, but as a leader you also need to work for the benefit and interests of all. This has taught me that as a leader I should not only take my opinion into consideration, but value the opinion of others as I would value my own.
Desiree Rodriguez What’s your zodiac sign and how has that influenced your leadership I was born on December 29th which makes me a Capricorn. We are known to be perceptive, optimistic, determined, and patient. My zodiac based traits are accurate solely because I view them as an opportunity for growth. Looking into the Capricorn zodiac sparked my curiosity and I began to live up to certain traits that I was not invested in, such as optimism and perceptiveness. Unlike determination and patience which came naturally to me. Now I am confident in the positive traits and keep a close eye on the not so sweet ones. I manifested the characteristics I wanted to have with the help of astrology by envisioning a highly developed version of me! Doing this experiment has proved that I am in control of how I approach my decisions as a leader.
Aspen Osmond If you could pick any tv character to help you plan an event, who would it be and why? Anyone who knows me would inform you that I am an absolute sucker for anything Disney. For that reason, I would pick Gabriella Montez from High School Musical to help me plan an event! Not only can she sing and dance like nobody's business, but she knows what she wants and won’t allow negativity. In the first movie, she finds herself out of her comfort zone while singing karaoke. Although she was terrified at first, she got over her fear and ultimately enjoyed it. In movie 2, she didn’t stand for the “New Troy” (and his Italian shoes) and wasn’t afraid to confront him. Gabriella not only ensured her positive growth and happiness, but wanted it for those she loved, too, even if it meant making difficult decisions and having uncomfortable conversations. Despite all that, she
can still party hard and have fun. Gabriella Montez would be my choice.
Caleb Stewart If you could pick any tv character to help you plan an event, who would it be and why?
If I could pick any tv character to help me plan an event I would choose Monica Geller, from the tv show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Monica is known for being obsessively clean and prepared. I think this reflects on how determined she is. I believe that that is only half of the equation to getting things done. You need to be creative, but you also need to believe that even if there are bumps along the road, the journey is more important than the destination. This is why I believe that me and Monica Geller could make a great team.
Natalie Flores If you could pick any tv character to help you plan an event, who would it be and why? If I had the opportunity to to plan an event with a character I would choose Olaf. Olaf is the friendliest and most caring snowman and he loves helping Anna and Elsa in various tasks. He has an outgoing personality which would help in areas of entertainment. His ability to unassemble at any point in time would be a tool when it comes to getting difficult jobs completed. Olaf would be a positive reinforcement when needed which would allow for difficult situations to become easier to deal with. Olaf always looks at the bright side of every situation and is an amazing support for whoever needs him.
Desiree Rodriguez If you could pick any tv character to help you plan an event, who would it be and why? I would choose Carly from the Nickelodeon show iCarly would be the character to plan an event with because she is creative, is easy-going and caring. When deciding on different tasks, I enjoy brainstorming and bouncing ideas off someone who holds these qualities. Being a creative and caring person myself I believe I would easily relate to her and be able to delegate tasks to her without the fear of them not being completed. Her easy-going attitude would lighten the mood and make for a strong team.
Kayla Smith If you could pick any tv character to help you plan an event, who would it be and why? If I could plan an event with any tv character it would be Maia Mitchell (known as Callie Jacob) from The Fosters. If you have watched The Fosters you would know how much of a passionate character Callie is. She continuously finds new ways to reach out to people. Her hard work and perseverance is undeniable. I feel that as an event planner she would be on top of things without holding back. She would find new and creative ways to stand out which is always an amazing thing to do when planning events.
Natalie Flores What NASC conference experience is your favorite, and why? The NASC Conference experience that is my favorite would be when the candidates took the stage at State 2019 to deliver their speeches. The determination and bravery that these leaders brought out on stage inspired me to become a better leader. The way they articulated their vision and inspired others got me thinking about how I could impact student councils as well and bring in so many collaborative ideas. I remember the moment that I turned to my advisor and said “I see that being me next year.” The passion that I felt in that moment can’t be put into words, but it definitely ignited the spark that has motivated me to produce the best leader that I can be. From that point on, I worked on many aspects of myself so that when the moment came to run for State Board, I would know that I was prepared. Desiree Rodriguez What NASC conference experience is your favorite, and why? Zone 2020 had an impact on what it meant to be a student leader to me. This was my first leadership conference and I attended with no expectations of the students or the environment. I was amazed and grateful that a group of students could put together an entire conference for hundreds of leaders like themselves. I was in awe throughout the day and quite frankly inspired by the kindhearted student leaders. I appreciated the motivational speaker and the dance put on by Faith Luthern. Since attending zone I have been encouraged to step up and take on projects bigger then what I’ve known. Although I have only attended one NASC conference, I firmly believe that I am capable of putting on one for the Southern Region. I believe that the
impact Zone 2020 had along with my strong attention to detail and passion for leadership makes me the perfect candidate for this position.
Kayla Smith What NASC conference experience is your favorite, and why? My favorite NASC conference experience was the 2018 Southern Zone Conference at my highschool, Shadow Ridge. This was my first ever NASC conference and my first glance at the heart of Nevada. At the time, my fellow student council member Cody Lees was the Southern Region Representative and my council had the wonderful opportunity of assisting Cody through his journey. It was inspiring to witness all the hard work Cody put into the conference and the amount of success that followed. Hearing Cody’s speech at the end of the conference and feeling the abundance of love in the room, I knew one day I wanted to host the conference myself and be a part of the NASC state board.
Aspen Osmond What NASC conference experience is your favorite, and why? I have absolutely LOVED every NASC conference I have attended, and everytime, I come back having grown in so many ways. If I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be the 2019 Leadership is Beautiful State Conference. Several challenges had arisen in my life at that time, and this conference provided me with everything I was needing to overcome these challenges. I gained valuable insight on how I could take control of life’s obstacles. Not only did I meet and fall in love with tons of new friends, but I also learned new skills for becoming a better leader and the beauty that lies within my own leadership team. I came home from that conference with a completely new mindset, wearing a smile from ear to ear. For that I am forever grateful to NASC and to Legacy High School who hosted. Caleb Stewart What NASC conference experience is your favorite, and why? My favorite NASC conference experience was the southern region conference 2020. To be honest this was my only NASC conference, aside from MIdlevel. I was able to learn how different the middle school and high school level are. I was able to appreciate all the presenters much more, and the hard work they put in. I was also able to present my own roundtable. I grew as a leader so much between these two conferences, and I was able to cultivate relationships with other people just like me so much easier. Conferences like these can help you grow so much as a person. Desiree Rodriguez If you had the world's attention for 30 seconds, what would you do? If I had a chance to share something with the world I would begin with a 15-second video of people carelessly polluting bodies of water and the air through oil dumping and by burning fossil fuels. Afterwards I would include a brief clip of a child sluggishly walking through a mountain of non-degradable products used by humans. The last 15 seconds of the video would be images of innocent citizens immensely suffering due to the polluted planet. I would add text at the bottom of the last few frames stating “ In order to respect our mutual home we have to consider those we share it with. Change starts-off with appreciating ourselves. Spread the love and note the difference.” Considering the lack of education on pollution, as a whole, we are preparing future generations for mayhem. A healthy environment is only possible if we start at the source, human
influence.
Kayla Smith If you had the world's attention for 30 seconds, what would you do? Simple answer! Dance! If you are anything like me, you 100% pretend you are Beyonce in the shower (I know you do it!). Dancing is such a simple thing that draws people together. Smiles, laughter, happiness, these are all things shared by doing a silly little dance. It seems like everywhere I go I am surrounded by dancing. Whether I am in my room making Tik Toks or watching football when a touchdown was just made, dancing is a form of joy. Not to mention, not many people can say they had a dance party with 7 billion people.
Aspen Osmond If you had the world's attention for 30 seconds, what would you do? If I had the world's attention, I would share my favorite quote, which is “Have Courage and Be Kind” from the new Cinderella (told ya that I’m a Disneyholic). In today's world, there is so much meanness, so much bullying, and so many people being told they are not good enough. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes, even ourselves. It’s the way we choose to react that counts. We must be kind to everyone, and sometimes, this takes more courage than anything. Being kind and loving someone who has wronged you is difficult, but at the end of the day, it is the right thing to do. Lastly, we must be kind to ourselves. If you cannot appreciate yourself, it is impossible to love others. If we would all use courage and be kind to everyone, including ourselves, we truly would make this world a better place.
Caleb Stewart If you had the world's attention for 30 seconds, what would you do? If I had the world's attention for 30 seconds I would not say a word. The age old saying of a picture means a thousand words, rings true to me. No matter what someone says, people who don’t want to listen, won’t. Rather I would show what is happening to this world. I would show the air pollution, the endangered animals, and everything that man is doing to hurt this Earth. Our greatest enemy is ourselves, so I would take the time to show how we are biting the hand that feeds us. We still have the ability to save this world, but we first need to be educated on how we are hurting it. Nature is one of the greatest beauties, and I feel we are blinded from it by greed.
Natalie Flores If you had the world's attention for 30 seconds, what would you do? There are so many things that I am passionate about as a leader, but what’s the point in picking only one thing when I can share what the voices of our youth can do which can create a movement for change in multiple areas. If for thirty seconds I had the attention of the world, I would bring awareness to the power that our youth hold. This will change the game when it comes to so many problems in our state, in our country, and in the world. Many people do not see the influence and impact that the young leaders of today can create. Opening the blind eye to this has been one of my goals since I realized the power of my own voice and actions. Bringing awareness to today’s youth can create a movement where leaders can rise up and strive to make a difference.
Kayla Smith Do you think leaders are born or made? Explain. I believe leaders can be both born and made. Without a doubt, there are natural born leaders. For instance, I feel as though I was born into this world with the sole purpose of serving and leading others. Yet the type of leader one is can only be made rather than born. There are so many things that influence and shape leaders we become: experience, memories, mistakes, lessons learned. These are just a few of the many things that play a role in forming a true leader. Absolutely, leaders are born, but whether or not they genuinely define the true meaning of leadership lies within countless outside factors.
Aspen Osmond Do you think leaders are born or made? Explain. Everyone is born with so much potential and greatness. However, choices and life experiences are what make a leader. There is no such thing as a leader who has not failed at least once. As a matter of fact, they are not afraid of making mistakes. These mistakes are how everyone learns. It is what you do with that failure that separates the leaders from the followers. Leaders take that failure and push themselves to do better the next time by growing and applying what they learn from their mishap. They seek out their weaknesses and transform them into strengths. With this mindset, leaders search out challenging opportunities and look at them as a way to grow. I know that leaders are made through these hard life experiences. I welcome challenges, and I look forward to proving just that.
Caleb Stewart Do you think leaders are born or made? Explain.
I believe in destiny and fate. Everyone is going to end up in a certain place one day. But, I believe we have the ability to shape our own destiny. We are taught that everyone is different, and that is not a bad thing. But as a society we let our differences affect who we are. To follow your dreams you have to put aside all you differences, for that is not what makes you who you are. Your morals and beliefs are what set you apart from everyone else. Your skin color, sexuality, and financial status, do not define who you are. How much respect you earn from others is what makes you, not only a great leader, but a genuine person. So I believe that leadership is earned, not born or made.
Desiree Rodriguez Do you think leaders are born or made? Explain. Leaders have skills that are developed throughout a lifetime through habits, perception, purpose, and their actions when faced with adversity. One must decide that they want to lead rather than being born into leadership. That does not mean that it is wrong to believe one is meant to influence people because if they are passionate about a purpose, they will become everything they had imagined and then some. Leaders often have that instinct that they are meant to exceed expectations and offer service to others but if they do not follow that intuitive energy they could possibly become a follower. Those who avoid labels and expectations thrive into a powerful individual who has the potential to guide people to discover their voice. It all starts with a vision and a will to achieve, both of which are voluntary.
Natalie Flores Do you think leaders are born or made? Explain. Leaders are definitely made. Throughout life, a person goes through experiences that shape the individual they become. As humans, we never stop adapting, allowing us to learn new ways to face situations that come our way. Desire is definitely essential when it comes to being a leader, but the desire that is needed can only spring up when a person learns about something new. The process of being a leader is something that requires change in multiple ways. An individual never reaches the best leader they can be because every day you learn to be better. Being able to grasp new ways of leading in an ever changing world is an aspect that proves that leaders are not born. Individuals can be inspired when they see other individuals take a chance. When fear is completely let go of, an individual can make themselves what they want to be.
Western Region Representative
Aliza Amundsen What’s your zodiac sign and how has that influenced your leadership My zodiac sign is a sagittarius and we are known to be spontaneous, in love with life, super easy-going, and friendly! I think that I definitely identify with all of these traits and they have undoubtedly influenced who I am as a leader. My spontaneity and high spirits have driven me to lead with passion and love each and every day. On the other hand, my mellow and friendly nature has brought me close to so many people. As I have worked with different individuals, there have been many connections formed. The community that has been built around me is my favorite part of being in student council. If you could pick any tv character to help you plan an event, who
would it be and why? Without a doubt, I would have to pick Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation. She is literally my hero and we all know she would get the job done. As the Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, that woman single-handedly saved Pawnee. She then went on to serve in city council, become governor of Indiana, and conquer the political world. Amidst her accomplishments, she made time to support small businesses (JJ’s Diner), grow meaningful and lasting friendships, and find true love. With someone who has the connections and experience of Leslie Knope, I could plan the best event this world has ever seen. What NASC conference experience is your favorite, and why? Attending state last year was by far my favorite experience in NASC. Honestly, I think that’s where I made up my mind that I would run for Western Representative. Over the course of the conference, I fell in love with leadership, as well as the NASC community. Legacy High School truly felt like a home for the few days I spent there. Not only did I grow closer to my council, but I grew to love people I barely knew. Something inside me told me that NASC was a special organization, and there was a unique energy that was felt in the community. My experience at state is something I’ll never let go of. If you had the world's attention for 30 seconds, what would you do? If I had the world's attention for 30 seconds, I would tell them to go out and do something good for the world. I would tell them that their life matters; they are loved; and they can make an impact. They should do something good, because they are capable of doing so. I think too often, people are unable to recognize their potential. Our society has told people for so long that they are lazy, worthless, and incapable. This simply is not true. No matter where one comes from, what mistakes they have made, or who they are; they can do something beautiful. Do you think leaders are born or made? Explain.
I think leaders are both born and made. Over the course of my life, I have met people that are natural leaders, but I have also met people who develop into a leader. I know people who have always been the one to speak up; always been the one to put themselves out there; and always been the one people look up to. It seems that they can lead effortlessly. On the other hand, I have also seen people grow from an insecure, timid person, into a courageous, passionate, influential individual. Both types of leaders are important and valued from my perspective.