This year, Hanabi continues its annual tradition of interviewing candidates for student body president. Today, we sat down with one of this year’s candidates, Meredith Michels, to learn more about her vision, goals, and plans for the high school.
Meredith’s Background:
Meredith has been part of the ASIJ community since 6th grade, when she arrived from Switzerland. Reflecting on her time at the school, she shared: “The first few years were during COVID, but I quickly came to love ASIJ and called it my home. I’ve met amazing friends here at ASIJ, some of whom are still here and some who have moved on to other countries. I’ve learned from teachers and friends in classes, clubs, teams, and theatre.”
Over the years, Meredith has been involved in many clubs, including StuCo, Kagaku4Kids, and Model United Nations. She is also well known for her involvement in ASIJ theatre, having appeared in productions including Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, and the fall play, as well as directing one-acts this year. Her most recent role is Wednesday Addams in the upcoming spring musical The Addams Family.
When asked to reflect more broadly on her experience at ASIJ, Meredith said: “Of course, no school is perfect, but I truly do feel lucky to call ASIJ home, and I hope to use my experience to help others love it as much as I have.”
Meredith’s StuCo Experience and Priorities:
Meredith has been elected to Student Council every year of high school and has helped organize many school events, such as class comps and Selfie Knockout. She describes herself as a representative who speaks up and advocates for others’ ideas and concerns.
When asked what she would like to change about ASIJ, Meredith emphasized both school culture and communication between the Student Council and the student body. She explained: “I want to strengthen ASIJ’s culture to make school a more positive experience for each student. And to do that, I want to close the perception gap between what students think StuCo is doing and what it actually does.” Meredith wants students at ASIJ to feel like their opinions matter and are followed up on, and she believes helping students feel more connected to the role the Student Council plays in daily school life is imperative.
Looking Ahead
Through her involvement in Student Council and other areas of campus life, Meredith brings a range of experiences to her candidacy. Through StuCo transparency and student empowerment, she hopes to bring about genuine change in ASIJ’s culture, altogether improving the everyday experience in our high school community.
