What does leadership look like at a small high school like Baruch? We have teachers, coaches, counselors and school aids but who leads the student body?
Each year, students vote for presidents to represent our school. Around 10 candidates give speeches at the end of the school year to persuade and sway voters for the coveted presidential title. The winners are then elected to represent our school.
Last year, seniors Larenz Smith and Mikaela Phillip did just that. They have very high hopes for Baruch’s 2023-2024 school year.
But, really, who are these two special Baruchians who will change our school for the better?
Brooklyn native Larenz Smith transferred to Baruch during his sophomore year. Since then, he has become an Equity Team Leader, BLSU President and a member of Model UN and Key Club. When not in school he enjoys exploring New York City, listening to 2Pac and watching the TV show “Martin.”
He said he wanted to run because he hoped high school would feel unique for every student. Smith said being a high school student can be “boring and repetitive,” and hopes to make the school not just an academic experience, “but something memorable for years to come.”
He is specifically interested in having grade integration. This year, Smith said he wants to host more activities that allow grades to bond with one another. He is also interested in organizing more field trips this year–which was a concern for many students during last year’s election season.
Mikaela Phillip, also originally from Brooklyn, is heavily involved in the school community. She is the president of Red Cross and a part of Key Club, Equity Team, the Sexual Assault Prevention Board and the Baruch Events Committee. Mikaela is also a lover of romance novels and “The Vampire Diaries.”
Like Smith, Phillip hopes to create more opportunities for Baruchians to interact with each other. Phillip decided to run for President because she wanted to put herself out there and “engage people across all grades.” She said she loves how open minded and progressive Baruchians are and she hopes to further unite the grades.
Smith said he and Phillip are “polar opposites,” but they see this difference as a huge advantage. Smith is “very up front” and is able to unite people of different interests, Phillip is more “behind the scenes.” Together, Phillip said, the two traits “balance out.”
As for their more specific plans for the year, Phillip said “we can’t really say it right now, but it’s going to be fun.” Smith agreed.
