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Harrison High School students Landry Wolf, Sophia Lehrner, and Sadie Lee interviewed Jenna Bishop, Ella Thidemann, and Madison Bailey about how their experiences with leadership at school and in the community serve as examples of how the youth can be leaders.
 

Transcript:

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Unidentified Voice: It's easy to think national elections have no purpose for high school students, but elections like the one upcoming on Nov. 5 will have lasting impacts on students as they reach adulthood.

Unidentified Voice #2: But for some students, like Jenna Bishop, it's even more important. Her mom, Robin Bishop, is running for reelection as a state court clerk in Cobb County.

Jenna Bishop: It can be really stressful just because there's so much stigma around, like, politics and stuff like that, and it's hard for people to be unbiased. I think it really shows you a perspective on the world and perspective of politics and the importance of voting and who we have in our offices. I think debates are helpful because you get to see both sides. Because they're on equal ground during debates. So, you're asked questions, and you get to see both sides of the argument in, like, a space where there's not allowed any other bias. And a lot of people who are young think that, the state of the country doesn't affect them, but it does, and it'll affect how they grow up. So just show the importance of voting to younger people. I'd say I'm involved in my community. I do a lot of community service things. I'm involved in a countywide leadership program, involved in leadership programs at my school, and I feel like it's just about being involved in those things and being a part of your community and meeting new people and getting connected with other people.

Unidentified Voice: Even if they aren't as involved with local elections, there are other leadership opportunities that students are involved with to put themselves out there.

Ella Thidemann: I'm a leader. I'm a freshman class leader for Harrison, so I'm always leading the freshmen and helping lead PT. I'm also a public affairs officer, so I take care of the unit website, unit Instagram, and the unit YouTube channel. This year I created the YouTube channel to help our newer cadets with uniform. My leadership affects underclassmen because I try to be motivating because when I was a freshman I did not like ROTC. And I always tell them, if you don't like it, try it, because that's what first sergeant told me.

Madison Bailey: So currently I'm the co-president of History Club, I'm the president of Political Converse, and the vice president of Model UN. I'm the vice president of Rho Kappa [Social Studies Honor Society] and I'm the treasurer in choir. I think it's very important for leaders to be very collaborative, so I try very hard to integrate other people's and other officers' opinions when I make decisions as a president. And as, like, a treasurer and vice president, I do my best to offer support for presidents and just in general, trying to be there for the members in our club organization as much as possible. A lot of people assume that it's something that you're born with. It's not. Leadership is a skill that you have to develop over time, and people can become leaders by practicing. So, like, in school projects, just like taking on the role of like, "Hey, can everyone maybe do this," or "can we assign this role to these people?" And just practicing your skill over and over gets you better at doing it, obviously.

Unidentified Voice #2: Whether it's staying in touch with news, being involved with leadership projects in your area or joining clubs at school, there are so many different ways that the youth of Georgia can use their voices and become leaders.