Coming to a different, rather big school can be scary. Stillwater Area High School’s newest student leaders are here to help. Recently selected was a team of 22 new student leaders consisting of sophomores, juniors and seniors. Although this team of student leaders each have their own differing qualities, it is their ability to help others that ultimately got them the job.

As student leaders, their primary job will be to help new students looking for guidance as far as where to go and what to do in school, and next year will have the job of showing the incoming sophomores around the building, something that typically is very helpful.

These 22 student leaders were not simply given the position of student leader. They had to send in a application that expressed why they considered themselves best for the position and what certain traits and qualities they believed they had that are essential for the student leading position.

“It was a fairly simple application. It did not ask much about my grades or rigor of classes, more about how I acted in school, why I should receive the job, and what kinds of things I have done before that can help with this job,” said sophomore student leader Olivia Wojski.

The student leaders offer the incoming students a great deal of help, and show them leadership, which is something that a new student coming into an unfamiliar environment needs. The student leaders are there to answer questions involving teachers, the school, classes or any general school questions someone may have.Now that I know what I am doing, I think it would be a fun opportunity to do that for other incoming students too,” said Wojski.

It is not only the new incoming sophomores that the student leaders are required to help. Anyone can go to the student leaders with questions anytime throughout the school year. If a foreign exchange student is new to SAHS, the student leaders are a perfect resource to use for advice.

“We can show around exchange or transfer students, give tours, if new students have questions about SAHS we can answer them from a students perspective, if teachers or authority figures need someone to step up we are expected to do that. Otherwise, we just need to be role models for other students and be someone kids can come to for help,” said Junior Natalie Ingram.

For many of the 2015 student leaders it was the fact that the previous years student leaders had done such a good job when offering advice or providing help to incoming students. This was a factor that persuaded themselves when contemplating applying for the job.

“When I was a sophomore someone took the time to tour the school with me and help me learn where everything was, so the first day of school was not so scary. All my friends were asking me questions about where stuff was so I felt pretty cool being able to answer them. That’s why I wanted to be able to do that for someone else,” said Ingram.

The 2015 student leaders are there to offer a helping hand in any way that they can. From incoming sophomores to foreign or transfer students, the 22 student team of leaders is available to answer questions and be role models at SAHS.