Have you ever wondered what the Associated Student Body (ASB) is or thought about applying?
If so, you’re in luck! This piece is all about what ASB is, how to apply, and what students gain from the experience. Students say ASB offers learning opportunities in leadership and life and the chance to spread joy on campus.
What is ASB?
Also called Leadership, ASB is a class focused on fostering organizational and leadership skills in young people. ASB is for “students who desire to take on leadership roles within our school and who work hard to put on all of our student events throughout the year, including dances, pep rallies, spirit weeks, and more,” said Mark Brown, ASB Advisor and Athletic Director/Assistant Principal.
What Does ASB Do?
Brown explained that ASB’s main goal is to positively impact the school’s climate (behavioral norms) and culture (the “vibe.”), and they recently used the Jostens Renaissance framework. This framework celebrates everyone on campus, so they feel seen, heard, and loved, he said.
“We hosted a school climate and culture collaborative through Jostens Renaissance in early February and had 300 student leaders from other schools join us to share and learn about building a positive climate and culture,” Brown recalled. “We learned so much and are working to implement much of what we learned from other schools and the speakers at the event.”
ASB executes positivity-centric projects throughout the year, focusing on rekindling or stoking joy on campus. That’s what ASB is, but why might students want to join?
Why Should Students Consider Applying
There are about 30 members of ASB, and four of them agreed to an interview that could inform you or your favorite student’s decision to apply.
What Have You Learned in ASB?
- Carmen Jorgensen, senior: “There is a lot more to leadership than telling people what to do. You have to be a model figure.”
- Kyndall McCollum, junior: “You learn how to work with people. It’s something that’s so useful in the real world and job-wise. You learn how to compromise and let other people take the lead on things. You don’t always have to be in charge.”
- Giselle Serrano, senior: “I have learned a lot about different personalities and people. … Some people are better at some things than others. I’ve learned more about myself, about what roles I like to be in.”
- Patrick Tabscott, senior: “It gave me a new perspective on leadership. I’ve had leadership roles before, but I didn’t really have the knowledge for it. I was winging it before.”
What Do You Like About Leadership?
- Jorgensen: “I like little things that I can do that make people happy.”
- McCollum: “I like being the person that people go to when they have questions.”
- Serrano: “Knowing I’m a part of the reason for the fun in my high school experience feels really good.”
- Tabscott: “This is corny, but I like making an impact on my school. Instead of being affected by the changes, I like being the one making the changes.”
Can You Correct a Few Common Misconceptions About ASB?
- Jorgensen: ASB means organizing events, not just promoting them. “Leadership is so stressful at times because we do so much. … We are trying to make the school experience better for other students and the future students too.”
- McCollum, junior: We can’t do it all. “Not every single thing is possible. We’re trying to make things as best as they can be, but we might not want to spend too much money on one event.”
- Serrano: We are advocates. “A common thing is they think we’re in charge of everything … Or they think we don’t do anything at all. We speak out for everyone.”
- Tabscott: ASB means advocacy for fellow students: “They think we make decisions about the student body, but we are the student body. … Just because you don’t see us doesn’t mean we’re not there.”
How Does ASB Benefit the School: Students, Families, and Employees?
- Jorgensen: “People don’t see what we’re doing because they’re accustomed to what we’re doing, but we’re better than the average school.” For example, she said that ASB gives the staff paper flowers with that staff person’s name and title, an inspirational quotation, and a thank-you for all that person does. She also noted that ASB runs the Potty Press, a series of posters promoting activities that are posted on the doors of bathroom stalls. (George Fox does something similar.)
- Serrano: “ASB helps with promoting the clubs.” Jorgensen chimed in to promote the Black Student Union, which is restarting this month.
- McCollum: She noted that ASB also promotes resources such as the Resource Room, which provides free clothes and food to support students in need. “It’s so helpful for so many kids.”
- Tabscott: ASB created the Positivity Exchange, a large board on one of the walls near the front entrance where people can write a positive message and drop it into an envelope. Tabscott, who sparked the idea, pulls the positive messages from the envelope and staples them to the board.
So if you want to join ASB, Tabscott, McCollum, Serrano, and Jorgenson would recommend it for the: opportunities to learn, help others, and become a strong leader.
How to Apply
To sign up, download an online PDF application for 2024-25, fill out the application, and drop it off by 3:15 p.m. on Friday, March 22 at the NHS Main Office or Mrs. Stutzman’s classroom, C106. To be eligible, applicants must be academically on track to graduate, have good attendance, exhibit good conduct, obtain two teacher letters of recommendation, and be enrolled in at least four classes at NHS.