Being a part of the John Jay community, it is clear that we are slightly at a statistical disadvantage of advocacy in the larger scope of the Macaulay Program as a whole, for example, Hunter is 600% bigger than our cohort. This means we need someone who will fiercely convey our needs and make sure that we are heard at every meeting. I would unabashedly and enthusiastically take this position with integrity and respect for all members of the cohort.
I am no stranger to advocacy and hard work to better the community. I was among the inaugural class of Women in Scouting. For my Eagle Project, I did not just want to build a bench, I wanted to do something that genuinely impacted the community. I partnered with a non-profit organization called “Mommas House” that houses single, financially unstable pregnant women and women with small children who are often escaping domestic abuse. With the help of my community and troop, we were able to create a pregnancy room and fix up the outdoor area so the small families can all enjoy some time outdoors together. This was to provide them with more than a house; a home. All of this was not to brag, but give context to what I can do. When I am passionate about something, I want to go all the way. With the Honors Council, I can be a direct line of communication from John Jay to Macaulay itself.
As a former member of the Executive Board for the Nassau County Junior Firefighting Association, I have learned how to spearhead projects and direct a room of people to all achieve a common goal. We are all here to better ourselves, and there is no better opportunity than Macaulay to do that. In high school, I was the president of the Drama club where I grew membership by almost 400% by implementing new ideas that were created collaboratively. I am a firm believer in listening to others perspectives and finding a solution that is most efficient and accurate to address needs and wants. For example, the club was running low on funds, so my team and I raised over $8,000. This money was not for me, it was for my entire community of thespians.
If I were to be selected as the John Jay Representative, I would like to hear from all of you what you want out of this program that we share. Also, I will actively listen to all perspectives, and no voice is more important than another. Though the small cohort size may be a disadvantage, we have a privilege that the other schools do not, and that is the tight knit community that we were given. We are simply all in this together, and I will work for you to make sure we get the best experience we can. If I can promise one thing, it is to deliver. Please consider me, Grace Ham, as your representative. Thank you.
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