Over 5,000 Student Council leaders from around Texas joined together at the Texas Association of Student Council’s 82nd Annual Conference in Arlington April 14-16. This year’s theme, ‘Deepen Your Heart, Texas’, implores that all students truly find their passion in life and follow that passion to make a difference.

The first day, candidates campaigned in the convention center. Students collected information on different projects leading up to the first general session, where student representatives from candidate schools delivered two-minute introductory speeches.

“My favorite part of state was the interactions and relationships that we built,” senior Kelley Chu said.

Houston Kraft delivered a speech about the hard work of real leadership that happens in quiet, simple, everyday moments, as well as, how to be proactive people through daily kindness.

“[Kraft] kind of reminded me of myself, in that awkward human kind of way, which allowed me to picture myself utilizing the skills he talked about,” junior Maddie Smith said.

The second day of the state conference included the attending of the second general session, casting ballots/votes, and ending the night at Six-Flags Over Texas, which was only open to the Student Council students and advisors.

“My favorite part about State was going to hear the keynote speakers, since one of them motivated me to start thinking: what my purpose is on this earth [is], and what I need to do make a better difference,” senior Abel Elias said. “Six-Flags was fun too.”

In the second general session, running officer school candidates performed skits pertaining their overall project.Then, students broke out into rotations: Jesse LeBeau, another keynote speaker, spoke about how he went from an average kid from a small town in the middle of nowhere who took a boat to school and how he was underestimated and overlooked to becoming the world’s premiere basketball trick artists and a motivating youth speaker.

“I feel that Jesse LeBeau was able to connect with students at the conference because of his personality and demonstrations,” Smith said.

Wylie East Student Council traveled with sponsors, Biology Teacher Breegan Gholson and Chemistry Teacher Amy Tietjen, and had the opportunity to participate in the table talks to discuss Welcome Crew: Student Council members helping to welcome incoming freshmen on the first day of school. Seniors Elias, Kelley Chu, Barbara Alvarado, and Kiersten Crenshaw presented the logistics of the project for a total of 12 sessions, each lasting 10 minutes.

“Before the table talk, I was honestly petrified,” Chu said. “However during the presentation, every worry went away. Seeing the people’s positive response to our student council booth was amazing. I’m sad that it was over but I’m excited to see next year’s group succeed.”

Carlos Ojeda, one of the special session speakers, believes that young people need to have their voices heard. He taught the students how their voice can change their life and possibly the world through his funny, yet saddening life.

The final general session of the 82nd Annual Conference involved the recognition of schools and a keynote speaker, Mike Smith. He explained that every decision made can have a lasting impact and can motivate people to live life intentionally, with purpose, and a healthy dose of correctly-applied recklessness. To end the conference, the new officers were placed into office.

Wylie East Student Council will adapt and innovate ideas that were gained from the conference and implement them into upcoming school years.