Eric Zhu
Smoke Signal: What are some things you hope to accomplish as AC in the upcoming school year?
Eric Zhu: One of the things I want to accomplish next year is that, again, I notice that the upperclassmen tend to move out a lot because they have cars and then the underclassmen don’t really take an interest in activities, so what I want to do is basically bridge them together. because I notice that there’s not really that much communication between the seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. this tends to really come throughout activities; it tends to be only upperclassmen or only underclassmen. And I hope that with the ideas that I have for next year that I will be able to bring both sides together.
SS: What makes you stand out from the other candidate?
EZ: Well one of the things is that I’m very eccentric. It’s one of my main points, the fact that you’re eccentric; you’re not really biased towards anything. You wander from here to there, you basically experiment with everything. What I’ve done is- I’m not really a public person, and that makes a good combination for Activities Coordinator because what I can do is when someone tells me ‘Hey I this for this and that,’ I won’t just be like ‘Oh, I won’t do that because I don’t like it.’ Being eccentric allows you to be like ‘Hey, hey I want to try that out. I’m going to check that out! ‘and then you see what the reaction is. Because when I think about activities these days, they’re like a single idea but they recycle concepts. It’s amusing but, is it really entertaining? is it really going to make you think about it later on? So I think being eccentric helps people think about what I do.
SS: What is the most difficult obstacle you’ve encountered and how did you handle it?
EZ: I think one of the most difficult obstacles that I’ve encountered- and this ties in with my eccentricity- is getting acceptance in a school like this. I mean many people are popular, but they’re only popular because they appeal to only one certain demographic, or appeal to only one certain set of standards. When other people think of me, they see all sorts of different sides. Some they may not like, and for them to actually accept me for who I am, goes beyond first impressions. I think that’s one of my biggest challenges in this school.
SS: What do you think is the most important role of an AC?
EZ: The most important role of AC is unity, definitely unity. Overall, ACs try to make you think beyond what goes on at school, beyond the academics that we’re surrounded with. For everyone to actually unite under a different mindset, from what’s prevalent today, I think that’s one of the biggest roles of an AC.
SS: What made you want to run for AC?
EZ: I remember last year and this year actually my eccentric ideas did not get heard, and many ideas that my friends or other groups proposed, they were turned down by the AC. And I really want to change that because it’s creativity, innovation, that is just getting thrown away.
SS: Can you give me some examples of what ideas were turned down?
EZ: One of the things that was turned down was for Music Fridays. I wanted to rotate genres, because I feel like Pop and some Rap, every single week is boring. You really have to turn things up, and that was turned down by AC, because I figured that they just didn’t want to go through the trouble, but I’m willing to go through that.
SS: What past experiences do you think will help you in this position?
EZ: I’ve been class Secretary for two years and I think besides taking notes, it’s really allowed me to connect with my voter group. You’re out there, you’re talking with them and you really know what they feel, you know what they are saying. I think that that past experience of getting to know a certain demographic and being able to implement what they want is probably one of the biggest advantages.
SS: What characteristics do you think you have that will help you as AC?
EZ: I’m confident in my ability to lead. If I find something that I want to do, I’m determined to carry it out.
SS: How exactly would those two qualities/characteristics help you?
EZ: Well first of all, AC is all about presentations. So confidence will really help. It’s confidence that makes you rise above, and that makes everyone want to follow you. Determination to do something that’s actually different and unique, and not to mention engaging, takes a lot of work. Determination will really help me carry out those events.
SS: If you could choose anything at all to represent who you are going into this position, what would it be and why?
EZ: I’d say probably a stunt-plane. Once you take off, you do a bunch of tricks, but then you’re going to land eventually. It’s not that when your landing, it’s going to be like ‘Oh I’m falling’ or that it’s going to be my downfall, but you’re reaching the objective while there’s going to be all these curves and tricks and rolls.
SS: What do you do to have fun?
EZ: One of the things I like to do is drawing analogies and parallels between unconnected things. I definitely listen to a bunch of music, like all sorts of genres. It takes my mind away from school and helps me go in all of these thought exercises. But besides that, I think the way I mainly have fun is the way I interact with my friends.
SS: Off the top of your head, what’s one Friday activity idea that you would like to have as AC?
EZ: One of the ideas I have for Music Fridays is the rotation of music genres. Instead of having it in the Amphitheatre, I want to move it to the Gym. In the privacy of the gym, the fact that it’s secluded provides a space to dance, hang out, and do homework. I want to make the gym a sanctuary, with an ambient environment.
SS: If you had a really good idea for an activity, but no one else agreed with it, what would you do/how would you go about it?
EZ: I’d carry it out still. But I’d ask the student group what they wanted, and I’d tailor it to that.
SS: What are your strengths/weaknesses?
EZ: Strengths: Creative, determined and charismatic.
Weaknesses: Appeal to minorities, I mix in a lot of things that the minorities at school are interested in, but to the actual majority, it’s going to be a bit difficult. Too carried away sometimes.
SS: What is the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make? How did you come to the decision?
EZ: I had to decide whether or not to leave behind something I’ve invested in very greatly for two years. I figured that it’d turn out better in the end, which it did, but at that moment, it was just very discouraging. It was kind of emotion wrecking and very difficult to deal with. At first, I tried distracting myself but then that didn’t work, so I decided then to just confront it straight up. I talked it over with my friends, who can provide me with emotional support, and I think my friends really helped me get through it and come to my decision.
SS: What is your personal mission statement?
EZ: Just be yourself. there’s nothing wrong with who you are currently, I mean of course we’re teenagers, there’s a lot of development that we need to make, but just know that eventually you’ll get there. As AC, I would just want to make that process a tiny bit easier.
Tracy Mao
Smoke Signal: What are some things you hope to accomplish as AC in the upcoming school year?
Tracy Mao: I plan to organize more activities such as Friday Activities and I want more interaction, like on a daily basis, through passing period and between different classes. I feel like this year, the classes were really separate. I want more participation in events, assemblies, and Homecoming. Better sportsmanship during Homecoming, because there was a lot of drama this year.
SS: How would you change passing period interactions?
TM: During events, talk about some stuff. I don’t know, I haven’t thought into that yet.
SS: What makes you stand out from the other candidate?
I think what would really stand out between Eric Zhu and I would be the amount of work on my plate. I’ll be a senior next year, so being an AC will be my top priority and I don’t have that much going on. I just have DECA, Yearbook, and then school, so I’ll just be adding ASB onto that. I think I participate more in events than the other candidate, and since I’m an upperclassmen I know more things.
SS: What is the most difficult obstacle you’ve encountered and how did you handle it?
TM: At the beginning of the summer before Junior year, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer. Since she’s a single mom, it’s really hard for me to maintain my school work, my social life, and taking care of my mom at the same time. That has really helped me grow as a person and become more independent. It’s helped me keep everything on track, and it made me realize how important life is and how you shouldn’t stretch yourself out and should just try your best.
SS: What do you think is the most important role of an AC?
TM: You have to be able to have the right personality and be able to connect with the audience. I think you have to be able to work really well with the people that you will be working with, which is the other ASB officers, L2, and your activities team. They should be able to get students really excited for events and to participate more.
SS: What made you want to run for AC?
TM: In 8th grade, when I used to play basketball, I met Ilene Tsao; she was the AC at the time. I really looked up to her and she’s been one of my biggest inspirations since I met her and throughout high school. Based on what past ACs have been doing like Neha, Austin, Tara, it just seems like a really fun leadership position to have. I just want to give back to the school somehow by being an ASB officer and making our campus more fun next year.
SS: What past experiences do you think will help you as AC?
TM: I’ve been in Yearbook since 8th grade and that has really helped me develop working in teams and meeting deadlines. Being editor of different parts of the yearbook every year has helped me realize how important deadlines are. Every deadline I would have to go through the section and make sure everyone has their stuff done. Through DECA (which I’ve done since 10th grade) I’ve learned how to professionally contact people and businesses. Through Homecoming and other school activities, I’ve been able to meet most of the people in my grade as well as a lot of other people from other grades. I’m also Public Relations for my own club, Service Over Self.
SS: What characteristics do you think you have that will help you as AC?
TM: I’m really outgoing and optimistic and I know how to pump up a crowd. I know how to meet deadlines and I’m a really organized person. When I know I want to do something, I make sure to get it done.
SS: What do you do to have fun?
TM: I really like hanging out with friends and meeting new people through organizations. I find fun in accomplishing things, so like prepping for DECA, doing Yearbook stuff, working with people, and sometimes even studying for a class I really like to be fun.
SS: Off the top of your head, what’s one Friday activity idea that you would like to have as AC?
TM: Since we were lacking a lot of Friday Activities this year, I really want to bring back those Friday Activities where people compete through obstacle courses or “Minute to Win It” activities. Those are fun, everyone enjoys those and they can be really funny.
SS: Since those activities have happened in the past, do you have any other ideas of new activities to do?
TM: I’ll think about it.
SS: If you could choose anything at all to represent who you are going into this position, what would it be and why?
TM: I would pick a Chipotle burrito. When people order burritos, they can pick what’s inside so they can cater it to their tastes, so I feel like I can alter my personality to appeal to different types of people.
SS: If you had a really good idea for an activity, but no one else agreed with it, what would you do/how would you go about it?
TM: I would ask the people why they are not agreeing with it, and then from there, if it’s like something easy to work around then I’ll alter my idea a little bit so that people would agree with it. If not, then I would create a presentation and present it to them, listing off reasons why it would be a good Friday Activity.
SS: What are your strengths/weaknesses?
TM: Strengths: I make sure to get everything that I’m assigned, done. I put 110% into everything that I do. I’m good with not letting hard times bring me down.
Weaknesses: I can be a little stubborn sometimes.
SS: What is the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make? How did you come to the decision?
TM: So in between Freshman and Sophomore year, I tore my ACL playing basketball. SO after that year, I had to decide if I wanted to get back into the sport. I really like playing basketball and it
was really fun to go to practices and tournaments with my teammates, but I realized how much time and effort basketball took out of my life and high school career. I realized that in the long run, there should be other things that I should be focusing on because I didn’t plan to have a career in basketball later on in life, so that’s why I decided not to go back.
SS: What is your personal mission statement?
TM: Failure doesn’t come from not accomplishing something; it comes from not putting in your best effort to make it happen.
