On Sept. 26, a Jupiter email was released to Bonita Vista High (BVH) regarding the re-opening of Associated Student Body (ASB) applications. The email provides the various commissions students can apply for and the responsibility students need to be prepared for.
Throughout the years, ASB has had an average of 30 students on staff. Unfortunately, for the 2023-2024 school year, numerous students began resigning from ASB largely due to the underestimated level of dedication one must obtain.
“[ASB] is a big time commitment that [students who discontinued working within ASB] were not able to manage. Oftentimes, [ASB] was something more than they expected it would be, which we informed them at the start,” ASB president and senior Alexis Acosta said.
As a result of the decrease in students, the ASB now operates with a total of 24 students on staff. With the vacant positions, the program had to turn to an alternative plan which was to continue with production and to pick up the weight that was added. ASB attorney general and junior Leina Clark shares the challenges ASB experiences with the low number of staff.
“[ASB] is struggling in terms of completing projects on time, but in the end, we always manage to come on strong with a good event. With the new applications coming in, I am hopeful and I think that will be fun,” Clark said.
In addition to the current issues, ASB must handle how the staff is functioning. ASB finance commissioner and senior Gavin Brown explains the outcome of a larger staff and understands that people have a life outside of ASB, but they should understand the current temporary circumstances.
“The biggest outcome I would say is getting the job done faster. This delay leads to people having to come early before school or stay way after depending on how much work we can accomplish with our limited time. Especially because people always have other duties before and after school,” Brown said.
ASB further spreads awareness to BVH through the morning school announcements and their various social media platforms. Clark adds that ASB was resourceful with its Instagram account which has many students and staff following, allowing the opportunity for more recognition.
“Applications were out on our link tree on our Instagram, we had posts going out on Instagram and we announced it during our morning announcements. Other than that, our members have also been spreading it themselves,” Clark said.
There was a shared sense of relief among staff when students began applying for the numerous commissions available. Likewise, Clark expresses how the difficulties from the minimum staff have affected the tasks ASB has to handle so they are looking forward to the arrival of recruited members.
“For the commission that I am in charge of, they are becoming a little bit stressed because of the workload. With these new applicants coming in, I think that we are becoming more productive. I am able to give that type of relief to my commission,” Clark said.
Although interviews are over, Acosta acknowledged the well-fit applicants and the meeting they held on Oct. 13 to further discuss the interview process and the applicants. Additionally, as a senior, she states the goals she has for ASB this year.
“I am set on increasing the school’s spirit and making people motivated to come to school. I want to have a good memorable year so we are going to reorganize commissions to see what that looks like with the new people added,” Acosta said. “There is a possibility it will change the dynamic, but we have to adapt.”
Another common feeling is how grateful ASB is to their advisor, Christiana Ada and how she has handled the process of reopening applications. Aside from receiving Ada’s support, they have great hope that there will be many new staff members with their promotion and how much they plan to accomplish this year.
“Ada helped us a lot in terms of promotions. She sent out Jupiter messages and had us talk to our friends. Especially teachers to see if they recommend anybody. Essentially the overall promotion of it,” Acosta said.
After reflecting on the events that occurred towards the beginning of this year, Gavin mentions what he hopes to accomplish this year. Furthermore, he explains what he wants the staff themselves to feel after he graduates.
“I hope ASB accomplishes what we need to do and finishes this year with being proud of our work and ourselves,” Brown said.
The ASB staff has strong ambitions for this year to end well, especially the seniors. Despite this not being Clark’s final year of high school, she recognizes what has occurred this year and previous years and what she aims to achieve in the future.
“We’re going to be great and next year is going to be better. We have good roots and I think that although we had our downfalls, we are just going to go up from here,” Clark said.
