CSF elections prompt officers to reflect and prepare for the upcoming school year

By Donya Hassanshahi

The California Scholarship Federation, referred to as CSF, has recently been preparing for officer elections with the 2022-2023 school year in mind. Current juniors are able to run for president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Sophomores are able to run for junior associate.

During the interviewing process, students will be split into groups and be asked various questions by officers, excluding junior associates, and the CSF advisor, Mrs. Georgette Cheatwood.

President Brynlee Rasmussen, ’22 explains that in preparation for the elections, the CSF team has been creating questions to ask those who are being interviewed, as well as conversing with the interviewees concerning the role.

She advises students interviewing for the roll to showcase their truest qualities, “Be genuine, show your leadership qualities, be confident, and also kind; try not to let your nerves show, and just know that you will be awesome,” Rasmussen emphasizes.

As president, Rasmussen has many duties to fulfill. Such activities she organizes includes creating agendas for meetings, running social media and the Remind text messages, running officer and general meetings, working with the CSF advisor, Cheatwood, and coordinating events.

Leaving this leadership role is “bittersweet”, though Rasmussen is, “excited to see the great things the next president will do.” Admittedly, the position was difficult at times, “There were a lot of times [she] wasn’t perfect, but [Rasmussen] and the team always persevered and did [their] best in all that [they] were given.”

Rasmussen and the CSF team, “learned a lot about the importance of being a positive and impactful leader to others, and how to guide others in something you believe strongly in.”

Vice President Bailey Nelson, ’22 encourages students to “just do [their] best. As long as [they] are passionate, it doesn’t matter what role [they] get.”

In CSF, the vice president supports the president, assists with running the Instagram page, and doing everything possible to create a unified team with the other officers.

Even though it is bittersweet to leave the position, Nelson has “loved learning… growing with my team,” and “becoming a better leader.”

Secretary Kyla Seitz, ’22 urges candidates to, “be professional, be prepared for getting asked questions, but most importantly, be yourself.” Not only are these qualities commended, although Seitz states that the Cheatwood seeks individuals excelling in “leadership… positivity,” and those who want to assist newcomers and members within the CSF environment. CSF highly encourages success in both academics and community services.

The responsibilities of secretary rely on the “behind-the-scenes work.” For instance, Seitz has to be to the advisor’s teaching assistance, TA, and during that period she is tasked with CSF obligations. Oftentimes, the secretary must sort, double-check, and file applications collected.

Though she fulfills this leadership position, every officer is required to organize a community service project sometime during the school year.

With the second semester already taking place, Seitz feels CSF has, “been a great experience, and one different to other leadership roles [she has] had. The role [she] play[s] in CSF was a lot more structured than any other club [she has] been a part of. It also has the most members of any club [she has] had the chance to be in leadership with.”

Being a part of the CSF team highlights the impact Seitz has inputted towards Redwood students and faculty.

Treasurer Madison Allan, ’22 expresses interviewees to let their true personality shine, “Emphasize why you want the position, and how important CSF is to you,” she adds.

The treasurer is a crucial role to fill in the club. When money is involved, such as the semester membership drives, Allan must organize and conclude the fee total. She also assists with planning events like meetings and community services opportunities.

In regards to her CSF experience as officer and club member, Allan views her experiences as, “so much fun and the officer team becomes like a little family.” Pertaining to scheduling, she loved the opportunities to “plan meetings and help run such a big and important club on campus.”

Junior Associates Leena Aziz, ’23 and Kylie Schieferle, ’23 have been personally preparing for their interviews. Schieferle advises junior associate candidates to, “always put [their] best effort forward to make sure [candidates] are contributing to the common good of the success of the club.”

As junior associates, Aziz and Schieferle help with organizing CSF meeting for members and advertising the meeting through the Remind messages and Instagram.

Aziz views the fulfillment of her position as, “such an honor to be one of the representatives for [her] junior class.” She looks forward for the upcoming juniors who will fill position of leadership.

Schieferle is proud to have “[kept] the tradition and importance of leadership that is the foundation of Redwood.” Considering the tasks that come with being a junior associate, she not only attends club and officer meetings, although she is, “one of the people that help[s] connect the underclassmen to the upperclassmen and create[s] a form of unity within the club.”

All officers and junior associates encourage members to apply for a position. To become involved with the interviewing process, members must be active in the club and attend after school on Wednesday, March 9 in room 108 to be interviewed by the advisor of CSF, Cheatwood, and the CSF officers.

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