Senior Lexi Velgersdyk had always wanted to make a difference in her community, and when she heard about the opportunity to join the student council at Lincoln Southeast as a freshmen, she jumped at it. Though initially hesitant, she gathered the courage to attend a couple meetings and instantly fell in love. She met a group of peers and students that provided not only a safe and welcoming space here at school, but a platform to opportunities much bigger than student council.
Velgersdyk hopes that her involvement in local and student political bodies will lead to lucrative career pathways for her in the future, and hopes that what she does as a youth will foster a sense of civil engagement.
Velgersdyk began her career as just a visitor to an election at the Nebraska Association of Student Councils (NASC), where she gave a passionate speech and secured a starting position.
“I just spoke from the heart about my feelings about the state and the good that I want to do community service wise, and I got it.”
From there, her passion and drive led her to the leadership positions she so loves and enjoys today.
Velgersdyk also believes that the LSE student council, and the NASC program has fallen short on some fronts, including cliques of students and that it should be taken more seriously.
However, she has excelled in being an open advocate for these changes, and has done much to cure these ailments.
“I love the people I’ve met, I love the experiences I have had, but I think it’s the structure of our student council.”
Velgersdyk has always been first in line to advocate for change, and has done much to cure these ailments.
“I try to be friends with everybody … I think it would take strong leadership and responsibility”
Despite some setbacks Velgersdyk faced while participating, she has found success both presently, and in the future. Velgersdyk acknowledges the future relevance that her involvement has had in her aspirations for a career and a time to come.
“I think [STUCO] has personal relevance, but is also professionally relevant. It’s definitely taught me a lot of life lessons that I needed to learn.”
On top of her own personal aspirations, Velgersdyk believes that any involvement in regional or scholastic politics has a deep and lasting impact on the future of our political landscape. She urges each and every student to get involved and leave their mark
Tracking any major news source, it is easy to see that involvement in the American political system at any level can at times be stressful, flamboyant and often outrageous. Through all of this, Velgersyk has overcome the challenges associated with the local political scene, balancing all of this with intense schoolwork and a demanding job.
For anybody thinking of following in her footsteps, Velgersdyk offers that she would “choose to be in it again, I still love the people that I’ve met, I love the experiences I’ve had.”
