Class IV recently held its first Class Representative election. During this highly unstable political time in our country, investigating the reasoning behind voting choices, even at the level of school government, is important. This process leads us to a centuries-old question: what makes a great leader? Is it wit? Strategy? Physical features? And why are those certain characteristics appealing to us as voters? Although our Class Representative elections are not as important as presidential or governmental polls, we can still apply similar thinking to see what resonated with Class IV and led them to vote for Isabella Chen ‘29 and Tatum Lee ‘29.

The two elected representatives took very different approaches in their pitch to voters. After listening to many successive speeches, it becomes difficult for the audience to stay present, especially when most of those speeches reflect the same cookie-cutter agenda like homecoming, academic support, and accurate representation of voices. Lee used humor, opening with the line “what’s up guys, gals, and non-binary pals.” Lee definitely grabbed our attention, if nothing else. Carter Kahn ‘29 says “Tatum’s speech really captivated the audience.” When Class IV was asked what made the Class Representatives unique and why they voted for them, 26 out of 35 respondents mentioned Lee’s iconic line even two weeks after the elections. This memory reinforces the huge impact that humor and key phrases can have on an audience. Tatum also gave packets of skittles to the crowd, further enforcing his campaign of lighthearted amusement. Lastly, his use of the slogan “It’s no Ultimatum, Vote for Lee,” contributed to his overall humorous image.

Chen, on the other hand, chose to be vulnerable. She talked about her past struggles, her honesty shining through. Talking about the future is easy for leaders and politicians, but reflecting on the past is one of the most difficult things to do for anyone. Lauren McElligott ‘29 said, “I liked how Isabella focused her speech on [her] past experiences and how she wants to help us grow.” Her sincerity is definitely a staple of who she is as a person, friend, and representative. Since the elections, she has been working with the Self-Governing Association (SGA) to put plans from her agenda into action. Some ideas include class merch, more entertaining class meetings, and tournaments. Chen and Lee remarked that they both had “amazing” plans for freshman year. In addition to activities, Chen hopes to survey other viewpoints “to ensure that every perspective is heard, valued, and considered.” She continued to stress that Class Representatives should “strive to collaboratively build a positive, memorable, and successful ninth grade year for everyone.”

While the two used completely different strategies—Lee’s energy and honesty and Chen’s passion and relatability—both left lasting impressions, and the strategies worked in their favor. Lee was energetic and honest, and Chen was passionate and relatable. These displays of authenticity and sincerity greatly increase voting rates for any given candidate, as a study by the University of East Anglia found. As Zoe Druker ‘29 put it, “their speeches [were] super relatable,” and Druker “felt like they would care about each individual person in the grade and just wanted to make our year and our experience better.” Those signals “made them a clear choice.”

Whether their win traces back to only their speeches or to their overall trustworthy and down-to-earth natures, Myles Selter ‘29, for one, is “so excited to see what the Class Reps [are] planning to do this year.” Congratulations to both Chen and Lee.