New Head Monitors

By ADIZA ALASA ‘19

On Wednesday, April 17th,  the Self-Governing Association (SGA) announced Olivia Wang ‘20 and Beck Kendig ‘20 as Milton’s new Head Monitors.  The two campaigned against several of their classmates for the chance to become the leaders of the SGA. Head Monitors are responsible for calling and running meetings of the SGA, for working closely with the boarding monitors, day monitors, and the administration, and for serving on the Disciplinary Committee. The two Class I students serve as liaisons between the students, faculty, and administration and attend weekly meetings with the SGA, faculty advisors, and Mr. Ruiz. They also fill a variety of other roles, including representing the upper school and running upperclassmen and underclassmen assemblies.

Both Kendig and Wang are most looking forward to fostering an environment of inclusivity.  For example, Kendig plans to organize a fun event for all grades to congregate before the seniors graduate in June, and Wang wants to encourage interactions between students across grades, cultures, and genders.  The two are excited to take advantage of their office space in the student center and turn it into a welcoming safe space. The Head Monitors will also be operating with a newly revamped disciplinary system that has been working to address issues of inconsistencies and fairness, especially in disciplinary hearings and readings.

For changes that will be implemented by the Co-Head Monitors next year, Wang hopes to increase productivity, develop relationships, and reduce unnecessarily wasted time to allow more time for students to interact with each other. One goal Wang has for next year is to start a Walking Buddies initiative, in which students can volunteer their free period and be matched up with other students. The partners can then go to the Dean’s office, receive a sum of money, and walk to 7/11 together, chatting and bonding along the way.  Wang hopes the program would develop random friendships around campus. She has other ideas of programs to institute including a bring-your-pet-to-school day, Day/Boarder exchange night, SGA sponsored tea parties, and a recreation of Holi, a Hindu festival that signifies the arrival of spring.

Kendig plans to continue the progress made by his predecessors in having school days with delayed starts— days during which students come in two hours later than usual. Holding the belief that the current three is too few, the Co-Head Monitor is striving to institute one delayed start per month. In addition, Mental health is a major point that the two elected students both will continue to emphasize to the administration and faculty. He also looks forward to starting, as he mentioned in his speech, a Hoops for Happiness basketball tournament, an event that would raise money for a charity of the winners’ choosing.

Asia Chung (‘19) has learned from her time as Co-Head Monitor that time management, organization, and planning ahead are some of the most important skills to have. Balancing the time commitment of being in frequent meetings while managing the hectic schedule of senior year was one of her biggest challenges while in office. Her position as Co-Head Monitor has taught Chung to voice her opinions more openly. Parting advice that Chung leaves for Kendig and Wang is to communicate between each other. “You're never doing this job alone, so you should always have your co-head monitor's back and he/she/they should have yours too,” Chung said. “Also, if you ever feel stressed out about anything, reach out to someone, whether its a counselor, faculty, friend, as long as you think they can provide support for you.”