Henry Yelin Guest Essay

When you receive your ballot in advisery tomorrow morning, the only question running through your head should be “Who do I vote for?” And the only answer to that question is John Secaras. I am writing neither on behalf of John, nor in favor any particular candidate, but solely to express my personal views as to who is most fitting to be the Class of 2010 President.

In comparison to the four other legitimate candidates, (Shao, Server, Holden, and Max Rice) John Secaras has the appropriate mix of humor, professionalism, dependability and expressiveness. As a member of Student Senate for every year possible, John has the experience necessary to get stuff done in Senate. This ability, however, has not influenced John to expect massive change to occur. His attainable and rewarding goals as president make him a worthwhile choice.

Additionally, John’s success in public speaking will make for a superb commencement speech, without immature references to the Jonas Brothers. Speaking before grandparents, infants, parents, and siblings it is necessary that humor is not the driving force within the speech. Consider which you will remember best: a funny speech in which you simply laugh, or a speech that leaves you with lasting inspiration and ambition?

The answer is clear: John Secaras for Senior Class President for the Class of 2010.

2010 Senior Class President

When listening to the speeches today, I was curious to see concrete ideas each candidate wanted to put into place as president, or what they had done in the past to make them qualified. Here's what I got:

Nic Boury

A surprisingly good speech, at least in my opinion. We learned that he will show up to meetings as president, and that seemed to be his highest goal.

Pros: Funny, Popular

Cons: Admittedly not the smartest guy around (said it in his speech), may not take stuff seriously, and although promised, may not show up to anything.


Anish Krishnan

Tough to follow a good speech like Boury's, and Anish did it quietly and decently. Not the best speech out of the candidates, but not the worst.

Pros: Smart

Cons: No experience, doesn't know a lot of people (won't be able to convey student ideas to administration), and his speech was boring, which doesn't bode well for graduation, if he were elected

John Secaras

Another first timer, but he's been in Student Senate every year. John is the youngest candidate, as he turns 17 next January, but is one of the smartest.

Pros: Very Smart, Hardworking, Serious

Cons: Not a terrific speaker, not overly funny

Steve Server

The incumbent was serious in his speech, while also cracking a few jokes. He looks like a frontrunner for the job.

Pros: LOTS of experience, very smart, probably the best speaker of the bunch

Cons: Doesn't listen to ideas, greatest accomplishment was putting a recycling bin on the second floor and increasing shuttle buses, and donating a pound of rice through FreeRice.

Elli Sutter

Not a terrific speech, got all her applause from friends in the audience.

Pros: Knows a lot of people

Cons: Not a good speaker, is qualified due to hair color (according to her).

Max Rice

The speech we'd all been waiting for, from the boy they call the Father of Mother Nature.

Pros: Extremely funny, terrific speech writer (in terms of humor), easy to talk to, knows A LOT of people, MUCH smarter than people give him credit for.

Cons: Not too serious

Good Jokes:
1. HHH: Honest, Handsome, Wholesome
2. 85% of the time he's the bigger man, based on Body Mass Index
3. Doesn't like running: He loses or he's tired after two blocks
4. He can promise no snow in April: he's got connections, you know Mother Nature, turns out he's the father
5. I spend all my times staring at clocks, so put lessons on the clocks: math there should be the unit circle, latin: roman numerals, and Geoscience shouldn't have clocks.
6. I'm running just to put it on my college application
7. I'm against all things that are student government, and the Jonas Brothers
8. Mahatma Ghandi once said, "Freedom is the right to make your own mistakes" so exercise your freedom and vote for me
9. Let's get rid of all these flat screen TV's that are unnecessary, and get some more computers.


Jacqueline Sutherland

Fresh off her disqualification last year, SHE'S BACK! This time it was music interrupting her campaign.

Pros: Serious

Cons: Not funny, doesn't know a lot of people, students didn't like the speech, platform based off decreasing health standards at New Trier

Shao Hai-Guo

In terms of trying to list qualifications for president, Shao was by far the most effective. He actually showed what he'd done in office, which was by far the most extensive list. Also, he was pretty funny.

Pros: Dedicated, Well Known, Accomplished, Experienced, Funny

Cons: Not taken seriously by students sometimes, possibly a fascist dictator (Shao-Mao?)

Holden Faber

This time stayed on stage for his entire speech without being interrupted by applause.

Pros: Smart

Cons: Got clapped off stage last year, Not overly funny

Morgan Milin

Another first timer, didn't give a terrific speech

Pros: Popular, Well Liked

Cons: No experience, no concrete ideas


I think the candidates to take seriously are Max Rice, John Secaras, Shao Hai-Guo, and Steve Server. We've had Server for 2 out of 3 years, and I haven't noticed a difference. Shao's accomplished but do you want him giving the graduation speech? I don't think that a lot of people will take him seriously, administration included. John Secaras is like Steve Server, except this is his first time running. His Graduation Speech won't be funny, but it will be smart. Look for him to give a decent speech at graduation. Max Rice will take the job seriously, believe it or not, and his Graduation Speech will be by far the best. I narrow it down to Rice, Secaras and Shao. I'm voting for Rice: he's not gonna do anything worse than Secaras or Shao, but his speech at Graduation will make you stay awake (unlike Steven Dyme last year) and it will be funny. But it will be serious too. Max is a smart guy who will have insightful things to say. Look for him to make small changes at school next year, and a terrific speech. Remember what Steven Dyme is remembered for: putting up TV's in the hall during March Madness. I think we can count on Max for one new law like this. Plus, it will be a graduation speech you can tell your grandkids about.


MAX RICE IN 2010!