Leadership and empowerment are becoming increasingly important in high school environments, and Riley Machin ‘25 and Emme Budin ‘25 are making an impact through their roles as presidents and leaders of student clubs.
Machin has displayed her hard work and shown endless dedication to making a difference throughout her four years at Bishop Gorman, joining numerous clubs and juggling many responsibilities. As president of Suicide Awareness and Substance Abuse club (SASA) and Editor-in-Chief of Yearbook, she explained how effective it has been to be so involved in her school.
“I joined SASA my sophomore year–later than some, but never too late,” Machin said. “This club quickly became a place of comfort for me, and working alongside such hardworking and dedicated leaders, especially the rising seniors, has been an honor.”
She shared her goal as president: to raise awareness about addiction and mental health, putting emphasis on a common issue and making sure students can find help when needed.
“As for Yearbook, I’m incredibly grateful for this leadership role and everything it’s taught me,” Machin said. “It’s helped me manage my time better, handle stress, and, most importantly, learn to trust my team and delegate tasks.”
She explained that the most rewarding part of the whole process is knowing she is helping to capture memories that students will look back on for years. “There’s something really special about creating a book filled with moments–big and small–that people can reminisce on long after high school,” Machin said.
Budin has also made an effort to improve her community as president of Rho Kappa: National Social Studies Honors Society (Rho Kappa/NSSHS). After recently bringing the chapter back to Bishop Gorman, she has worked hard to help students immerse themselves in the worlds of history, psychology, government, and social studies.
“I think having a Social Studies Honor Society is important for students because it gives them the opportunity to expand their knowledge on various subjects,” Budin said. She explained that stepping up to re-establish Rho Kappa was to provide opportunities for those that are interested in those subjects, and in return, give back to the community.
Not only has the Honor Society made an impact on Bishop Gorman, it has also impacted the president herself. “Being a part of NSSHS has helped me grow as a person because it’s forced me out of my comfort zone,” Budin said. “Recruiting members, leading meetings, and organizing service opportunities has assisted not only my time management skills, but social skills as well.”
Between different leadership positions and countless hours of hard work, both girls have succeeded in devoting themselves to helping their peers and making a difference.
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