A Shenandoah Valley Academy Senior Gives Testimony on Student Leadership

Andres Munoz (’25), Student Association (SA) president, shared this testimony with prospective students and parents during Academy Days’ evening worship, inspiring guests and students with examples of student leadership opportunities at Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA):

This year, I’m the SA president, which means that I, with other student leaders, work together to organize all the events and big activities for students here at SVA. Here is how I began to step into student leadership.

My freshman year, SA elections were coming up, when students vote for the officers they want to represent them the following year. There was one position no one was stepping up to fill: audio visual secretary. This officer compiles video throughout the year into a giant culminating presentation that premieres on the final Saturday night of the year.

“Is this something you’d be interested in?

Would you like to run for this position?” asked Vice Principal Kaleb Leeper. I was unsure and questioning. Then I remembered something that had completely slipped my mind. One week prior, I knelt in my room and prayed for an opportunity to lead at SVA. That year, the juniors and seniors really inspired me in the way they spoke and carried themselves, inspiring others through their actions and leadership. This was the answer to prayer I was seeking. And this sparked my step into leadership, where I worked with a great group of seniors. Now I have my own team of wonderful peer leaders who work very hard putting together the activities and events that all of us really enjoy.

As an underclassman, I had the opportunity to learn from people I could look up to who were inspirational models of character and behavior, who I really wanted to know and frame myself after. That applied to music and school, leadership and all other aspects of my life. Because of their example, I’ve grown in my skills as a leader, my speaking, communication skills and not procrastinating.

There are many opportunities for student leadership at SVA. For some, it’s getting up front giving a testimony, speaking and leading. For others, it’s more behind the scenes. There are those who work with praise teams or who lead in the boys’ or girls’ dorms. There is always a place to come and serve your peers as a student leader.

As I look at all of you, I see leaders. Each of you is someone—even if you aren’t comfortable standing up in front—who leads in your actions and words. When you see someone sitting alone, you smile at them and give them an encouraging word. That’s leadership: leading by example. Whether you decide SVA is the right fit for you—which I do encourage— I ask that all of you continue to lead by example each day to set forth the image that you want to see in the rest of the world.