April 9, 2024
Hannah Parson remembers initially not wanting to be involved in student government when she started her freshman year at High Point University. She was the student body president for her high school and was ready to try something completely new in college.
During her first ever fall semester class, she met a junior who was involved in the student government association. Starting off as class friends, they then soon found out that they had a lot in common. Second semester came around and this girl decided to run for president, asking Parson to run as secretary with her.
This decision is what introduced Parson to SGA and she realized the impact that she could make on campus. Parson explained that SGA is an accumulation of all the corners of campus, places, interests, topics, religions and cultures that she never would have been exposed to without being a part of student government.
“Senate brings everyone to one area and it’s so cool to have a lot of the campus represented. I love it for that and the community,” said Parson.
After discovering this love, Parson then was asked to run again as chief justice the next year with a new president. These two girls taught Parson how to lead and were great examples on how to serve others and make it about the students.
In her role as chief justice, she chartered new clubs and brought them on to campus, while also helping with anything related to clubs and organizations.
“It was super hands-on and people oriented because if they wanted to shed light on something they really cared about, they got to come to me and we got to help make that happen,” said Parson.
Through her experiences as secretary and chief justice, she learned countless leadership skills and found her passion for wanting to help others while also giving them a voice. She decided to run for president and knew that it would be a commitment. But it was one that she was ready for because of the necessary experience she gained throughout the past two presidencies.
“When I decided to run it was primarily because of the student body. That’s what fuels me now,” said Parson.
She accomplished countless things throughout her presidency and said how proud she is of her administration. Everyone on the team has been super supportive and hands-on. Together they introduced legislation to the Senate floor.
“Legislation made it a for-the-people job, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Parson.
In the past, Senate was students presenting bills, asking to go to conferences and mainly things that needed money to be done. There were not many ideas being presented as for what students wanted to see on campus. It was originally just very money-oriented.
“I’m all about tangible change, things you can see, and stuff to make it better for the students. So we introduced legislation in the sense that students can come up, and present their ideas for the change they want to see on campus,” said Parson.
Those ideas are then voted for and backed by the students and student senate. Parson, along with Hannah Tameling, the SGA vice president, brought these ideas to Barry Kitley, the senior vice president for university operations, who would then help them make these wishes come true for students.
A notable example are the new Slane Café hours that were approved during Parson’s administration. The idea was presented by Tameling, in the hopes of making students' lives easier. Many students have late classes and meetings, so they felt the addition hour would aid in giving students more time to easily find meals.
It was also passed in Senate to provide female products in the bathrooms, and Parson is working with Kitley to see when this will be implemented. Multiple ideas have been presented and approved and SGA can be credited for these helpful changes.
“We understand that some of those things take a little bit more time but that does not mean that we aren’t going to pursue it with our whole hearts. We’ll do everything we can to put it in action,” said Parson.
Parson’s goal was to give students a place to come and voice their ideas, whether it is to lower the music volume in The Café or asking for dietary-friendly desserts at the fine dining restaurants. This has been a way to amplify students' voices, which Parson explained was her number one pillar going into this role.
“I am proud of my time here because I think that I have not made it about me, but about the students. The voice and power that I was given when I won the position of president, I shared it and that has been the coolest part of it,” said Parson.
She went in with four initiatives: amplify students' voices, interconnect the campus through service, celebrate diversity and prioritize students' mental health.
Her administration also brought back committees in Senate which groups everyone together based on diversity and inclusion, service and civic engagement or planning and improving. This has helped clubs have more communication and collaborate with each other.
“Being able to champion students' wants and needs in those spaces and those rooms that not all students get to be in, has been very important to me. I kept that at the forefront of my mind,” said Parson.
After four years at HPU and a very successful presidency, Parson is headed to law school after graduation this coming May. She will be attending Washington University in the fall on a full ride.
“I can not thank this experience, and High Point in general, enough for that. All my close friends have been so supportive through it all and the faculty and staff too,” said Parson.
Student government has given Parson confidence. She explained that the experience was pivotal in growing her life skills, such as public speaking. But it has also reminded her what is truly important to her, as far as service, community and what her values are.
She is looking to go into law and public policy but is going with a very open mind to see what it is she is most passionate about. Parson wants to continue to serve communities like she has been doing at HPU, but is looking to make a change on a much larger scale.
“This is a reminder that not just through my role, but seeing all the students in leadership, presidents of their clubs, Senate, SGA representatives, and all that, we are all so capable of the position we have been given and the spaces that we are in. I know that I am going to go to Washington University and work my hardest, and I am capable and meant to be in that space. I am very excited for the future,” said Parson.
A note from Parson for those considering SGA: “If you do have the opportunity presented to you to serve on the executive council, or be a class officer, or anything, go for it. If it’s not for you, no worries, but if it is for you, you will unlock this whole other area of your life that can mean so much to you and introduce you to the coolest opportunities, people and ways to give back to this community that has poured so much into us.”