We’ve all heard the saying, and then there were two. Being part of a team, one does not often imagine. Sadly, this was the case for Jasmin Allen and Ben Ryan, walking into their senior year in the Student Council. Allen and Ryan had three other people to work with and an amazing group of seniors to look up to last year. They now run the show and hoist tons of added stress onto their shoulders.
Allen and Ryan’s roles in the student council are no easy feat either.
Allen is the ASB President, and Ryan is the senior class president. Allen is presiding over the entire school, while Ryan is just his class.
Ryan has been on the student council since the eighth grade. He takes his role seriously and works hard to achieve the goals of Stuco. Ryan plays basketball and tennis at Lakeland High School and is the senior class president. He is a Hawk through and through, as he is a spirited hard worker.
So what is it like when a student like Ryan is put in a situation where he and one other person share the work of five or more?
“There’s quite a bit of added stress, and it definitely increases the workload on both of us,” Ryan said. “We both try to set goals and achieve them.”
Allen and Ryan must work together as a team.
“Jasmin always does a lot of the planning and comes to me and tells me what to do,” Ryan said.
After working together for the past four years as Stuco members, they have created a working dynamic that can’t be beaten.
“We both know each other and understand how one another operates,” Ryan said.
Allen couldn’t agree with him more.
“I think it helps to know each other well because we know what we’re both good and bad at, and we can help each other,” Allen said.
Allen has been on the student council since her freshman year. It is very important to her to help her school and be an involved member of LHS. She is a strong academic student and extremely driven.
Allen has put more time and effort into the student council than many people can see.
Allen feels the added stress too.
“There is 100 times more stress this year than any other year before,” Allen said. “I do a lot of the planning, but Ben is really good at helping me execute things and get everything done.”
Every team has a leader, though Ryan and Allen agree that Allen carries the team. It was a simple answer for Ryan with no hesitation.
“It’s Jasmin. She definitely steps up,” Ryan said.
After working with fantastic Stuco members their junior year, Allen appreciates those she got to work with so much more.
“I always appreciated them. I knew it would be more difficult this year, so I was prepared, but I still appreciate them,” Ryan said.
Allison Knoll is the student council advisor at LHS. She has been along the ride with Allen and Ryan every step of the way.
Knoll recognizes how hardworking Allen and Ryan are.
”They make a good team,” Knoll said. “Jasmin is really good at the planning and organizing and Ben is really good at being told what to do, but also comes up with some good ideas. Jasmin is such a hard worker hands down. Ben is really good at getting the crowd motivated.”
Knoll has had Ryan and Allen in Stuco for the last three years. She has watched them grow and become closer to each other through hard endeavors over the years.
“Stuco helps kids learn to work together with other personalities, which is a good life skill,” Knoll said.
Knoll sees how much added stress has been put onto her senior’s plates.
“I think its adds a lot of extra stress that would be split more evenly with more people,” Knoll said.
Knoll is an exceptional leader leading two extremely amazing students that she is more than proud of and excited to see grow throughout the year.
With it just being Allen and Ryan, many seniors have stepped up and helped them during preparations for homecoming.
“I would like to thank and give a shout-out to some of the people who have helped us the past few weeks,” Allen said.
Jade Frittas and Jillian Snipes have been a huge help and went in to help make decorations. Riley Wirth and Emma Marshall came in to help with the lip sync and choreographed it. Lincoln Wood has also helped a lot all around. According to Allen, these students put in a lot of work to help their classmates.
We have a dynamic duo running the show in the student council that should be recognized and appreciated for all their work. They have put in so much time and effort to make sure we all have an amazing homecoming this year, and they will continue that with Battle for the Paddle and prom. As students, we don’t see how much the student council does for our school, but Allen and Ryan will put in the work for us daily.