Dear Wake Forest Student Body,
Thank you for affording me the privilege to serve as your Student Body President. Now that my term both as your President and a college student is coming to its natural end, I have been reflecting on what this experience has meant to me, and I return to overwhelming gratitude.
Serving this student body has meant more to me than I can fully put into words. This year asked a lot of me, but it also provided me with so many moments of growth that I know I will carry with me long after graduation. When I look back on this experience, I mainly think about the people who I have had the opportunity to meet and work alongside. Some of the moments that stayed with me most happened when students stayed behind after events to talk a little longer, or when someone shared something they had been carrying and wanted to know if anyone in leadership was truly listening. Those were the moments that made this role feel deeply personal.
This role taught me that leadership is not always about having the right words or the perfect answer, but about showing up with consistency and a real commitment to your community. Throughout this year, I had the opportunity to work alongside my board to create spaces where students could feel heard and represented. We hosted Student Government’s first Town Hall, bringing together more than 20 student organizations for honest conversation about how Student Government could better connect with and serve the broader student body. We also worked to ensure that student voices were present in important institutional conversations, from the establishment of the Executive Advisory Committee on the Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey to hosting listening sessions for the search for Wake Forest’s next University President. Building relationships with organizations across campus, including the Student Athlete Advisory Council, Greek organizations, pre-professional groups, various clubs and religious and affinity communities, reminded me that leadership is not just about speaking on behalf of others, but about making sure people feel invited into the conversation themselves.
The progress made this year came from students who spoke up, senators and committee members who devoted their time, and faculty, staff, and administrators who were willing to listen and work alongside us. I have had the chance to witness so much care for this university, including the kind that often happens quietly when no one is watching.
Wake Forest has shaped my future in ways I cannot wait to discover. I leave this role with excitement and resolve to pursue my goals with the knowledge that it would not have been possible without this University.
It has been an honor to serve as your Student Body President, and I will always be grateful for the trust you placed in me.
With gratitude,
Amaya Williams
Student Body President
