Meet the New StudCo – Junior at Large Sumaer Gupta

Entering the 2024-25 school year, we have a refreshed StudCo with enthusiastic new class leaders! This brief article introduces our Junior at Large for this school year: Sumaer Gupta.

In the Acronym’s interview with Sumaer Gupta, we covered a few questions regarding his background in leadership, plans for StudCo, and more!

Briefly describe your position and duties for new IMSA students as Junior at Large.

Sumaer effectively serves as the Junior class representative and wants to resolve connection issues between classes. “I hope to become more of a friend with the juniors as opposed to a formal representative for them,” says the Junior at Large. He believes it’s more important to share tight bonds with the class to dissect the largest issues on campus. Moreover, it is easier to talk with a friend than with a businessman or government official. Alongside his goals to connect with the class more, Sumaer also plays a role on StudCo’s Newsletter Committee and puts efforts towards reviving the StudBoard and Notion.

Why did you run for StudCo?

Having been on his old school’s student council, Sumaer is an experienced and inviting member of StudCo. Another one of his main motives for running was to strengthen the bond between faculty and students at IMSA. Since middle school, he has been very connected with his teachers, faculty, students, and academics in general, making this a priority for his time on StudCo. Finally, Sumaer wanted to join to learn from diverse perspectives and experience a learning curve from listening to others.

What advice do you have for new students interested in running for the “at Large” position or in general on StudCo?

For aspiring StudCo members, Sumaer emphasizes that “the ‘At Large’ position is geared towards your class so be funny–humor takes representatives a long way.” Additionally, Sumaer recommends finding realistic and specific issues when applying for the position, i.e. Lexington’s questionable meals and S&E mod are challenging and far too broad for just the “At Large” representative to handle, and mostly unrelated to the classes of IMSA. 

What goals do you have for this upcoming school year?

This school year, Sumaer is focusing on revamping the Big-Sib Program at IMSA, as the largest issue in the past was the lack of commitment and organization. Then, tying back to Sumaer’s passion for StudCo, he hopes to remain an outspoken advocate for the Junior class and truly demonstrate community issues.

As for getting to know you, are there any things such as subjects, extracurriculars, or experiences you would like to share that relate to StudCo, helped you find this path, or just in general you want to share with the audience? 

Apart from prior experience in StudCo, Sumaer believes his role on the Acronym allowed him to professionalize his writing for StudCo and contributed to his success. Alongside this, his time on the Speech and Debate team allowed him to deliver points more effectively and concisely, building his speaking skills significantly. 

How has StudCo been so far, how’s the team getting along and what are you looking forward to?

So far, StudCo has turned out to be fantastic for Sumaer! The Springfield trip was a blast and the team is getting along nicely! He believes that Welcome Week is crucial for StudCo’s success at least for the first half of the school year, and it’s important to start on the right foot.

Any final words about your StudCo journey?

“I want to learn and grow from my Junior class and fellow StudCo members. StudCo 2024 is the year of Reform!”

On behalf of the Acronym, we are excited to see Sumaer’s contributions to StudCo and IMSA’s future!