Exhibit: Membership in the GSA Benchmark: Teamwork/Communication Skills: TC103 Anticipate the impact of actions or words on others; TC104

4 Listen to group members and ask relevant questions My membership in, and leadership of, the Hanover-Horton H.S. GSA has taught me many lessons about the impact of words and actions on others, and how to better listen to group members and ask relevant questions. I founded the GSA with the goal of providing support for LGBT students and their allies, as well as fostering support among the school and community through advocacy and understanding. In order to properly and effectively provide support, a core tenant of the GSA, one must be able to listen to group members with an open mind, and ask good, relevant questions. Therefore, through my membership in the GSA, I have achieved this skill. Another aspect of the GSA includes fostering tolerance and respect, and one of the ways in which we address those issues is through discussing the impact of words and actions, both positive and negative, on others. Therefore, because I have actively participated and engaged in these dialogues, I feel that I have a better sense of the impact of words and actions on others. My experience in the GSA has helped me to anticipate the impact of actions or words on others, and listen to group members and ask relevant questions, in several specific ways. First, because of our group discussions on topics relating to derogatory and offensive statements and attitudes, it has helped me to realize that they affect others just as they hurt me. Also, when I listen to group members speak, I must ask relevant questions relating to the topic at hand, while also being sensitive to the impact of those questions on them. Therefore, these experiences have very much helped me to secure a hold on this skill. Being able to anticipate the impact of actions or words on others, and listening to group members and asking relevant questions are both integral to my life today, as well as to my future as an elected official. It is integral to my life now, as I am the president of the GSA, and as such I must be able to display sensitivity while also engaging with our members. This skill is integral to my life as an elected official, also, because a key role of an elected official is listening and engaging with constituents while also being mindful and sensitive of the impact of your actions, and votes, on them.