SGA goes Barbie-themed for Freshman Friday

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The Student Government Association (SGA) hosted its annual Freshman Friday event Friday Aug. 25. On Freshman Friday, incoming high school freshmen are invited to tour the school with fellow students, allowing them to meet teachers and students and learn to navigate their way around campus. 

Kicking off in the gym, Freshman Friday began with a short assembly led by senior co-presidents Shania Mahmood and Charlotte Wu. Students were introduced to the new principal Mr. Osmel Rodriguez as well as the other SGA officers.  

After the assembly, students split into groups and embarked on a scavenger hunt. Each group was assigned a specific campus building and handed a set of five riddles that led to different locations within or near the building. At each building, SGA volunteers waited patiently, ready to offer help. 

One key feature that set this Freshman Friday apart from previous years was that it was “Barbie” themed. From brightly colored balloons to the clothes each volunteer donned, the whole school was decked out in hot pink to match Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster summer movie. “This year we wanted to bring Freshman Friday in a new direction and vamp it up, make it fun and special for everyone,” Wu said. 

Following the activity, students reconvened in the gym for a Q&A session with a student panel. Each member of the panel had a variety of interests and were members of different school clubs. Freshmen were able to gain insight into student life and inquire about activities that interested them.   

“I loved meeting all the new freshmen,” said junior co-vice president Shreyan Singha. “They each had their own unique experiences and interests that I think will really add to the story of what makes Heritage truly Heritage.” 

Photos and videos from Andrew Rollins (via Patriots TV) and Charlotte Wu

Irene, now a senior at American Heritage, returns to staff as the Online-Editor-in-Chief for her third and final year with the Patriot Post. She loves all things literature and spends most of her time with her nose in a book. Her passion for writing started early, and she is currently the co-president of the Quill and Scroll Society. When she is not studying or writing articles for the wonderful iPatriotPost, she enjoys volunteering and helping lead a multitude of clubs at Heritage. Since 2014, she has worked alongside Best Buddies, an organization that advocates for inclusivity for those with intellectual and physical disabilities. As a co-founder and current board member of the South Florida Best Buddies Student Advisory Board, she plans fundraisers and service projects, including the annual Friendship Walk, which raised almost $300,000. She looks forward to making this year special and as amazing as possible.