On the last day of school when the seniors graduated and each of them is going to leave behind a mark in Monta Vista. They are going to leave marks on things and some of them are leaving behind clubs. While this can be an emotional experience for some people, it opens up new opportunities for underclassmen.
For many seniors who have been part of a club for long periods of time, graduating can be very difficult. The senior-dominated officer team of Monta Vista Microfinance club is no different. Many of them reminisce about their time leading in the club and how they are sad to depart. At the same time, this passing of leadership gives opportunities for underclassmen to take control and provides them with ways to lead the club to new places.
Senior Ryan Miranda has been the club’s president for the past two years. The Microfinance club was started by his sister, Monique, and he has loved the club ever since she introduced him to it. He felt disappointed to leave the club behind after graduation.
“It’s definitely sad and I know I’m gonna think about it in college,” Miranda said. “And maybe [I will] visit and see how MV Microfinance is doing, but I mean it’s just part of life and part of being a senior.”
Miranda isn’t alone in his feelings; other officers are also a disappointed that they have to leave. Senior Vedant Sathye has been in the club for the past three years and an officer for the past year.
“It’s [kind of] bittersweet ‘cause I mean I’ve been part of this club since my friend Ryan dragged me into it,” Sathye said. “It was good memories hanging out with my friend and doing different things.”
However, this passing of the guard allows members like sophomore Sean Chen, who will be next year’s club president, climb the ranks. While Chen doesn’t have much experience managing clubs, his constant attendance and enthusiasm propelled him to be selected as the new president.
“I was just kind of consistent in terms of going to meetings and actually looking at potential entrepreneurs,” Chen said. “The officers took interest in me and said ‘Hey we … would like for you to be on the officer team.’”
Chen was then trained by Miranda and the rest of the officer team so he could learn the ropes of running the club. Chen still keeps in close contact with the other officers, especially Miranda, messaging them whenever he has a question.
“[Miranda is] just trying to pass on everything that we need to know to run the club onto us before he leaves,” Chen said. “He’s still our leader.”
For MV Microfinance to continue, the old officer team believes that they need people like Chen to learn the administration aspect of running a club to increase membership. This is important for Miranda, as his wish is to continue the club for years to come and help others by providing loans to people in developing countries.
“I think it’s really cool to keep this original goal of helping people around the world going,” Miranda said. “We found other people to continue this tradition, and when we leave this school, it’s nice to know there will be people here who will continue this dream.”
