Sadik Elgallal — President
Ever since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to be “great”. As a curious and inquisitive child, unsure of what being “great” even meant, I sought guidance from many teachers along the way. The first, being my homeroom teacher. She was the first to give me an answer that made sense. She told me that greatness is the compilation of a lot of small things done well. Thus, it was at this moment that I embarked on my journey to greatness— a winding road riddled with self-discovery and enlightenment. This lesson became the building blocks for something I’d experience years down the line.
During the Libyan revolution, I witnessed a humbling experience that would forever redefine my meaning of greatness. As active members of our community, my friends and I would collect metallic remnants left from the clatters of the night. After selling them to recycling plants, we donated the proceeds to displaced families in our community. One day, an elder from a displaced family invited me over for lunch, as they were trying to provide hot meals for those in need. After offering me food he said, “you did your part for us, and now it’s our turn.” I left this interaction feeling truly and wholeheartedly, “great”.
After sharing the story with family and friends, I woke up the next morning to find the entire neighbourhood participating in the recycling campaign. It was at this moment that I finally understood what greatness meant. Once we are able to come together and do our collective best as a community, greatness will unfold. It is truly a great honour to serve as the President of the Garnet Key and now I only ask that we, as students, come together and watch as the greatness unfolds.