It's important to embrace diversity and culture as a young person, according to Lauren Glinton, head girl at St. Andrews School. The 17-year-old honor roll student, who has a 3.64 grade point average, said studying may provide good grades and make her academic resume look great, but it isn't everything. The teen said sometimes it's more important to venture out into the world and "grab life by the horns" instead of just burying yourself in books. This is why the twelfth grade student loves to take time out from her busy schedule to relax and do things she loves, like dancing to salsa, swimming, participating in art classes and being a leader to her peers.

Q. What do you think made you stand out to your peers and teachers enough to be elected as head girl?
A. I think my outspoken personality and ability to voice my opinions well made me stand out. I am not a follower and I am not swayed easily by the thoughts and views of others. This makes me able to see things as they truly are and make rational decisions without getting emotional. I am also open-minded and I think I have a good attitude that makes me an easy person to talk to. I am also very involved in my school and I am willing to do whatever I can to be of service.

Q. What did you expect your role as head girl would be and did it live up to your expectations?
A. I thought I would be expected to set a good example, not only for girls but the male students as well. I knew I would be responsible for leading the prefect body and ensuring we are all doing what we can. I expected that I would be asked often to talk with students and be there for those who need an ear or some advice. So far it has really lived up to what I have expected and it's great to me.

Q. What lessons are you learning now that you can use to pursue your future endeavors?
A. I think this role is definitely helping me to have a deeper understanding of leadership and what it means to be in the frontline. I am also learning how important appearances are and how to be everywhere at once so things can go smoothly. It's a lot of work, but this practice now will help me to be able to be more diverse and capable of handling similar situations in the future.

Q. What is your greatest challenge as head girl and how are you facing it?
A. I think being as available to my peers as I should is a challenge I am facing. It's a big job being head girl and tackling this job, because you have so many things to do since you are preparing to be a graduate as well. You have studying, extracurricular activities and even clubs. It's quite busy, but it's all about time management and just fitting in everything you need to do accordingly. I'm still tackling this every day but it does get a little easier I feel. I try to be helpful and even more open than usual, so students don't have to feel afraid to just come and talk if they need to.

Q. Although twelfth grade is a really busy academic time, are there extracurricular activities you just have to make time for?
A. Yes there are. I love to just get away and have fun. You can't let all the things you have going on keep you from doing what is necessary to help you relax. I like dancing, swimming, art and spending time alone to just think. I think it's important to have hobbies and extracurricular activities that you slot into your day, because it forces you to be more organized and manage time better. It also helps you to explore other parts of your life so you know where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Not everyone is the smartest, so being good at something else really boosts self-esteem, confidence and makes you feel better. You shouldn't let life weigh you down, so it's really good to do things you like to ease your mind I feel.

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