SGA president ready to challenge self, peers

Raina Bretan

Tell us about yourself.
I’m from Old Tappan, N.J., and attended Northern Valley Old Tappan High School, where I was involved with peer mentoring and the multicultural club. At Skidmore, I’m heavily involved with the Student Government Association, including SGA committees and events. I served as senator-at-large my first three years, Willingness-to-Serve chair sophomore year, and VP for Club Affairs junior year. I’ve also been a member of the International Affairs Club since day one.

Why did you choose Skidmore?
I chose Skidmore because it was a small liberal arts school with a real community feel. I was looking for a college with no Greek life that still had a diverse social environment. It was also the year Skidmore was named one of the top 25 “new Ivies” by Newsweek—that, too, was a big draw for me.

My expectations have been far exceeded. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a single thing about Skidmore. I love the teacher/student relationships, curriculum, how students have a say in their academic careers, and even the food (among other things)! But the best part of my Skidmore experience is loving every minute of it. Some of my friends from other schools wish they had this or that, or that they could redo a year and do things differently. I really don’t feel that way. I wouldn’t change a thing and I love THAT.

How did you decide on your major?
I’ve known I wanted to go to law school since high school. Majoring in government was a natural fit for me. I took Professor Beau Breslin’s “The Killing State” as my Scribner Seminar. At the time, he was the chair of the Government Department, and he was an excellent introduction to the major. I had never delved so deeply into a subject. And since that class, my other government classes have NEVER disappointed.

How did you get involved in SGA?
I got involved shortly after Professor Breslin handed me my first seminar grade—not so good. I knew immediately that the academic bar was set high at Skidmore. Imagining a long four years of poor grades I decided to compensate early by joining SGA. Luckily, with my success in SGA came academic success. In retrospect, my poor first grade acted as the catalyst for me to get involved. SGA has opened up a number of worthwhile opportunities, both socially and academically.

What have you learned from the SGA experience?
The importance of peer-to-peer management has been a major lesson. I’ve learned how to work well with my peers, yet, also how to challenge them to ensure that effective policies are created and maintained. I’ve also learned patience and a deep appreciation for others’ opinions and backgrounds. The SGA is not just a senate; it’s the entire student body. We are an incredibly diverse group, and I’m constantly learning and gaining valuable experience.

How are you feeling about being SGA president?
I'm so excited to be the SGA president—some days more than others, of course. Though sometimes I wonder why I signed up to be 40 times more stressed my senior year, I also know it will be an incredibly valuable experience. I do worry that it will be hard for me to balance the different aspects of my life at Skidmore, but I’m more excited about all the plans members of the executive committee and I have in store.

What have you learned about leadership?
I’ve always naturally gravitated toward leadership positions with higher levels of responsibility. I find that I thrive when I’m busy, passionate, and enjoying my hectic schedule. Thinking back to my first year, however, I never thought I would be the SGA president. I had to learn a lot about myself before I could even think about taking on this kind of a responsibility. Recently, I've also had to learn how to manage stress, be patient, and let go when appropriate.

What advice do you have for students thinking about Skidmore?
Come to Skidmore with as open a mind as possible and you will be successful here. If you come in thinking it will be one way or another, you may be disappointed because nothing can prepare you for what Skidmore is until you live it. Also, remember, Skidmore IS a small school, but that’s one of the reasons most people thrive here. So don’t be discouraged when you can walk from one side of campus to the other in 10 minutes. In fact, for me, that’s a plus.

What are your future plans?
I am taking the LSAT in September and hopefully doing so fabulously that I can choose a law school in New York, Washington, D.C., or Boston.~Interview by Peter MacDonald, Office of Communications

Tags: sga, raina bretan