Meet Defne and Mustafa
By Laura Torres and Paula Soares
Edited by Laura Galbes
Defne (left) and Mustafa (right).
Exciting news! The “The Voice” team sent out a google form so students can get to know the candidates running for President and Vice President for this school year. Among them is the ultimate sibling duo Defne and Mustafa Küçükçolak.
Get to know them:
Defne is a Senior and is currently completing her 9th year at ISA. She said “it's bittersweet knowing I'll be graduating and leaving this incredible community next year.” Defne describes herself as outgoing, approachable, and passionate about making the people around her feel valued and included. She feels strongly about how it's the little moments and gestures that make all the difference, which is why she plans carrying this mindset into everything she does in her final year of high school to make the school a better place for everyone. Her brother Mustafa is in 10th grade and absolutely loves playing sports. He is constantly staying active whether that is by playing football, basketball, or even hiking. Mustafa says that being a part of so many sports teams has taught him about leadership, communication, and having people’s backs. With that being said “I’d love the chance to bring that same energy and teamwork to the Student Council.”- Mustafa.
Why are they running for these positions?
Defne is running for StuCo because ISA has shaped so much of who she is over the course of these last 9 years, and she hopes to be able to give back to the school. Defne is “passionate about connecting with students from all grade levels and fostering a sense of unity among everyone.” Even though this is not something the school lacks as, Defne mentioned, there's always room for improvement, especially when it comes to making sure every student feels connected. She longs for a high school where all students feel represented and heard, regardless of whether they are introverted or younger. As a team they hope to help build a spirited, motivated student body to make every day at school a little bit more enjoyable, not just on spirit days or during sports events. Defne and Mustafa want to create an environment where students are comfortable to speak their mind and ask for changes.
Work ethic in a team setting:
“The best teamwork is rooted in open communication, respect, and making sure everyone in the team feels involved and valued.”
Both candidates describe themselves as having strong leadership skills with excellent communication and organization. They both love cooperating with others, listening to different perspectives and encouraging all team members to contribute.
Changes they hope to implement:
They hope to organize casual Q&A sessions between grade levels, especially between 10th and 11th grade, where students can ask any and all questions they might have about IB, assessments, and even social life in the upper grades. Furthermore they would like to focus on advocating for a fairer, more balanced assessment schedule as the number of major assessments per day and week need to be made more manageable to avoid unnecessary stress and burnout. Another change they strive to make is making the lunch options more diverse by introducing (themed) food stalls such as; “breakfast burritos, smoothie bowls or even a nacho bar!”-Defne. There could also be picnic setups outside when the weather is good, fostering a sense of community and allowing students to relax and enjoy time with their peers. As students who have been at ISA for a long time, Defne and Mustafa are excited to bring back old traditions such as Senior Prank Day or even the food stalls on Global Village Days. Not to mention they would love to introduce even more creative and spontaneous spirit days! “By focusing on these issues next year, we believe that it will make it more enjoyable and easier for the students.”- Mustafa.
Feel free to reach out to them! Defne and Mustafa have been going around and asking a variety of students what they want to implement next year, as they want as many suggestions as possible in order to allow everyone to have a great year!
