By Israel James, Student Body President ’25
As we near the end of our time here at NCSSM, I find myself not just reflecting on those moments that defined our experience, but on the people who made it truly unforgettable. When I embarked on this journey as Student Body President, I promised to lead for, and not over, the student body. And that’s exactly what I’ve tried to do, whether it was listening to your ideas, advocating for your needs, or creating new opportunities that would leave a lasting legacy.
One of my most proud accomplishments is organizing the Inaugural Annual Alumni Career Fair, a thought that came from a brainstorm between student government and the alumni association that evolved into a spectacular event connecting students with graduates who were once in our shoes. It was a reminder that innovation is not just located in the lab or on a research poster, but also in how we build bridges for each other.
And wow, did we have fun this year. I don’t think any of us will ever forget the chaos and the hilarity of spoons, watching people sneak around campus, spoon on the nose in a desperate attempt not to get out. Or the Lock-Ins throughout the PEC, where we played basketball to dodgeball after inspection, reminding us that NCSSM is as much heart as it is brains. Prom at the Museum of Life and Science was out of a fairy tale, and viewing everybody looking sharp taking pictures at Duke Gardens was like being in a movie. Walking through downtown Durham or 9th Street after submitting Orah passes. Going to the Eno River to have fun with friends. The annual Watermelon Club race and how watermelon was scattered all across Hill Street. Speaking of Hill, we were able to see Hill House’s transformation in the new renovations that took place earlier this year.
This year, the Class of 2025 became more than just students, we became a family. From singing Taylor Swift during the power outage of our junior year to celebrating each other’s accomplishments across every discipline, our bond grew deeper, stronger, and more meaningful. We’ve been role models to our juniors, showing them what it looks like to lead with kindness, creativity, and courage.
Where do I even begin naming all of our accomplishments? Our student body received national research awards, wrote peer-reviewed articles, launched innovative start-ups, won athletic tournaments, created amazing and inspiring art pieces, and was accepted into so many spectacular schools. Another major accomplishment is getting to this point. The long night study sessions and the projects we spent hours working on has finally paid off. We really did lock-in this year!
We showed that greatness comes in many faces and from many different places. And we accomplished all of this while attending the #1 Public High School in America, as ranked by Niche, a title earned day in and day out.
To our faculty and staff, thank you for believing in us even when we did not believe in ourselves. Your mentorship over the past two years have been the keys to our success. And to Chancellor Roberts, thank you for your unwavering leadership and for reminding us that education is not about success, but about purpose.
As we go forward from here, I want all of us to carry the NCSSM unicorn spirit with us in all that we do. Keep asking questions. Keep building communities that represent the values we lived here. And also, give back whether that be through mentorship, giving, or sharing your story with future Unicorns.
We are the new generation of changemakers. And though we’ll be all over the world pretty soon, we’ll always be part of this legacy. I want to stay connected to all and each of you. If you’re celebrating something like a graduation, wedding, job offer, probate, or anything that you want to be celebrated for, I will always love to show up. I want to keep showing up for you as you’ve been showing up for me.
Thank you for believing in me to serve as your president. Thank you for making NCSSM a place where brilliance thrives. I am so proud of us, how much we’ve grown, how hard we’ve worked, and how we’ve carried ourselves through it all.
Here’s to the Class of 2025: the changemakers, the trailblazing unis, my friends for life.
To our bright futures ahead,
Israel M. James
Student Body President, Class of 2025
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Leave a Reply