Spartan Scuttlebutt:
Spartan of the Month is an involved activity leader
By Greg Smith OAKMONT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Haley Marshall is the Spartan of the Month because of her leadership roles in the high school. COURTESY PHOTO

She does it all: vice president of the Oakmont Student Council, organizer of Freshman Orientation, coordinator of the Homecoming parade, student member of School Council, co-chairperson of Claus for a Cause.

Our March Spartan of the Month even starred on the track and the field hockey teams before a knee injury sidelined her. If something important is going on at Oakmont, there's a pretty good chance that Haley Marshall is involved in some way.

But Marshall wasn't always the dynamic leader that she is today.

"When I was in middle school, I just kind of cruised along," she said. "I wasn't very focused and my grades weren't very good. You might say I was a little goofy. When it came time to run for office in high school, I was almost too embarrassed to pick up the nomination papers."

"When I handed in my election speech, it was only six lines long." Marshall remembers standing in front of a screen with her photo at her first election. "I was so nervous when it was my turn to speak that all I could say was, 'Wow, that's a big picture of me. Vote for Haley Marshall.' I guess other kids could relate, because I got elected."

Once Marshall took office, she says became a new person.

"I don't know what happened, but I became obsessed with getting things done," she said. "When you do good things for others, it becomes a passion. When we deliver presents to churches as part of Claus for a Cause, it's gratifying to see people's faces because I can easily put myself in their place."

Marshall, who is the daughter of Oakmont special education teacher Barbara Marshall, will attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst next year. She plans to continue with her passion for student leadership and community service while in college. Eventually Marshall would like to pursue a career in public relations for human service or non-profit agencies.

Marshall attributes much of her success to her friendship with Student Council President, Jill Davis. During the summer the two of them traveled to Kansas where they were part of the Massachusetts delegation to the National Student Council Conference.

"Jill has been my best friend for three years," Marshall said. "Even though we bicker and argue sometimes, we get things accomplished because we're not afraid to tell each other the truth. Jill pushes me and inspires me."

As Marshall draws closer to the end of her high school years, she offers these thoughts: "I'm proud to be known for doing good things, and I wish everyone would get more involved in the Oakmont community. I realize that I've had the opportunity to attend an amazing high school."

School officials hope that the March Spartan of the Month takes pride in the fact that she has played a big part in making Oakmont "an amazing high school."