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2019 SMOB Interviews

abigailamatson
Feb 25, 2019
7 min read

Anirvan Ayyagari

1. Strengths

Personally I think my biggest strength is my ability to persuade people and make a connection to people. That just automatically carries over to being the SMOB because the entire job is basically fighting tooth and nail for what the students want but it has to be done diplomatically and I think I’d do a great job at that.”

2. Weaknesses

I think my biggest weakness is probably my lack of connections within mcr. To get through nomcon that really would be helpful but I’m confident that once I’m through that I’ll be able to execute regardless.

3. What you want people to take away from your campaign

“That the smob isn’t just a figurehead position used to pad resumés. It has a huge potential to enact change and that the students really do have the power to bring about the change they want with their vote”

“across the board I really just want to see our county cut wasteful spending, much of which is spent on useless education consultants and put that money towards meaningful things like rebuilding schools, fixing lunches, and replacing battered textbooks with tablets.”

4. Favorite tv show

Shameless of Daredevil

5. Favorite movie

Couldn’t decide between Total Frat Movie and TED

6. Favorite book

Harry Potter Series

Adiba Chowdhury

1. Strengths

“I consider my personal strengths and strengths to be one and the same, and that's being open to different perspectives and being inclusive! Reaching out and supporting my friends and classmates has always been incredibly important to me, and I've shown that through my advocacy work. As a Muslim woman of color, I've advocated on behalf of Muslims and all immigrants on Capitol Hill, and I've held dialogues on racism, gun control, and the divide between students in magnet programs and the wider student body. Those are experiences and strengths I'll bring to my SMOB term.

2. Weaknesses

I think my weakness is taking on too much at once - I've always been one to be active in many different organizations, whether it's MCR, a student leadership organization called OneBlair that I'm copresident of, MoCo For Change, or the Muslim Ummah of North America's Maryland youth group. As SMOB, though, ensuring that I work with the SMOB Advisory Committee and student leadership groups across the county to follow up on my campaign's initiatives will be my sole priority.

3. what you want people to take away from your campaign

I want people to know that I'll be a SMOB they can reach anytime. Year after year, MCPS students have felt that there's no opportunity for them to express their concerns and see real progress, and I believe my platform, which prioritizes mental health, infrastructure improvements, equal opportunity, and widespread communication, is the best way to target that. Regardless of NomCon's outcome, I'll continue to fight on behalf of students of all backgrounds and work for change!

4. Favorite tv show

Daredevil (as a marvel fan) and Law and Order (in general)

5. Favorite movie

Hugo is a childhood favorite, currently she loves Lion’s. She does of course always love Marvel movies

6. Favorite book

Currently: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Nate Tinbite

1. Strengths

Hard Working
Energetic
Willing to meet new people and hear new concerns
Loving
Persistent
Determined

2. Weaknesses

“Being sleep deprived seems to be my biggest weakness at the moment. So long as Saturday’s and Sunday’s are a thing, I’ll be good and ready to go”

3. what you want people to take away from your campaign

“I want people to understand that this campaign it their campaign. Regardless of who you are or what school you go to, your concerns deserve to be hears. We need a steadfast movement which is willing to prioritize hope and a vision for what a 21st century education can look like, and that’s what this campaign is about. When we are united in our voices, we can create a movement to challenge the status quo, but I need every person to help me do that. This movement is out movement”

4. Favorite tv show

Madam Secretary

5. Favorite movie

Interstellar

6. Favorite book

A colony in a Nation by Chris Hayes

Ethan Groboski

1. Strengths

"As far as my strengths go, I consider myself to be well-versed on the issues and very approachable"

2. Weaknesses

"I’m a bit of an introvert, so at times it has been a bit difficult to put myself out in the public eye"

3. what you want people to take away from your campaign

"I’d like people to know that no matter where you come from or what your experience, you have what it takes to be a leader."

4. Favorite tv show

Bojack Horseman on Netflix

5. Favorite movie

Forrest Gump haha

6. Favorite book

1984 by George Orwell

Lillian Carr

1. Your strengths: I am focused and motivated to reach my goals and won’t let any one stand in the way of that.

2. Your weaknesses: I am an overachiever which can sometimes get the best of me if I don’t manage my time well enough.

3. What you would like people to take away from your campaign: They will always have a resource through me and I will always be an advocate for them.

4. Your favorite tv show: How to Get Away with Murder

5. Your favorite movie: Love&Basketball

6. Your favorite book: The Hate U Give

Zoe Tishaev

1. Your strengths:

I think a notable strength I have, as it pertains to the role of SMOB, is my established connections with the Board of Education, our staff at Central Office, and our Councilmembers. I'm a familiar face around Rockville. They know me, I know them, and that familiarity would certainly be an advantage in policy making. I'd consider myself pretty extroverted and communicative - I love talking with people with different backgrounds and experiences. It's really eye-opening! I would consider myself pretty ambitious, and I'm sure that's a trait I share with the other candidates, but if I find an issue with our system, I will push to address that issue relentlessly.

2. Your weaknesses:

Sometimes I can be a little stubborn. I want to be open minded, but there are some issues that simply can't be compromised on! These are the issues that I badger our decision-making officials with day in and day out, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. If I believe strongly that something needs to be changed, I'll stop at nothing to change it! This tendency has gotten me into some trouble with Clarksburg's admin in the past. I've been called "too extra," but I think I have my extraness to thank for getting me to where I am today.

3. What you would like people to take away from your campaign:

I want people to know that I'm committed to hearing the voices of everyone in the county, of students of all backgrounds and all walks of life. Above all, I want to be an accessible SMOB that can get information to the students efficiently and seamlessly. Effective communication forms the backbone for every other issue we hope to tackle. Elected officials are WAY more interested in hearing what students have to say than parents, so with a strong mobilized student body, I truly believe we can boost this county to greater heights than ever before.

4. Your favorite tv show:

I haaate these kinds of questions, because I can never pick just one! At the risk of sounding cliché, the Office (at least until Michael Scott left) is definitely up there. The jokes are solid and character plots are masterfully written. I got on the bandwagon a little late, expecting I'd hate it, but it's one of my favorite shows now. I'm also a huge fan of the Colbert Report, be it a little dated.

5. Your favorite movie:

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!! Great book too, but Marvin is so perfectly characterized in film.

6. Your favorite book:

As much as I love reading the annual MCPS budget, I'm going to have to say that my favorite book is probably Tesla's Attic by Neal Shusterman, though I haven't read it in a while.

Brandon Alexander

1. Your strengths?

I am an intellectual and I can come to agreements with people who I disagree with. I am a realist, only promising things that are possible.

2. Your weaknesses?

I have no weaknesses other than ones that would kill me.

3. What you want people to take away from your campaign?

I would like people to take away that I fought for the students, not for my own personal interests.

4. Favorite tv show?

My favorite Tv show is either Monk or Psych. Two funny detective shows.

5. Favorite movie?

My favorite movie is an old movie called Casablanca from the 1940s

6. Favorite book?

My favorite book is the Count of Monte Cristo, a tale about a wrongfully imprisoned man, highlighting romance, drama, adventure, revenge and jealousy, and politics

Valerie Graham

1. Your strengths?

I’d say my strengths are my determination, my willingness to cooperate, and my creativity

2. Your weaknesses?

My weaknesses would be that I’m quite pessimistic, and I often ignore my own health when I’m focused on getting something done. People also can consider me rude at times because I can be a little snappy (I speak in short, quick statements)

3. What you want people to take away from your campaign?

I want everyone in this county to recognize that they don’t have to be on the inside to influence what they care about. Despite the fact that I haven’t served in the county SGA or anything, I’ve certainly made my ideas heard, whether or not I win

4. Favorite tv show?

Any iteration of Law and Order, Brooklyn 99, or One Day at a Time on Netflix

5. Favorite movie?

Rear Window or Legally Blonde

6. Favorite book?

Mindhunter by John Douglas or Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes or Sophie’s World by Jostein Gardner or The Great Gatsby (sorry for the list, I have quite a few favorites)

Aidan Douglas

1. Your strengths?

Public Speaking and leadership

2. Your weaknesses?

Not good at introducing myself to people if someone wants to talk to me about anything they should introduce themselves to me

3. What you want people to take away from your campaign?

I want people to understand that the students should be in complete control of what affects them and no one else should be able to effect that decision

4. Favorite tv show?

Pokemon

5. Favorite movie?

Mr. Nobody

6. Favorite book?

The invention of Hugo Cabret

*All of the other candidates did not respond to the request for comment or did not respond by the deadline. MoCo Connect is not responsible for anything the candidates said. MoCo Connect does not endorse any candidate.*