BOUNTIFUL—The student council at Boulton Elementary got a special visitor last week as Mayor Kendalyn Harris stopped by to share her thoughts on leadership. The council is made up of 12 students who have been selected for their involvement in the school and the community.

“They are shining stars,” said Kirsten McNeal, DEEP Specialist and Student Council Advisor. “They hear about kids in need and think about what they can do.”

McNeal said they do a project every year to make stuffed animals for those kids. “They earn money to buy things for different organizations,” she said. “People from those organizations come and tell the students what it means to those kids to get a stuffed animal. It inspires the kids to do more. They light up. It softens their hearts and opens their eyes.”

The council does service projects and invites special guest speakers to come throughout the year, McNeal said. “Every year we schedule people in positions of leadership. They tell the kids what they’ve done and what they’re working on.”

Harris said the best advice she could give to succeed is to show up, McNeal said. “Her motto is “Show up, Speak up, Shut up,” said McNeal. She told the kids that if they don’t show up to meetings, they are obviously not going to get a chance to share their ideas.”

Speak up, McNeal said. “She said everyone gets scared. She gets scared but you can do anything for a minute.”

Shut up is listening to what people say, said McNeal. “Don’t try to formulate what you're going to say while they’re talking.”

They also had a round table where the kids could ask questions, McNeal said. “The mayor said she always knew she wanted to be a mayor since she was little and told the kids to do things now and take the steps to be what you want to be later.”

Harris told the kids that the things they do now will affect the future, said McNeal. “She asked the kids what their dreams are and said to start now and be willing to do little things to achieve them. It’s important.”

“I learned that you can do stuff that you want if you try,” said sixth grader Joseph Lopez. “It (mayor’s visit) inspired me to try out for captain of my soccer club.”

“She made it seem like it was almost common sense, or even easy to accomplish the things that you want to do if you just take the simple steps,” said  Charley Sparks.

“She really gave me a new perspective on leadership,” Sadie Fairbanks said. “You have to do the work to achieve the things that you want.”

 “I thought it was a really cool experience to see the mayor in person,” said Sarah Macey. “Most people never get to do that. I learned that we can do anything!”

 “She told us that we should speak up and not be afraid,” Madelyn Hartley said. “I’m so glad that she came to speak to us.”