By Lynn Berry and Jordan France
Being a leader can be tough, but Alyssa Poteat is a great example of one at William Peace university. At just 20 years old Poteat has already elevated her university experience by making great changes to the campus.
Background
Holding the positions of Resident Assistant (RA) in the freshman dorms and Student Body President for the 2025 class, Alyssa Poteat has a big influence on Peace’s campus thanks to her leadership, community service and enthusiasm.
Poteat, who was born and raised in Apex, North Carolina, is a vibrant and highly motivated student at William Peace University.
She knew she possessed leadership skills and communication skills, so she decided to use these skills and her motivations to her advantage early in her sophomore year.
“I had a friend tell me that I should join as a sophomore representative for my sophomore year and I was like ‘why not?’ so I went ahead and did it and I’ve loved it ever since,” Poteat recalls.
Poteat is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration. She is successfully balancing her coursework alongside her leadership responsibilities. Her capacity to excel in academics and also be a prominent leader on campus showcases her great work ethic. She tries to stay balanced and organized in order to stay on top of it all.
“Utilizing Google Calendar and knowing my schedule and what I’m capable of has definitely helped me with balancing my everyday life,” says Poteat.
Being a student and a leader can be hard at times. Poteat knows this and suggests setting aside time for rest and planning ahead. This allows students in leadership roles to stay organized and ensure that all of their commitments do not overlap with each other. Poteat’s guidance underscores the importance of successfully managing the challenges of being a leader and a student.
Fulfilling Current Goals
Poteat’s participation as the president of the third year student body has proven her dedication for student advocacy and leadership. She plans activities, collaborates with other leaders to solve student issues, continues to enhance student life by using her voice to advocate for students who may feel as though they cannot use theirs and advances the wellbeing of every third year student at Peace.
All while being a student body leader, she also holds the role as Resident Assistant. This role showcases her various interpersonal skills and her commitment to creating an environment that is inclusive to Peace’s campus community.
Poteat’s primary focus is to amplify the voices and concerns of her fellow students. She’s been organizing a number of activities such as campus get-togethers, meetings, and has been trying to get feedback from peers to see what else she can implement. She is trying to ensure that the administration listens and responds to student concerns.
“I really like it when I can advocate for students who can’t advocate for themselves,” said Poteat. “It’s really fulfilling to see that students’ needs are being met and it’s even more fulfilling for me since I’m doing both positions.”
Poteat’s ability to connect with students and staff has been a driving force behind all of the beneficial improvements that have been made for the student body.
The Future Ahead
Poteat plans to continue her roles in leadership in her 2024-2025 senior year at Peace. Her vision is clear and purposeful for the future.
“My goal is to start working on projects now and hopefully next year if I get reelected, I want to finish those projects,” said Poteat. “I’m super excited for what’s to come.”
Alyssa Poteat’s passion for positively changing and improving Peace’s campus experience is unwavering. It further exemplifies her dedication to the community around her and shows her authenticity for the care of her peers.
She aspires to see every single project she initiates to come to fruition through her positive attitude towards her future position. Her passion ensures that she will continue to serve and enhance Peace’s overall campus experience. Being student body president in the future holds great promise for Poteat and the class of 2025.
Contributors: Caleb Clendenning