When she passes through the Natali Student Center, she hopes students see someone they can approach. 鈥淚 hope somebody finds me relatable and welcoming and fun,鈥� says legal studies grad student and two-term SGA president Sydney Cochran. 鈥淟ife is too short to not have fun.鈥�

That lightness is rooted in grit. Sydney arrived from a small high school wanting something 鈥渁ffordable, close to home, and somewhere that you鈥檙e not just a number鈥攜ou鈥檙e a name.鈥� She jumped into student life immediately. 鈥淭he first organization I joined was student government. I was a very shy freshman,鈥� she admits. Early on, two campus leaders鈥�Missy Dunn and Derek Harshberger鈥攂ecame steady mentors who encouraged her to step up. With their guidance, she ran for corresponding secretary and, eventually, president. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really given me a voice,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou go from not knowing anyone鈥� to you know everyone. You have a voice.鈥�

Last year tested that voice. Moving from secretary to president meant learning the inner workings and managing change. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 easy,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I learned how the organization runs, and now I want to use that to grow membership and get our senators excited.鈥� This year鈥檚 priorities include rebuilding a leadership pipeline after key seniors graduated, making the most of the new common hour to keep campus vibrant, and 鈥渙utdoing鈥� last year鈥檚 Student Appreciation Week. She鈥檚 also eager to sample every new dining option: 鈥淚f anyone has recommendations, I will definitely put forth my opinion because I will be eating at all of them.鈥�

Leadership, for Sydney, is personal. Her model is her mom, a former lieutenant colonel. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a workaholic鈥� very dedicated. You鈥檒l find me doing SGA work at two in the morning because I love it.鈥� That same energy shows up outside SGA, where she balances shifts at Bath & Body Works with experience at a legal consulting firm. 鈥淲ork-life balance鈥� isn鈥檛 a buzzword; it鈥檚 a skill she practices daily鈥攁longside a Starbucks habit that makes her easy to find.

Asked about legacy, she doesn鈥檛 hesitate. It鈥檚 the first-year student who becomes a leader because someone believed in them. 鈥淥nce you join a club, you鈥檒l see the entire shift in your experience,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e part of something bigger than yourself.鈥�

Sydney鈥檚 journey reflects how 水多多导航 turns potential into momentum鈥攖hrough community, practical leadership experiences, and the resources that help students grow confident, career-ready, and connected.