Noah McGill

Meet Noah McGill

As the newly elected executive vice president of the Student Government Association, Noah McGill plans to make ETSU a place of tolerance and acceptance for everyone. As a Johnson City native, McGill is preparing for his senior year with a major in anthropology and a minor in biology. Before becoming the executive vice president of SGA, McGill served as a senator in SGA and has been actively involved in other student organizations.

Tell us about your experience with SGA.

I first became interested in SGA because of my girlfriend, Blakeley Griffin. As a senator, she passionately spoke about the tasks she was accomplishing in SGA. At that time, I didn't fully understand what she was talking about, but she seemed to enjoy it so much. To learn more about SGA and to better understand her, I ran as a senator.

For over a year, I served as senator for the College of Nursing. I participated in numerous committees and even chaired the SGA Committee for Sustainability. I learned how to be a better leader and how to interact in a professional setting. Seeing my SGA peers strive to become better leaders on campus gave me a sense of satisfaction, too.    

My most rewarding experience with SGA was running and being elected during these past two years. Campaigning took time, preparation, and dedication. By being elected as a senator and now as the executive vice president, the campaigning paid off. Both accomplishments mean so much to me.

What challenges have you overcome while in SGA?

I forced myself to overcome my challenges with scheduling and time management. Being a member of SGA requires a good amount of time commitment. As a college student though, I had other obligations that I valued alongside SGA. I had to really learn how to prioritize my time, which helped me evolve my time management skills to the next level.

How has SGA changed you as a person?

SGA changed me in a variety of ways. SGA boosted my self-confidence. It has also opened opportunities for me to take leadership roles on campus that I might not have been aware of in the past. SGA really showed me how valuable being kind is, and how important taking the initiative is when it comes to leadership roles. I am proud to be a leader in an organization where kindness and hard work are valued.

What inspires and motivates you as a student leader on ETSU's campus?

The people who I am surrounded by motivate and inspire me. I enjoy helping people. By helping those around me, I have been able to learn many skills that have brought me to the position I am in today. In this position, I plan to be an even more capable helping hand to those around me.

Tell us about your campus involvement outside of SGA.

Outside of the committees and meetings, I am involved on campus through religious organizations, intramurals and volunteering around the community. For example, I was a member of the Student Nurses Association Club, and I am currently an active member of the Tennis Club on campus. Like SGA, these organizations have provided me with a support system. This support system includes friends, advisors, healthy competition and the self-assurance for me to be who I am.

As a senior, what advice do you have for incoming freshmen?

Get involved, make friends and seize as many of the amazing opportunities that ETSU is going to offer you. The "freshman 15" is also a myth. The "freshman 40" is very real, though. Stay active, sleep and eat right!