Influencer of the Week: Drew Siegel, Windermere High

Windermere High School senior Drew Siegel is a student who wears many hats. He serves as the president of the National Honor Society chapter, plays on the Windermere baseball team and is the historian for the school’s Student Government Association. Siegel began doing volunteer work in eighth grade. Most recently, he has committed much of his time toward his family’s foundation, Victoria’s Voice, to help spread awareness on the dangers of drugs. 
 

What led you to join Windermere NHS?

National Honor Society members are students who don’t just hope for change, but do whatever it takes to see it through. As leaders in their community, they strive to make each day better than the one before, and I knew I wanted to be part of that. I want to be the change in my community.
 

What’s your favorite part of your role?

Seeing our members come together to really take advantage of our projects and make the most of them is truly special. We have hundreds of members, but the unity that we create when working towards a common goal is quite beautiful. Not to mention how amazing it is to see how much of a direct impact we have on the people in our community.
 

What’s the nicest thing a student or faculty member has done for you?

Coming from a small middle school of only a couple hundred students, I struggled to communicate with new people and make new friends when I first went to Windermere High. After sitting alone at lunch for the first few weeks, a kid came up to me and asked if I wanted to sit with him and his friends. Today, I am best friends with that kid and still thankful that he approached me that day. 
 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would go to Hawaii, because of its beautiful landscapes. Every once in a while, I love being in nature and escaping from the fully digital and developed world we live in.
 

If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?

Elon Musk. Not only do I look up to him as a brilliant businessman but also as a wonderful person. The purpose to everything he does, unlike most, is not money. It’s to help move the world into a cleaner, safer and more beautiful future. I believe the world would be a much better place if we had more people like him. 
 

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment?

Working with my fellow officers and sponsor to overcome the challenges thrown at us this year and still continue to make a huge difference in our community. National Honor Society is a community service-based club, and due to COVID restrictions, it was very difficult to give members volunteering opportunities. By changing the bylaws and coming up with events that have minimal physical contact, we were able to make the most out of this year and continue to benefit our community.
 

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be an astronaut. ... The idea of being the first person to do something and leading the world into a new future came with great amazement and interest. I now understand that I don’t need to be in space to make that happen.