<p>So I'm trying to apply for an internship at the Smithsonian (I'm in the 10th grade btw) and they are asking for examples of your leadership. I used to go to International school of kabul and I was unofficially the student representative of my grade for student council. I wasn't officially appointed, as someone else was. But everyone hated that fat girl and told me to usurp her position. Anyway, I was asking if they are going to phone this school all the way in Afghanistan and ask them who was their student representative of 8th grade from 2011-2012?</p>
<p>Completely unrelated question, does a public school in the U.S. hold more merit or an international school in afghanistan?</p>
<p>First of all, integrity–it counts, even in 10th grade. Never consider being anything but 100% truthful in any application, regardless of whether you think you may be found out. Second, a story of how your fellow students asked you to step up and take action in a circumstance where action was needed would be a fine example of leadership–but talking about “usurping” the “fat girl” that “everyone hated”? Not so fine. That kind of language reflects badly on you. Frankly, your inclination to misrepresent yourself and the words you’ve chosen suggest you aren’t yet mature enough for an internship. Perhaps you should wait a year.</p>
<p>I really don’t think it’s appropriate to tell them that you planned a coup to overthrow the current representative. But still, thanks for the answer. Would you mind answering the other question?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about whether or not your school holds “merit” over another school—especially since this is a middle school we’re talking about. If anything, an international school makes your application stand out for someplace like the Smithsonian.</p>
<p>However, I do have to agree with MommaJ. Even though no one one this forum knows who you are, calling someone a “fat girl” whom everyone hates displays a stunning lack of maturity and perhaps narcissism. </p>