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She's normally a busy bee during term-time, but the summer has left some time for reflection as her school years draw to a close.
Before she leaves the island to study maths and philosophy at university, outgoing JCG Head Girl Lucy Pallent got thinking about what she's loved about Jersey, as well as the things she'd improve.
And she's come up with some suggestions - five, to be exact - on what she would change to make life a little better for everyone. She shared them with Express...
I've always found it ironic that despite the fact that global warming is one of the largest problems in the history of humanity, people are so quick to ignore it. A prime
example is the amount of cars we have on this island: at least two for every member of the population.
Pictured: Lucy suggests car sharing as a simple way of helping the environment.
Considering we can't exactly stop flying on planes and most of us aren't quite ready to give up beef, a simple and effective to way to cut down on our CO2 emission is to car share. Not only will you be decreasing the 8:00 traffic jam on the Avenue, but it's also a fantastic way to start your morning.
I realise this is a slightly unfair criticism, as the States many years ago could not have been expected to predict the proliferation of Range Rovers in 2018. However, that does not negate the fact that our roads are a health hazard. Simply put: the roads are not wide enough.
Pictured: The roads are too small, especially for buses, Lucy argues.
Buses should not have to drive down the middle of a road; drivers shouldn't be reversing into fields on green lanes; and can someone please do something about that awful corner to turn from St Peter's Valley onto La Grande Route du St Pierre?
The most consistent complaint I have heard about Jersey is that there is simply 'nothing to do', which is surprisingly accurate for teenagers at certain times of the year. You cannot deny that Jersey has plenty for young families or the older generations, but for teenagers the options are particularly limited, especially in winter.
Pictured: More attractions and events focused on young people - like music festivals - would make them feel more valued, Lucy argues.
I would love to see more events that are, at least partially, aimed at teenagers such as Weekender and the Jersey Film Festival throughout the year and I think it would be an important first step towards young people as a whole feeling valued and listened to by the Jersey community at large.
To clarify, I do think that it is wonderful how involved politicians are in the community. Nevertheless, I am disappointed that while I could have told you what many politicians do to serve the island, I could not tell you what they actually stand for. I don't think the States necessarily needs to have a party system in place - though I would definitely prefer it - but people do need to know what they're voting for. In the recent election very few candidates produced a manifesto of substance, and I applaud the few that did.
Pictured: Communication, communication, communication - that should be the mantra of the States, according to Lucy.
I shouldn't have to search through Wikipedia or old posts on a Facebook group, information should be easily accessible. Social media is not perfect, but it is a great tool for educating the public with meaningful and relevant content. I really hope this new States government not only runs our island wisely and efficiently, but meaningfully communicates with its inhabitants too.
Maybe I am just getting nostalgic now I am about to depart from this little island we call home, but I do genuinely feel we take Jersey for granted. Yes, I have spent an entire article explaining what I would change about Jersey, but the number one thing I would change is the attitude of the people who live here.
Pictured: Jersey is a place of beauty - let's put our focus on that, rather than the little negatives, Lucy says.
Yes, it can be frustrating in winter and you never do quite know if your plane or boat will leave at all, let alone on time. However, we truly live in a beautiful island and I think if we focused more on the beaches and less on the seagulls, Jersey would be a much happier place.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not of Bailiwick Express.
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