When I pitched a column topic for this month, I didn’t realize I’d already written about campus elections. Maybe that’s bound to happen after sixteen of these. This, however, will be a different angle: for those considering their name on a ballot to lead the AMS, SGPS, or a faculty society.
If you’re thinking about running in a campus election, the first thing I’d like to say is ‘thank you.’ It means you care about our community, and that’s where most good things begin.
Putting yourself out there on a ballot to be publicly judged is brave. And so, there were two questions I asked myself before deciding I was all in.
The first was why. There’s a video of me literally running while explaining why I was running for election, and that became the most popular part of our campaign. People want to know your reasons, and I think that’s because it reveals how earnest you are about the motives behind and commitment to a role.
The second question I mulled over is how. And not how am I going to run and win. (that comes later), but how am I going to lead? This includes how you want to conduct yourself as a leader—think: values and beliefs—and how you can sustain your mind and body through the work.
There will be incredibly high highs, and deep dark lows in any leadership role. In both circumstances, I don’t recommend relying on either as a source of your worth. Go home to your friends and family for love, so you can show up to work to do hard things without being clouded by the need for personal approval.
Now, once you’re all in, don’t, under any circumstances, underestimate the power of a campaign team and winter break.
I had a core team of two whom I trusted with everything. They knew the system of student government and me. The outer ring did the fun stuff and came from all walks of campus—different years, programs, and clubs. Half of the team I knew well, and the other half I’d never met. But we were all totally aligned and grew very close. They pulled schedules from SOLUS to do class talks, boothed for hours, made trendy TikTok videos, drafted potential debate questions and critiqued my responses, and talked me off many ledges.
As for winter break. Rest up, spend time with your people, but also hit the books. Use the time to draft a platform, form a team, and pencil in consultation meetings for the new year. Your future self will thank you.
And my last word of advice: try not to be like everyone else. Each decision I made was aligned with who I am, not necessarily with traditional campaign choices. Ordering a pull-up banner to use for one week before throwing it away contradicts the very words I wrote in my platform about sustainability. Instead, I painted a banner on my living room floor—with every colour of the rainbow because I didn’t want to choose just one campaign colour.
Whatever the result, you’re going to create an electric hope that makes you feel alive and part of something important.
At your service,
Niki
Tags
Campus elections, Rector's Digest, student governance
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