Running for Student Council

From LoveToKnow Teens

Running for student council is a dream for many high school students. Student council is a prominent feature in most high schools today. These leaders oversee prom, dances and other events, both during school and after school. Why should a student run for student council? Most importantly, it looks good on an application when the time for collage rolls around. Secondly, it gets students involved in the community around them, planning fundraisers and extracurricular activities for fellow students. A spot on student council is not always easy to come by though, as it is an elected position. A student wishing to become president or treasurer would have to campaign against her other classmates for the spot.

Strategies for Running for Student Council

If you decide that running for student council is something you want to do, and win, then you must use some strategies.

Be dedicated! Students want a president that will be committed to his position.

Also you could hang up posters around school with catchy slogans such as; "Show me the money! (Name) for Treasurer" or "Taking Action, Getting Results".

You could also pass out buttons or candy; though try not to bribe other students with false promises and free food.

Put posters up as soon as possible! The more students see of your poster, the more likely they will be to remember your name on Election Day.

Create a great speech. Read other speeches online, try adding a little humor--but don't overdo it. Make sure your audience knows that you care, and that even though you like to laugh, you still know when to be serious. When you practice your speech, which you should be doing every day, look in a mirror. Try to look confident and keep eye contact with your audience the whole time. Memorizing your speech is also a good idea; it allows you to keep your eyes on the audience instead of your paper. When you are done with your speech, be prepared to answer some questions like:
- Why did you choose to run for student council?
- What will you do differently if you're elected?
- Why should we vote for you?

Don't write the answers down though, just get a general idea in your head about what you want to say.

Positions

There are many different positions on a given school's student council. From president to secretary, all positions are equally important to running a successful council. It is best to choose a position that reflects your interests and personality.

President
- The leader of the school, a good president should be responsible and willing to commit to the school. Some of the president's duties include overseeing freshman orientation, chairing all council meetings, and attending most, or all, of the student council's many activities.
Vice President
- Second in charge, the vice-president must be extremely organized as well as outgoing and friendly. Often one of the vice president's duties is to oversee the school's graduation formal.
Treasurer
- The treasurer should be exceptional at mathematics as well as organized, and posses time-management skills. The treasurer's job is to oversee all transactions and keep accurate records of the council's activities.
Secretary
- The secretary will excel at taking notes and communication. A secretary's duties include keeping minutes in monthly and weekly meetings, sending copies of the minutes to the teachers in charge of student council, and all members.
Charity
- This position can be open to more than one person. The job is to plan charity events and fundraisers for the council.

There are many other possible positions, as each high school's student council differs. A good website to visit is the National Association of Student Councils official website. There you can find much more information about how student councils work, how to start one, and even scholarship information!

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