I’m sure that by now, you are all sick of the presidential campaign material circulating around campus, covering every possible free space on every bulletin board. Campaigns are about promises, yes, but in a constantly changing world, old promises are often irrelevant. Perhaps campaigns should be more about leadership and the values we represent. To spare you more of the usual promotion balderdash, I want to tell you aspects of my life that I can’t depict on a poster. When I first came to this school as a freshman, I must admit that I was isolated from campus life at large. Shy and socially uncomfortable, I found it hard to meet new people. Being a day student did not help me in this matter. It wasn’t until winter term that I finally began to emerge from my bubble. What helped me? Wrestling. The team is filled with a diverse array of kids, practicing together. It was then that I began to befriend many new people. Going into the spring and Lower year, I broke my previous confinement to meet truly unique and varied students, forging valued friendships. Having such friends has given me the rare opportunity to learn from different perspectives and new and changing experiences. As time went on, my friends suggested that I run for some kind of leadership position on campus. I mulled it over, not knowing for sure whether or not I could make it. I took a risk though and ran for Upper Rep, investing my time in meeting more students and taking an interest in their lives on campus. The work paid off, and I was elected. In my time on Student Council, I’ve had the opportunity to work with students of all classes as well as the administration. A few integral standards that shape the ideal Student Council. Most importantly, Student Council represents the students, and only the students. Why else would the student body elect its representatives? Of course, communication and tact when dealing with the administration are important as well. I learned this the hard way—when a few of the Council’s plans were ineffective due to lack of involvement and enthusiasm on behalf of the faculty and staff. I’ve learned that the best way to enact change is to directly take the opinions of the students and create tangible plans, then pitch these proposals in the most appealing way to the administration. We need their cooperation and support to achieve viable and visible results that will impact our lives. The same support and energy is required from students. Witnessing the power of motivation, I find it important to stress this main point: the job of the Student Council President is to directly engage and lead the Student Council and the school to accomplish specific tasks and goals. We can’t forget that at the end of the day, our student leader should bring us all together to celebrate and be proud of the Andover experience. Direction and progress is what students want and deserve. I am confident that I can bring your opinion to the table and advocate for it strongly and effectively. With the right attitude and objectives in place, it is all possible. fahmad@andover.edu
