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Don& #39;t get involved in student leadership if you are not selfless...A thread.
Student leadership isn& #39;t a stepping stone to get into politics,it isn& #39;t about the perks, it is always about the welfare and development of students.
You were elected to serve, therefore there are many occasions where your own personal needs and desires have to be put on the back burner for the greater good.
I& #39;ve seen many persons claiming to be student leaders when it& #39;s all about the title for some,the hype, doing things for students as a means of PR or a come up. Newsflash,you don& #39;t have to take a picture/publicize every time you do what you were elected to do.
I& #39;ve seen first hand people who do it just for the perks, and it& #39;s shameful really. You are not the student struggling to pay tuition, accommodation, afford food among so many other challenges.
You need to understand that you have the power to change people& #39;s lives, literally. With great power comes great responsibility.
Please note, it also a very unforgiving duty that you will have to undertake.
The amount of nights of sleep I had to sacrifice, and personal time just to get things done for the benefit of students. Only to be criticized for & #39;not doing anything& #39; . When there are so many things that I did ,you wouldn& #39;t even know it was me.
My mental health deteriorated drastically and my relationship suffered severely because I always put my position first . I am thankful for having such a patient and supportive girlfriend who stood by me through all of this.
Leadership is often a lonely road for many, so not everyone would have the benefit of having that support system.
At the end of the day, just remember to always be genuine and put your best foot forward. The experience can truly be rewarding when you see the impact you have on the lives of students.
However there is life after the position. So, be mindful of how you deal with the relationships you had prior to your tenure and the way you treat people during the experience.
