<p>Time has come--
I am running for student council in about a week. I am desperately seeking advice, as my school, although not elite, is quite competitive. I am deciding between running for Vice President, which would be almost a guarantee win, or President, harder but much more prestigious for colleges and effective in terms of getting things done. What do you think?</p>
<p>Also, do you have any general pointers for campaign? My only edge is that I skipped a grade (this year, from sophomore to junior), which means that I can appeal a lot more to the sophomore class and gather a large proportion of vote there. </p>
<p>How should I approach the self-presentation? Would you, a high school student, vote for someone intellectual, funny, or powerful in terms of leadership? </p>
<p>How should I advertise? What kind of advertisement is impressive and eye-carching? How much humor is humorous? Is free candy/food influential in swaying high school students? </p>
<p>Should I make empty promises? (the ends justify the means?)</p>
<p>Should I seek a running mate? (Vice Prez, etc.)</p>
<p>Any suggestion is much appreciated, thanks!</p>
<p>Why is this in this thread...it should be in HS life, much better advice there...in this thread it looks like you are doing it for your application,not what you want to do for your school</p>
<p>Exposure to the other students...a history of involvement, a track record...but if you have been really involved already and have something to show that you care about the school, and have done things for the two years you have been there, that will really help</p>
<p>It has something to do with in people';s line of vision</p>
<p>I don't know your school so I don't know which would be best for you, and I also don't know you!
Either one would be an excellent experience for you. I would ask your student concil advisor.</p>
<p>As far as pointers go, try and be the first one to give your speech as this puts you on everyone's minds-it'll make you more recognizeable. Also, use persuasion techniques. For example, give students small gifts and favors (candy is way too overdone, but still effective, however random acts of kindess can be FAR more effective) w/o mentioning the campaign (just make sure your picture is up s they know who did such a nice thing for them). Social rules dictate they will vote for you unless they "owe" more to the other candidate.</p>
<p>Play your strengths. I'm not going to tell you what leadership styles are best for any type of position, because I DON'T KNOW! Your own is the best you can do. Personally, I am a Participatory/Task-Oriented leader, so I am lead best through coming up with ideas and finding people to help me get the task done.</p>
<p>Please don't lie to people. If you win by lies, you didn't really win, and hopefully people would see right through you.</p>
<p>Running mates are often good as they can help you get another person's followers to vote for you as well! This will be especially helpful since you skipped a grade, since you can better reach the sophs and s/he the jrs!</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads-up. I am determined to run, as VP is a sure win regardless (why not free power?). But I am leaning more toward President, harder to run, but more gains, personally or altruistically. </p>
<p>Thanks, Mike. My school is hosting the campaign period over the AP testings, so there won't be a speech, but rather a "tape recording" played over lunch periods announcing a candidate's message (or rather answers to predictable questions). What major points do you think I should try to get out? I am thinking about saying that "the well-being of the student body trumps all other things, among those the personal character of the candidate. I ask you to consider what the future president can do for you [italics], not his college transcript". Is this too radical/naive?</p>
<p>And unfortunately it looks like I will have to buy candy. Arg</p>
<p>Frankly, I'm more than a little skeeved out by your analysis of this. You're overthinking elections. At my school, student council doesn't do much (and I'm a class president speaking here) and everyone basically knows it. It's a lot of busy work but we cannot make major changes. The only time people care about their council is on the day everyone's elected, and then the general population forgets. You can say things like "Vote for me for the well-being of the school" but in my experience, at MOST schools MOST of the time, elections are popularity contests (or maybe congeniality contests) as kids vote for people they like or at least know.</p>
<p>At least in this post (and its twin in the HS forum) you come off as very calculated, that you're doing this first and foremost for your resume. Whether you actually posess this trait or not is irrelevant--if people think you are doing it for the wrong reasons, they will be annoyed with you and they will not vote for you.</p>
<p>If you're funny, be funny. If you've got big ideas, tell people about the big ideas. If you suddenly try to be something you're not right about the time of elections, people will pick up on it. It's trite, but SERIOUSLY. Be yourself, otherwise you'll just be making a fool of yourself.</p>
<p>mm Yeah. Our school just had our ASB elections this week. All the junior class officers (who are running for ASB office) are girls, and they are popular and pretty and etc etc. But I decided to vote for the candidates who aren't social monsters, the candidates who should get a chance to be in the office. :)</p>
<p>I think that spiffy campaigns are carried out by people who are wacky and goofy enough to dress up in bright, school-colored costumes, who make fun little slogans and stuff :)</p>