<p>I was nominated by my AP Gov, AP World, and AP US teachers for a spot on our City Council to act as the "voice" for my high school. I do not have a vote as actual elected officials, but I am allowed to contribute to discussions regarding budgets, legislature, etc. However, in order to have the spot, I need to run against some other students who were self-nominated. </p>
<p>I was the only person to be nominated not only by other people, but by teachers who thought that I would be very fit for the position. Everyone else just nominated themselves because they thought "hey, that looks good on a college application!" when in reality, they don't even know our Mayor's name.</p>
<p>There is no doubt in my mind that I'm going to lose. Like, last-place-lose. I only have a moderately small group of friends and I've never been very social. Any underclassmen who knows me simply knows me as the quiet girl sitting in the front of their class. My competition consists of star-athletes who are all about school spirit and being outgoing/gregarious/etc. </p>
<p>I feel like losing is going to be devastating to my self esteem. I've seen what class elections have done to people in terms of humiliating them, pushing them to tears, etc. At this point, I think I should just drop out. </p>
<p>Honestly, you should drop out if it’s going to be time consuming. Everyone knows it- the most popular win. The people who make the most humorous speeches win. It’s bull, but it’s pretty unchangable.</p>
<p>I don’t think it will be time consuming. There are no speeches, per se - and my principal told me to “promote myself.” (gag.) People usually don’t campaign for this. They just sit back and wait. However, in my case, I was told specifically to campaign as I am not as well known amongst the ~2000 or so kids that go to my school.</p>
<p>Maybe this mood was not conveyed in my original post, but this matter/decision has been really, really upsetting me. On the one hand, I want to fulfill the position and actually be a part of the city council, but on the other hand, I know that disappointment and humiliation is inevitable and I don’t really handle either of those things well.</p>
<p>“orly” what? When I say “no friends” I mean having 12-15 friends (who I know for a fact would vote for me) isn’t going to sway an election composed of thousands of votes. (If that’s what you’re referencing.)</p>
<p>If you’re referencing the fact that I just emailed my principal, then yeah, I did that. Really. (???)</p>
<p>I’m scared of failure as the result of how social I am which affects how my peers perceive me. I enter state and national essay competitions, I participate in regional and nationwide Model UN conferences, etc. I’m not scared of failure when its based on my merit. I just don’t want to be humiliated by losing to a girl who has nothing going for her except for the fact that she personally knows or has been in a relationship with every single guy on the football team, and they’ll all help her by getting their friends to vote for her, especially when this girl doesn’t even know how many wards are in our city or who the mayor is, yet is going to sit on the City Council over me. </p>
<p>Also, even if the disappointment is momentary, its going to happen at a time where I’ll be 1) Taking the SATs and 2) Finalizing my essay for a national scholarship, and I want neither to be hampered by something as trivial as how many kids in my English class like me enough to vote for me.</p>
<p>It’s ok preamble you don’t have to rant. We would have voted for you.</p>
<p>And yes, they totally are popularity contests. Which is ok, because if you think about it, life is a popularity contest, but a popularity contest is not life</p>
<p>I don’t think that everything in life is a popularity contest, per se, because if I did genuinely believe that, well, then, I’m screwed. For instance, I think that actual politics, whether it be city, state, or national, is a combination of merit coupled with who you get to know (rather than who you actually know.)</p>
<p>Really? I think that actual politics is a popularity contest. Merit might play some small role, but first and foremost you have to get the votes.</p>
<p>Well, I think in actual politics, there’s a fairer starting line. Politicians who aren’t veterans of the political game or from dynasties (like a Kennedy) typically have equal opportunity to campaign and “sell” one’s self to the voting masses. The competition stems from who does it better. In my case, I’m at a severe disadvantage that really can’t be remedied through a dozen posters and 50 flyers.</p>
<p>Yeah, 12 posters and 50 flyers won’t do it, you have to win the hearts of the masses
This applies to major elections as well…although I don’t believe there’s such thing as an equal opportunity, someone will always be at an advantage/disadvantage, especially when campaign funding is involved</p>
<p>Anyway I do think high school politics could potentially be good practice for future politicians…
Cheer up and think of this as a learning opportunity :)</p>
<p>Well, I already dropped out of the race (I emailed my Principal about two hours ago and he responded, agreeing to remove my name from the ballot.) I just don’t need the practice (…and the subsequent humiliation) at this point in my life with everything going on in terms of college applications, SATs, AP Classes, etc. But thank you. :)</p>
<p>My ORLY was meant as a response to the topic. They are obviously popularity contests I mean what else would they be? It’s also not even like if you actually do something as president.</p>