Leaders are not always born but are made, and I have learned this the hard way. I write this on the eve of my one-year anniversary of being elected Student Body president. Being a student leader has not only opened doors for me, it has also defined me as a person. This growth does not come at a small price though. My office in Student Programs is paid for in under-eye bags and full inboxes.
1. Not being able to find an important email
*panic commence*
2. Not having enough time in the universe to micromanage everything you want
3. When one of your e-board members goes off message on their report
4. Triple-booking yourself
5. When your actual schoolwork gets in the way of doing your real work
6. Having to teach yourself Robert's Rule
7. And then cringing when someone goes off of Robert's Rule
8. Becoming a regular at the pub after your weekly meeting
The bartender might question why four students are always at the pub on a Monday at 10 p.m., but whatever he reasons the answer to be, he gives us free pizza anyway.
9. People thinking you can get anything changed and complaining to you 24/7
Your classroom is too cold? The cafe's tea is too hot?
10. All of campus knowing who you are
Drunk freshmen and seniors alike like to slap you on the shoulder and announce to the room that "the president of the college is here," no matter how much you protest. The barista at the school's cafe will always write "Madame President" on your coffee. This sounds cool but is soon as annoying as it is flattering. Everyone knowing who you are is definitely a burden. Sometimes you want to wear a hoodie and get to not brush your hair or do something weird without it immediately reflecting back onto you.
11. Getting offended when someone doesn't know who you are
12. Taking yourself way too seriously
You may think you are basically Frank Underwood, but contrary to popular belief, no one actually thinks about you and you are not the center of the college's universe.