Dear Student Leader,
I know who you are. You are the one that is president for two different organizations, a member of maybe one or two other groups on campus, manage to find time to volunteer off campus, and take a full course load each semester. Everyone sees you and all that you are doing on campus and they think "that must be great for your resume" which might not be wrong; but let's face it, that's not the only reason you do what you do. Yes, you can put it all on your resume, but you also do all that you do because you have the heart for it.
Let's be honest, it feels like it's the same people you see doing the same roles over and over again. It gets tiring. It is summer right now, which usually means day spent thinking about the beach and warm weather- not your student group. However, you sit there trying to figure out how to make your group even better next year or what new recruitment techniques you can use. Leading a group is not an easy task and it is so hard to get your mind off of. It seems like a job that never gives breaks, but trust me, take one. Even if for you this means going one day without sending an email regarding your group.
You probably hear from a lot of people that you are doing a lot of great things in your life and while that's true, you also know that the things you are doing are simply because you love it- it's not just to be recognized as a leader. The ones who do it simply for the name will soon quit because being a leader isn't just a title- it is something that is always on the mind with work to be done. However, the biggest focus is looking at yourself and finding ways to grow and develop because let's face it, you might be a good leader but there is always something you can improve on which will help lead to even more success in your future.
Thank you for the work that you do. You do not always get the thanks because you cannot always see the immediate impact of your progress. After all, "Legacy. What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see," (from the song "The World Was Wide Enough" from the musical Hamilton). You may never see the greater impact that you have made by being a student leader, but know that it is there and you deserve to hear thank you.
From one student leader to another, take some time this summer to do something for yourself. Go to the beach with your best friends. Curl up on a rainy day with a good book and do not worry from getting point A to point B as fast as you can go. Just breathe and relax because you deserve some time off. The work will still be there after you give yourself a break but enjoy the summer like all the other students around you.
Sincerely,
Christina
