I recently ran for a bid as a Senator for the Associated Students of Stanford University. I had an interesting experience that allowed me to reflect on what school politics really means, and I formulated some questions you can ask yourself when committing to something you really believe in.
My bid actually began as sort of a challenge for myself, thinking that I could actually make a significant impact in my community within an institution that was almost as old as the school itself. Of course, there are always changes going on in and out of college, but my thought was that I was going to have a greater platform for which to have greater power to act. However, that led me to conclude, while running, that being a community frontrunner would be a huge responsibility that I would have to undertake. I felt ready, so I geared up for obtaining sponsorships, and I was ready to roll. However, the race tightened up and many began stepping up their campaign strategies. I had no previous experience really getting out and campaigning before, as I am a Mechanical Engineering major who isn’t all too active within the political scene.
Alas, election day came, and I felt at a loss. I didn’t do enough campaigning and, in the end, I was not elected. However, I did feel good. I was surprised by the quantity of votes that I had received and I was blessed to be able to have the chance to participate in the democratic process (albeit, with some hiccups in the system) at Stanford. However, I came out of it with a couple of questions that I think, when people commit to doing something within your community, should ask themselves before they go further.
The first question that you should ask yourself is this: “Am I doing this JUST to put it on my resumé, or am I doing this for the greater good of the society that I am in?” If you answered with the latter, this is a good sign that you are on the path to making a true impact. If you answered the former, either you have to re-evaluate your priorities, or you have to look for a different avenue of impact. If you said both, be careful, because if you really do not have the true motivation, or half of a motivation, then the actions that will carry you in your commitment will not come as true, even though one may say it.
The second is: “When I am awake, will I look forward to doing this, or will I end up becoming indifferent or bitter about my commitment?” Sure, something may seem fun at the beginning of the term, but when the long term sets in, will you still be happy doing your responsibility? This is not saying that you will be smiling every time you walk into your responsibility, because it’s not realistic. What I am asking is will you be satisfied that you are slowly fulfilling your goal little by little every day? Or will you dread the slow (or fast) passage of time? I soon realized that even though being on the Senate would be a lot of hard work, I wouldn’t complain because that is technically what I signed up for.
The third is: “Am I willing to make a sustained effort to keep this in my schedule?” College is a busy time for many of us, and by being in something, you are removing your time in the application of another cause that may even be more important than your own. We all go to college to get a degree, but when we put the priorities of our communities ahead of ours, this is a much more noble gesture than attending just to get a piece of paper that gives us a degree of humanism. Of course, doing this continuously will lead you to not focus on yourself, and that can be bad. So, keep it in balance, and help the world.
The final question one should ask oneself is: “Am I ready for this?”
If you are, then there is no better time than the present. If you aren’t, then either begin to prepare RIGHT NOW, or move along in search of something else, because if one isn’t ready for a commitment, then they will never truly be at their fullest potential.
So, as someone who was not elected, I thank all my supporters, and I wish the next undergraduate Senate all the best! I know everyone will be awesome in their positions and will bring about good change to the school. As for me, it’s time keep moving, doing what I can to make the communities I belong to a better place.
