Student government election season is here and heating up across schools all over the country. Students are deciding what they are running for, getting their campaigns together, and gearing up for their desired outcome.
For so many college students, joining the Student Government Association is an opportunity for reinvention, to make your mark, and to make a difference at your school.
Being a part of the Student Government Association at an HBCU is a high honor and a great opportunity to make an impact on campus. Not only do you get to flex your leadership skills but you serve as a liaison between the study body and the administration—not to mention the awesome perks of early access to housing and events.
While you don’t have to be a part of SGA to be successful in college, having a position in SGA can definitely teach you skills that will help you in the real world. It builds character and puts you in a position where you can be a problem solver at your university. SGA President at Southern University and A&M College, Kennedy M. Orr said it best, “SGA is an opportunity for the growth of a person both personally and professionally. You will be pushed to your limit, but you’ll learn how to manage your time and energy. Leadership teaches you skills that can’t be found in a textbook. Experience is the best teacher.”
Here are seven pieces of advice from current student leaders on how to thrive in SGA!
2Put the Student Body First
Being a part of SGA means serving the campus by being a selfless leader. Listening to the student body’s concerns and advocating for them is what it’s all about.
Executive Secretary at Alabama A&M University, Alexis Powell says she ran for her position because she noticed that the communication on campus from SGA to the student body needed help. She says that listening to students is a major way to thrive in an SGA position. “A way that an individual can succeed in their position is by listening to the student body and having their best interest at heart. It’s important to remember that they elected you because they believed in you, don’t give them a reason to not” said Powell.
