Clement Gibson
Editor-in-Chief
I’m a firm believer that every strength comes with a weakness. For example, when someone is confident they may come off as arrogant. Someone who is patient may come off as weak.
The good always comes with some bad and we live in a day and age where versatility is wanted and needed by many employers and organizations. Balance is as significant as it has ever been.
Candidates who are running for these student leadership positions already have so much that they are responsible for— academics, extracurricular activities, organizations, social and family life.
So, it is safe to say… they are busy individuals who are looking to add more to their already southern Thanksgiving-like plate.
They have shown versatility and the ability to balance thus far, but like I stated in the opening, every strength comes with a weakness.
Being as busy and versatile as they are, they sometimes struggle to accomplish all the goals they set or say they will set. That is the weakness that comes with it.
But what many people fail to realize in elections is that you are choosing the best person to represent that position.
A person who has similar views, morals, ethics, etc. as you. Once that person is elected, they serve as a spokesman / woman for you and others who voted for them.
They propose ideas to those who have the power to make change. The power to change is not in their hands.
I have heard the term puppet used for candidates many times, but I do not agree with it. I think the word messenger is more adequate.
Their job is to relay the message from the people, student, public or whoever they serve to the ones at the top that have control over rules and laws.
That does not mean that the message will be heard or that change will be made. It means that the idea will be brought to the table and sometimes not even discussed.
I spent this past summer working in Philadelphia, Penn., with Mastery Charter School’s communications, development and advocacy team through UNCF (United Negro College Fund).
I had the opportunity to visit the state capitol to talk with the house of representatives and state legislators about bills the city of West Philadelphia would like to see passed.
In West Philadelphia, over 300 homicides occur annually by handguns. The people in the community passionately spoke about their loved ones who have died and the fears they have for those who have not.
I saw first hand what change looked like— answers being deflected and blatant lies being told to your face, but there were also honest people.
They expressed that bills that went against or threatened the second amendment are often not even touched or talked about, especially in red states.
Unaware of the fact that they have been neglected for so long, I asked what they are planning to do next and they simply responded, “Come back… again and again and again. We are paving the way.”
They told me that they come to see who is honest with them and who shows effort. That is who they vote for.
I say all of that to close with this. Take every candidates’ speech with a grain of salt. How likely is what they have planned to happen? Does it fall in line with what you value?
Can you trust this person’s ability to communicate effectively with decision makers? With their busy schedules and own life to worry about.
Because in the end, the goal is not always to make change, but to start the conversation and path that leads to it.
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