Welcome to www.campaignforstudents.com, which is an informational site focused on the how’s and why’s of running for a student office.

Student government elections

Exactly what is a student office or student council position?

Student Council is defined as “a curricular or extracurricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student government, Associated Student Body, Student Activity Council, Student Council Association or S.C.A. Student councils often serve to engage students in learning about democracy and leadership, as originally espoused by John Dewey in Democracy and Education (1917).” Source

Running for a student office can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as student in middle school, high school, and college, but it’s simply not for every one.The decision to get involved in student government is not one to take lightly. A member of student government has responsibilities both to the office that they hold and to the student of the school. Involvement is student government might be a good choice for you if you:

  • Are interested in change or bettering specific situations
  • Would enjoy a career in politics, public service, or public speaking
  • Are organized and enjoy planning events
  • Are outgoing and sociable.
  • Possess the time to participate in the process

Successfully winning and completing a term in student government has a number of benefits including:

Time management – Even if you have amazing time management skills, they will greatly improve as most student positions are filled with timelines, projects, and due dates that literally force you to learn how to manage your time. (I’d suggest getting one of the Franklin Covey Planners and learning how to use it)

Leadership skills – Even though it sounds corny to a teenager in high school or Junior high, the challenges that you will face in student government will improve your leadership and interpersonal skills.

Negotiation skills – No matter how well a group of individuals gets along, they will rarely, if ever, agree on a topic 100% of the time. A student office will really put your negotiations skills to the test, and you’ll end up being a better person for it.

So, if you’ve decided that running for student office is for you, then consider browsing the site for helpful information and resources.