This week the entire nation of Singapore will take the day off and vote. This is simply awesome! In this bustling hub of commerce, the nation will stop what they are doing and head to the polls and vote. This made me consider my days from the not so distant past, when I lived in Washington D.C., a city packed with lawyers, politicians, lobbyists, ambassadors, and journalists. The buzz in “the district” was palpable and you couldn’t help but follow what was happening in Congress, at the White House, or the World Bank. I was glued to CNN during the Obama election and watched from the Washington Monument when he was inaugurated. How quickly I became infatuated with politics and the real guts it took to run for office. It’s not easy, and you really have to put yourself out on a limb and “stick your neck out”.
It was during this time that I met a very wise College Counselor from the St. George’s School in Rhode Island, who told me his theory. He said for a student applying to college is like running for a political office. Oh yeah, I thought, Well I love politics… so this ought to be good.
He kindly broke it down for me piece by piece.
The student is the candidate who needs to go out into the world and impress the voters. Each candidate should have their platform in which they are running on. The platform may focus on a specific talent, an overall contribution you will make for the voters, or perhaps your academic prowess. Your platform may also include your unique background and skills.
The voters are the universities, and as we know, the voters often have different priorities and opinions. Do the voters value your commitment to service? Do they value very high academic scores? Do the voters really care about the arts or sports, or outdoor education pursuits? Do they care what type of roommate you will be?
Will the voters see your candidacy as authentic? Can they see your real desire to get their vote, or is your candidacy a last minute decision made on December 31st (The application deadline). Will the voters see a fit between your values and theirs?
Ugh.. but these voters can really be very fickle changing their mind from year to year! One year they want trombone playing scientists, the next year they want a mathematician who can tap dance.
Now of course, every candidate needs donors. You guessed it Mom and Dad, you are the donors! The donors are a necessary part of every campaign whether you like it or not. The donors will often have influence towards which votes the candidate should go out and get, and how far and wide the net is cast. The major risk is that the donors have TOO MUCH influence on the candidate, and the voters can see it! (ie. don’t let your dad write your college essay!) The voters want independent candidates who can speak for themselves and express ideas freely, unhampered by their donors.
Finally, every candidate needs a good campaign manager and that’s your University Advisor. Don’t worry about this part, you have some of the best in the business at UWCSEA! The campaign manager is your biggest supporter, your biggest cheerleader, and your biggest advocate. They’ll spend the late nights helping you craft your platform and finding the voters that will love to hear your message! The campaign manager will also have to be brutally honest with you sometimes. They’ll tell you when your platform is weak. They’ll tell you when you’re aiming towards the wrong voters and they’ll tell you when your messaging has gone astray. You may be tempted to fire your campaign manager after an early defeat in the primary elections; but stick with them and trust their judgement, they’re in it for the love, not the money.
If you do this right you will take time to think about your platform, and REALLY think about the voters who share your values and interests. If you take the time to craft your message and listen to your campaign manager, your election will be flawless and you will have the most amazing three (or four) years in office!
Robbie Jefferiss
University Advisor
UWCSEA - East Campus
