An Open Letter to the Next Generation of Student Leaders
I am about to finish my fourth year at North Carolina State University and I’m realizing that it is time for me to gracefully end my tenure here and help empower the next generation of student leaders. I’ve been a member of many organizations, good and bad, and I have met some incredible student leaders who helped form the institution students are inheriting today. Through countless meetings, retreats, and even a campaign for student body president, I have gained invaluable insight on our higher education system will soon be obsolete once I leave university. I have a few key lessons I hope to share that I believe are invaluable to anyone who wishes to leave a lasting impact on their campus.
Knowledge is power. And you know who knows more than you could ever learn in four short years? The administrators and professionals that studied and practiced in the field of higher education. Listen to them and the advice they have. They’re just as invested in this university as you are and also want to enact change that will improve the lives of students. Collaboration with administrations grants you access to resources and information you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Also, if you’re hoping to implement programs or initiatives, look outward to other colleges and universities across the nation. We all face some very similar problems and sometimes your problem has already been solved by another institution. Borrow, adapt, and implement successful ideas- just make sure you give proper credit.
Utilize the counseling center. It is here to support you. When I got involved in student leadership, I embraced every aspect of this great new world of opportunities. But with greater opportunities comes complexity and challenges. I faced obstacles that I wasn’t taught to navigate before coming to college and frequently needed advice and guidance on how to give back without working in a way that was detrimental to my mental health.
It’s more than okay to ask for help or just check in with yourself. Sometimes being a student leader is frustrating and sometimes your values and commitment to the students are challenged in ways you wouldn’t expect. Working for the students is good but you should always put yourself first. No organization, initiative, or position should come before your own happiness and mental health.
As a student, you have a lot of leverage. You are free to express your opinion and act in ways that employees and administrators cannot. If you abide by university policies, you can request dialogues, ask questions, even stage protests that challenge the system without fear of retaliation.
Faculty and staff can be fired for acting against the university’s interests- students cannot. This invincibility should empower you to speak up and challenge the injustices you see on campus because sometimes you are the only one who can speak out. And because you pay an astronomical amount of tuition and fees, the university has a duty to you to listen to you and provide the educational experience they advertised.
This invincibility should empower you to speak up and challenge the injustices you see on campus because sometimes you are the only one who can speak out.
You can also use your position as a student leader to open a dialogue with administrators. Your perspective and voice is powerful because it is a reflection of the reality on campus. Share your experience as much as you can and serve as a feedback mechanism to the university.
There are a lot of variables in place that you may not be able to overcome and not every vision can play out. Money, politics, and bureaucracy are all factors that are acting against us and sometimes they can be too large to handle during your transient experience in college. Start small and work from there- you’d be surprised at how much impact you can make. Your actions and programs shift the culture of the university which is undoubtedly more powerful than any policy.
Make sure you’re in the right place for the right reasons. If you’re in a student leadership position for a nice bullet point to add on your resume, you should seriously reconsider your actions. The best student leaders are also servant-leaders. Your leadership should be rooted in a deeper desire to serve your constituents.
There’s plenty of work to do and there may be someone just as qualified or passionate who’s willing to take your place. Being a good student leader takes hard work and sacrifice. If that’s not for you then there are more than enough organizations and internships that can help you get to where you want to be.
Being a good student leader takes hard work and sacrifice.
And to the administrators and faculty members who may be reading this, the advice I have for you is to take advantage of the student leaders on your campus. These students are giving up their time and talents for the greater good. We balance school, family, friends, and our extra-curricular organizations and with an overabundance of opportunities on campus, we have to stick with the causes that matter most to us. We have a genuine, vested interest in the university and we are able to influence our peers when faced with changes on campus.
With that in mind, do not confuse utilization with tokenization. We know when you are looking for the student stamp of approval and we will seldom give it out if you don’t include us in the decision making process. Effective student leaders are given the agency and autonomy to help drive decisions in a collaborative process. I’ve been a part of an advisory board where our advisors proposed changes to the student union hours without involving us in that decision-making process. We were expected to approve the changes so that our voice could be used as a bargaining chip with higher administrators.
Effective student leaders are given the agency and autonomy to help drive decisions in a collaborative process.
Being a student leader was one of the most engaging experiences in college and the lessons I learned will far succeed the the lessons I learned in the classroom. This university is, and can be, whatever you shape it to be. Don’t give up on your vision and expect to fail at least a few times in your four short years. I certainly have but I keep working because I love this school and its students. And most importantly, good luck on your journey and I hope you too can leave your mark on campus.
Meredith Biechele is a senior studying mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University. She was a Leader of the Pack Finalist in 2016. She currently serves as the Vice President of Campus Outreach for the Association of Student Governments and a Chancellor’s Aide.
