Now is the time to begin thinking about your future: Where do you want to go? Who do you want to become? Running for a student leadership position is a great way to boost your resume and learn valuable life lessons.

5 reasons why you should run for a student leadership position graphic

  1. You’ll develop leadership skills.
    As a student leader you are going to develop innumerable leadership skills including conflict resolution, cultural intelligence and professional advancement. These leadership skills will come from having real-world leadership experience with a small nonprofit and as a representative of the 180,000 community and technical college students in Minnesota.
     
  2. You’ll experience working on a team.
    In any student leadership position you will not be working alone. You will be working with either your fellow cabinet members or your fellow Governing Council or Platform Committee members. As with working on any team, there will be challenges in communication and work style. This is the perfect time to find how you work with others and where your areas for improvement might be. Plus you can learn more about the strengths you already bring to the table.  Teamwork does not have to be challenging; it just takes practice. Being a student leader is the perfect time to find how you work on a team.
     
  3. You’ll gain valuable soft skills.
    As a student leader, you will learn valuable soft skills while gaining real-world leadership experience. Meetings will teach you communication and expectation setting; projects will teach you time management and responsibility; presentations will teach you public speaking and organization. These are only a few of the many soft skills that are required to be successful in any profession that you will gain through a student leadership position.
     
  4. You’ll network.
    Not only will you have the chance to meet hundreds of student leaders from across Minnesota, you will also have the chance to network with the Minnesota State system office, legislators and their staff, and other student advocacy groups. Make the most out of your chance to be a student leader and network with as many people as you can!
     
  5. You’ll learn about yourself.
    While in a student leadership position you will interact with many different types of people and situations. You will learn how you deal with conflict and situations that you are not used to. As a student leader, you will also learn more about your dreams and goals. Where do you want to go in life, and how do you plan on getting there? Being a student leader is a great way to learn about yourself because you will find who you can become and all the opportunities that are available to you.
     
  6. And as a bonus: You’ll have fun!
    Last but certainly not least you will have fun! This is a year you will be able to make bonds and friendships that will last the rest of your life.

So what are you waiting for? Apply for a student leadership position today!