Zhukov
VIP Member
Khafley's thread about her son, and acludem's post, gave me the idea for this thread.
What elections has anyone taken part in themselves? Did you win or lose? What, if any, lessons did you learn?
When I was in 8th grade I made my first bid for votes. Class Clown. A highly coveted honor to be sure. I pushed hard for myself, and it was close. In the end I managed to edge out a close victory. I can't say I learned anything, but I was quite pleased with myself.
Then at the end of junior year I ran for Senior Class President because I knew I could win. I was running against the kid who had probably been the President every previous year since kindergarten. I ran more or less all by myself. He didn't think I had a chance in hell.
I utterly destroyed him.
I learned two lessons that day:
1.) people are stupid
2.) democracy is just a popularity contest
My opinions haven't changed much since then.
Now, I could not be described as a model student. Sure my grades were fantastic, but my teachers hated me. I think it may have had something to do with the fact that I was noticeably more intelligent than they, I dressed like an urban stormtropper, and I came to class reeking of weed. But I was the President, and my parents were teachers. I was untouchable.
But what they could do was keep me from participating in the events that a Senior Class President was typically involved in. I was kept out of the loop, I didn't participate in inter-school officer conferences, I wasn't sent out to represent the school, I wasn't involved in any thing. I missed the senior breakfast because I didn't even know when it was.
I thereby learned another lesson:
3.) title is nothing without power
There was one thing they couldn't keep me from however, and that was speaking to the class at graduation. I detested my school, and most of the people there. They were understandably nervous.
But they're fears were for naught. My speech was far superior to any other that night (which admitedly isn't saying much) and I received a standing ovation by the several thousand people in attendance.
I realized as I shook the hands of the administration, and saw their relieved faces, that the faculty of my high school learned a lesson that evening:
4.) they had completely misjudged me
What elections has anyone taken part in themselves? Did you win or lose? What, if any, lessons did you learn?
When I was in 8th grade I made my first bid for votes. Class Clown. A highly coveted honor to be sure. I pushed hard for myself, and it was close. In the end I managed to edge out a close victory. I can't say I learned anything, but I was quite pleased with myself.
Then at the end of junior year I ran for Senior Class President because I knew I could win. I was running against the kid who had probably been the President every previous year since kindergarten. I ran more or less all by myself. He didn't think I had a chance in hell.
I utterly destroyed him.
I learned two lessons that day:
1.) people are stupid
2.) democracy is just a popularity contest
My opinions haven't changed much since then.
Now, I could not be described as a model student. Sure my grades were fantastic, but my teachers hated me. I think it may have had something to do with the fact that I was noticeably more intelligent than they, I dressed like an urban stormtropper, and I came to class reeking of weed. But I was the President, and my parents were teachers. I was untouchable.
But what they could do was keep me from participating in the events that a Senior Class President was typically involved in. I was kept out of the loop, I didn't participate in inter-school officer conferences, I wasn't sent out to represent the school, I wasn't involved in any thing. I missed the senior breakfast because I didn't even know when it was.
I thereby learned another lesson:
3.) title is nothing without power
There was one thing they couldn't keep me from however, and that was speaking to the class at graduation. I detested my school, and most of the people there. They were understandably nervous.
But they're fears were for naught. My speech was far superior to any other that night (which admitedly isn't saying much) and I received a standing ovation by the several thousand people in attendance.
I realized as I shook the hands of the administration, and saw their relieved faces, that the faculty of my high school learned a lesson that evening:
4.) they had completely misjudged me
