Ambassador Bible College Class President
Date: September 2019 – May 2020
Competencies: Values lv. 2,3&4, Teams lv. 2,3&4
Competencies: Values lv. 2,3&4, Teams lv. 2,3&4
Summary
During the 2019-2020 academic year, I attended Ambassador Bible College for a certificate in Theology. The intensive 9-month program included 60 credits of classes, which were blocked in 8-hour days. This naturally meant that my classmates and I spent a lot of time together! While I was at ABC, I was elected as the Class President. The class president was usually the face of the class, and would lead them throughout the many activities and projects the class completed during the year. Each week, I would run the student council meeting and lead a student assembly. I was also in charge of directing preparation for our winter fundraiser and our spring charity auction.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, I attended Ambassador Bible College for a certificate in Theology. The intensive 9-month program included 60 credits of classes, which were blocked in 8-hour days. This naturally meant that my classmates and I spent a lot of time together! While I was at ABC, I was elected as the Class President. The class president was usually the face of the class, and would lead them throughout the many activities and projects the class completed during the year. Each week, I would run the student council meeting and lead a student assembly. I was also in charge of directing preparation for our winter fundraiser and our spring charity auction.
Reflection
When I first heard about elections for positions, I was dead-set on trying to get elected as the class Treasurer. I felt it would be the best way to use my skills and contribute to the class. However, my friend Sophie had a different path in mind. After convincing me to consider being class President, she ran a campaign for me without me knowing. Having this faith put in me from so early on helped me to fully commit to my role once elected.
It was not difficult to transition to leadership. I had already been an active voice in the student body, and having the title just refined the way I was able to contribute (Teams lv. 2). My first student council meeting and student assembly were very nerve-wracking, since I don’t enjoy public speaking or being the center of attention (Values lv. 2). They went very well, though! From many of my past experiences, I was starting to polish my public speaking skills, and was able to at least look comfortable at the podium. As the semester progressed, my class started planning our winter and spring events. Historically, throughout the fall, the ABC class sold calendars for the coming year, and did a fundraiser at a local church social in December. For most of the activities we did, we found out that the faculty had particular ways they liked to execute them, thought they would not outright tell us. It was difficult to be encouraged to lead my class in the best way I saw fit while simultaneously being told the way they wanted it done (Values lv. 3). It was very discouraging to be micromanaged in this very passive way, but I used it as a chance to ask faculty for specific feedback on ways they’d like to see plans executed before deciding the way I would steer it. This worked well as we rounded into second semester.
In the spring, generally around the end of March, each class would put on an elaborate variety show and live auction to raise money for a cause, generally a needed building or infrastructure project in African countries. As a very deliberate planner, I began our preparation by creating different committees responsible for various aspects of the show (Values lv. 4). We would all have a part to play in executing the show and having everything go well (Teams lv. 3). After a few months of some long nights, planning meetings, and hard work from most of the class, we were starting rehearsals for our live show. And then COVID-19 hit. As the state of Ohio capped the amount of people who could gather at 10 and the world started to shut down, we were unable to execute the show we had spent so much time planning and preparing for. I was crushed. However, our classmate who was running the ‘big picture’ aspects of the show pivoted, and we still ended up getting to do a very pared down, virtual fundraising video. I also found out how much more difficult leading virtually was. I was very fortunate to have a second-in-command who could pick up my slack when it came to keeping up morale and motivation while we were all in an awful situation (Teams lv. 3).
At the end of the school year, as we were nearing graduation, I was able to reflect on how much I had grown as a leader throughout the year. There were many times when I was thrown into a ‘trial by fire’ situation and was sometimes lucky that we all made it through in one piece, but I learned so much about the background communication, spirit-lifting, and heart-to-hearts that are not generally seen from the group member side of a team. I was also able to write a letter to whoever would be elected the next fall from the incoming class with some advice and wisdom from my year (Teams lv. 4).
When I first heard about elections for positions, I was dead-set on trying to get elected as the class Treasurer. I felt it would be the best way to use my skills and contribute to the class. However, my friend Sophie had a different path in mind. After convincing me to consider being class President, she ran a campaign for me without me knowing. Having this faith put in me from so early on helped me to fully commit to my role once elected.
It was not difficult to transition to leadership. I had already been an active voice in the student body, and having the title just refined the way I was able to contribute (Teams lv. 2). My first student council meeting and student assembly were very nerve-wracking, since I don’t enjoy public speaking or being the center of attention (Values lv. 2). They went very well, though! From many of my past experiences, I was starting to polish my public speaking skills, and was able to at least look comfortable at the podium. As the semester progressed, my class started planning our winter and spring events. Historically, throughout the fall, the ABC class sold calendars for the coming year, and did a fundraiser at a local church social in December. For most of the activities we did, we found out that the faculty had particular ways they liked to execute them, thought they would not outright tell us. It was difficult to be encouraged to lead my class in the best way I saw fit while simultaneously being told the way they wanted it done (Values lv. 3). It was very discouraging to be micromanaged in this very passive way, but I used it as a chance to ask faculty for specific feedback on ways they’d like to see plans executed before deciding the way I would steer it. This worked well as we rounded into second semester.
In the spring, generally around the end of March, each class would put on an elaborate variety show and live auction to raise money for a cause, generally a needed building or infrastructure project in African countries. As a very deliberate planner, I began our preparation by creating different committees responsible for various aspects of the show (Values lv. 4). We would all have a part to play in executing the show and having everything go well (Teams lv. 3). After a few months of some long nights, planning meetings, and hard work from most of the class, we were starting rehearsals for our live show. And then COVID-19 hit. As the state of Ohio capped the amount of people who could gather at 10 and the world started to shut down, we were unable to execute the show we had spent so much time planning and preparing for. I was crushed. However, our classmate who was running the ‘big picture’ aspects of the show pivoted, and we still ended up getting to do a very pared down, virtual fundraising video. I also found out how much more difficult leading virtually was. I was very fortunate to have a second-in-command who could pick up my slack when it came to keeping up morale and motivation while we were all in an awful situation (Teams lv. 3).
At the end of the school year, as we were nearing graduation, I was able to reflect on how much I had grown as a leader throughout the year. There were many times when I was thrown into a ‘trial by fire’ situation and was sometimes lucky that we all made it through in one piece, but I learned so much about the background communication, spirit-lifting, and heart-to-hearts that are not generally seen from the group member side of a team. I was also able to write a letter to whoever would be elected the next fall from the incoming class with some advice and wisdom from my year (Teams lv. 4).
Artifact
Attached is the letter I wrote for the incoming class President of the next ABC class.
Attached is the letter I wrote for the incoming class President of the next ABC class.
ABC President's Letter |