How to Win a High School Election

"I was so excited when the high school elections were going to be held last month. I was competing with one of my old friends who had now turned rival. Me and my supporters had planned out the election campaign really well. The rallies, the posters, the slogans... I will never forget them. The day of the election results, most awaited by us, finally arrived. I was dying to know the results. Actually I was almost sure, I would win. But... I did not! It was a shock for me and my supporters. We have still not been able to figure out what happened. I was the strongest contender and everyone believed I would make it. But things did not work out, the way we had expected. Something had gone wrong. But what?" - A page from the diary of Betty, a senior class student

I am sure none of us want to land in a situation that Betty did. Well, we can't say that Betty was solely responsible for what happened with her. But, something definitely went wrong. There are times when everything seems to have fallen in place, only to find it hadn't. There are times, when you think you have solved the jigsaw puzzle, only to find later that a piece is still missing. There are times when you seem to have considered all the aspects of a scenario, only to realize that you had been observing only a 'part of the whole' picture. In such cases, it is easy to blame your circumstances. But the easy way out, is not always the right one. Every failure in life is an opportunity in disguise, an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and start afresh. Considering the failures one may have to face in one's life, losing an election cannot be called a 'failure'; it is just a minor setback.

Before this discussion about 'winning' comes across as a lecture for losers, let us tune in to some sure-ways to success in high school elections. After all, how can a school election be won? Do posters and slogans matter? What role do supporters play? Let us find out.

Class slogans form an important part of a high school election campaign. If you are a contender for your school election, remember to devise some interesting slogans and mottos for your class. Word your feelings about your school through slogans and express what you wish to accomplish through inspiring mottos. Make sure, the slogans are catchy enough to attract attention. Word your mission in a way that draws in the masses towards you.

To word your vision in the right way, you first need to have it! Yes, if you are contesting a high school election, you should be ready with a plan of what you wish to do for your schoolmates. It is important for you to analyze your capabilities as a leader and then devise some short term goals for your tenure as the elect. Your willingness to work for your school should show in the creatively crafted slogans.

Posters and banners can serve as determinants to winning or losing a high school election. Take efforts to create attractive banners for the election campaign. Get together your friends and supporters in your endeavor to make eye-catching posters. Not all of us are good artists. If you are not, take help of one of the creative thinkers in your class and come up with fancy posters that stand out from the rest. Display the banners on locations where all are bound to see them. You can use the school corridors, passage ways and walls near the entrance gate to put up your posters.

It is very important to connect to the masses to win an election. Interact with your schoolmates and convince them to vote for you. Distribute handouts explaining your goals as the prospective winner. Hand out pencils with 'Vote for... ' messages. Or distribute brownies with a note saying, 'Vote for... '. The key is to never stop asking for votes; although it's not advisable to pester your schoolmates.

Your election speech can make all the difference. Make it catchy and appealing to the audiences. Try to build in them a confidence regarding your leadership skills. Convince them that you deserve to win the election. You cannot expect the students to listen to a long and boring speech. Make sure it is not like 'just another election speech'. Most importantly, practice your election speech before the final delivery. Practice it before a small audience consisting of close friends and supporters. Request inputs and suggestions for your speech content and manner of delivery.

The key to success in a high school election is confidence. Be bold and confident. Believe in yourself and in your abilities. Create trust for your leadership qualities, in the minds of your schoolmates. Their trust in you is sure to win you votes. Good luck!