Lead, Grow, and Make Change: Why Student Leadership Matters
Here’s a little secret that no one is talking about but is such an underrated way of supercharging your resume, while having fun, meeting great friends and mentors, traveling to conferences, and getting paid to make a difference in the lives of students just like you.
Sounds too good to be true, but it’s real!
While there might not be a silver bullet that guarantees top grades and a job on the day you graduate, there are some opportunities that offer both a rewarding and professional experience while getting unique opportunities available only to students right here and now.
What is this magical job, you ask? Being a student union executive, of course!
Why should I be a student leader?
Two reasons stand out: building yourself professionally and making a positive impact on others. Student leadership is making sure you’re standing up for yourself and your fellow students to have the proper support you need to get a good education. But it’s also about developing a set of skills and gaining experience you can use to launch you into a meaningful and successful career. The skills that you’ll develop as a leader (and that employers are looking for):
- Communication
- Conflict resolution
- Teamwork
- Decision-making
- Critical and analytical thinking
- Resilience
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Project management
We are all passionate about some aspect of student life, be it housing availability, living cost, campus resources, or something else. And that passion is the spark that ignites positive change on campuses. To help shape the future of students’ experience at Ontario Tech, all you really need is an idea of how to improve student life and the desire to make it happen. With the resources and backing of your student union, we can make a difference!
What’s in it for me?
Holding an executive position with your student union is, of course, a great way to advocate for more resources, better services that support accessibility and learning, or to alleviate the pressures of being a student, but it also comes with a bunch of opportunities you may not be aware of, including:
- Attending and traveling to conferences
- Developing policy papers with OUSA
- Connecting with MPPs and government officials
- Voice student concerns with university admin
- Work on projects that support students
Previous executive teams have met with Members of Parliament face-to-face so they can directly hear our struggles, have attended and made recommendations at the Durham Region Transit Executive Committee, and met with C-suite members of large companies, expanding their professional network and future opportunities.
In short, there’s a LOT in it for you.
Why do I need all this experience anyway?
Listen, it’s no secret that we’re facing the worst unemployment crisis in decades, and professional experience is hard to come by when you’re a student. But leading your student union is a fantastic way to build a skillset as wide as this: public speaking, communication, marketing, financial literacy, analysis, advocacy, event planning, executive decision-making, project management…we could go on.
Do you know what employers say is the number one skill they look for in graduates?
Communication.
Not your courses or grades. They look for someone who has the ability to work alongside a diverse team and translate ideas into actions, smoothly and effectively. According to the National Centre for Colleges and Employers, employers and graduates are misaligned with career readiness skills in professionalism, leadership, communication, and critical thinking—all of which you can get at the OTSU. So if you can get all that in one place, you’ll have the experience and the confidence to nail any interview.
I’m sold. How do I do it?
It’s easy! Just follow these steps on the day that the nomination period begins in January.
- Read the nomination overview
- Start by reviewing the Nomination Overview and Elections Policy & Procedure to familiarize yourself with the rules governing the elections. This ensures a fair campaign and helps you avoid issues.
- Decide on a position
- Run for an OTSU Executive role or a Board Director position for your faculty. Any full-time Ontario Tech student in good academic standing is eligible to run in the elections.
- Complete your candidate profile
- Fill out the online Candidate Profile form during the Nomination Period. This form must be completed before receiving access to the Signature Package.
- Get nominated by your peers
- Candidates will receive a link to the Signature Package once a completed Candidate Profile is submitted. Submit all signatures by Jan 28, 11:59 PM. Follow the rules to avoid disqualification.
- Attend the All-Candidates Meeting
- All candidates must attend, or send a delegate to attend on their behalf, the mandatory All-Candidates Meeting to be eligible to run in the Elections. The meeting will take place online on Jan 29 at 5:30pm.
- Start planning your campaign
- Prepare your materials early! Assemble your delegates and get ready to promote your campaign. The Campaign Period runs from Feb 5 – Feb 20, with in-person campaigning ending Feb 13.
If you have any questions about the elections reach out anytime to elections.otsu@ontariotechu.ca.
💙Your OTSU
Empowering students. Enhancing experiences.
