Q: How did you first decide to run for President of the Central District Massachusetts’ Association of Student Councils?
A: This year I was a delegate on executive board for CDMASC, the
Central District of Massachusetts Associations of Student Councils. This year
has been one of the best of my life, a great deal for the reason that I was
fortunate enough to be a member of this executive board. CDMASC is the largest of
the four student council regions in Massachusetts, consisting of about 35
schools between the Worcester and Middlesex counties. CDMASC and MASC have meant more to me than
anything else I’ve crossed paths with in my life thus far, and I want to share
this feeling and bring it to others who would enjoy it just as much as I
do. I want to inspire others to be the
best leaders they can be through student council, and I felt that this was an
incredible way for me to accomplish this, meanwhile having a tremendous amount
of fun in the process. They have become
some of my best friends and greatest inspiration. To take all that I've learned
this year to the next level, I decided to run for president of the
organization. Running against two of my good friends, both of whom also
happened to be members of the 2013-2014 board, was not easy, but we all knew
that whoever came out victorious would do an incredible job. Hearing my name
announced as the new president of CDMASC, I was more grateful and excited than
ever. I have an amazing year ahead of me.
My campaign was a lot of work. My theme was "Like a good neighbor,
Eli is there! Vote Eli for CDMASC President". I created t-shirts for my
campaigners, constructed posters, and ordered hundreds of pairs of sunglasses to
hand out with my slogan on the sides. I prepared a 3 minute speech to present
in front of over 400 student council members, coming from schools all over
central Massachusetts, CDMASC being the largest of four regions in the state. The conference was held on Wednesday, April
16th at David Prouty High School in Spencer, MA. Student council has been the
most important thing to me in high school, and I’m glad to be chosen to such a
position of high importance. I cannot wait to inspire others to be better leaders
themselves.
Q: What have you learned about leadership through your experience with
student council?
A: Through student council I have most of all learned be a successful
and effective leader. I have attended
various regional and state conferences in addition to charity events and even
MASC Summer Camp, where I have made lifelong friendships with leaders around
Massachusetts, allowing myself to grow in my leadership. I will even be attending the NASC conference
in Orlando, FL this summer, where I will expand my leadership to the National
Association of Student Councils, consisting of all student councils in the
United States. CDMASC and MASC have
meant more to me than anything I’ve experienced in high school and it has taught
me to be a better version of myself. By
surrounding myself with such an incredible group of leaders, I am truly
inspired to further myself as a person, for I feel like they are a second home,
where I can be myself without a care in the world. I have been taught valuable skills in
leadership, all of which I love taking back to my own council at Nipmuc to
share.
Q: What do you hope to achieve during your term as president?
A: As president it is my job to serve CDMASC as their leader and
connection to MASC, the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils. In
addition to being the head of the Central District's executive board, it is
also my duty to serve as an officer on the MASC Executive Board, attending
meetings throughout the year for both of them. As an officer on the MASC board,
I look forward to standing on stage at MASC Summer Camp, the Annual State
Conference at Hyannis, Officer Shop, the President’s Dinner, as well as working
closely with both executive boards and creating best friendships. I would like
to take CDMASC to the next level of leadership: such as participating in
charity walks such as the annual Walk for Multiple Sclerosis, and the Color
Run. I want to inspire my region to become a group of even better leaders, by
showing them the way. I can say that I feel as if I have what it takes to do
it, learning from my experience and peers on the 2013-2014 executive board. I
can't wait for an amazing year of learning and leadership. As president, I will help in planning events
for CDMASC such as conferences, a dodgeball tournament, a charity dance, and
laser tag. My biggest goal is to inspire
other Student Council leaders to be the best that they can be, and to show to
them all the amazing things that come from it.
Q: What is most exciting to you about this leadership challenge?
A: The most exciting thing to me about this leadership challenge is
being able to have such a committed group of students to lead and show the way,
inspiring them to become the best they can be.
Being a leader gives you a kind of rush – standing in front of a wild
crowd, doing good for your community, and having an amazing time doing it
all. That sense of accomplishment one
feels after doing an act of kindness is indescribable. It is my goal to spread that feeling to as
many people possible. I want to bring the
wonder of MASC and CDMASC back to my own council, for I feel that getting them
involved could only improve us as student council members. Participants in these organizations feel as
if they are a second home to them, and to that I absolutely agree. These associations are not things that help
people only in high school – they stick with you throughout the rest of your
life. I can say that I have changed as a
person because of student council. If it
can happen to one person, I believe that anyone has the ability to become an
amazing leader if they try. I am truly
inspired by my peers of student council, and I am greatly looking forward to
leading them in a new year, for a new journey. |
| Eli Tamagni (far right) and his CDMASC leadership board. |
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