Is there something happening (or not happening) at your school that really bugs you? Do something about it! By getting involved in your school's student government, you can make a significant impact on your school's policies. Now, you might be thinking, "Oh, great, I can't run for office. I can't make all those speeches." Trust me, if you are really passionate about an issue, the speeches won't be hard.

The First Step

The first thing you have to do is identify the problem. Maybe you don't like the food in the cafeteria or the fact that the basketballs in the gym never have any air in them. Maybe you think the dress code is too strict. Or maybe it's a bigger issue, like the fact that gangs are causing problems in your school. Whatever it is, you CAN do something about it.

After you've identified the problem, you have to convince the rest of the school that you're right and that you can help find a solution. To be convincing, you've got to offer reasonable solutions; nobody believes extravagant promises. For example, if you don't like the food, you can't promise to have pizza delivered everyday, but you can promise to work with the school administrators to help plan better menus or buy better equipment to keep the food hot. You can't promise to get the gangs out of your neighborhood, but you can promise to work with local authorities to keep gang symbols, graffiti, and weapons out of your school.

Writing the Speech

An effective campaign speech has three important components that must be included.

• Introduction

Tell the audience who you are and what office you want to hold. Most people try to do this in a humorous way; for example, "Hi, I'm John Smith. I usually run for the track team, but right now I'm running for Student Council President." If you just can't think of something funny, don't force it. You want to sound sincere, not fake. You should also tell how long you've been at the school, what grade you're in, and any other offices you've held. This will establish your credibility. If you've only been at the school for a few weeks, the other students might think you don't know enough about the school, but if you can cite examples of your accomplishments at your previous school, you can convince them that you can help at this school, too.

• Body

This is where you explain why you are running for office. Outline the problems you've identified and explain how you would attempt to solve them. You should have more than one issue to address, but don't go overboard. If you list too many problems, you'll sound negative and whiny. Everybody knows their school has problems, but school loyalty is important. You should emphasize that you want to make things better--not completely change the school.

• Conclusion

Finish your speech by thanking your audience for their time and attention, and tell them how much you are looking forward to serving as a member of the student government. Invite them to talk with you about their concerns, and remind them that the only way to make positive changes in the school is by being involved in the decision-making process.

Presenting the Speech

For those of you who are thinking that writing the speech is the easy part, but that you'll never be able to stand up in front of the entire school (or just your class) to actually make the speech, here are some tips for overcoming your anxiety.

• Be prepared.

Write your speech and make sure you believe in it. If you are passionate about your message, it will be easier to remember what you want to say. You can use notecards during the speech, but never read it and don't memorize it. You want to sound sincere, and reading your speech or reciting it word for word will make it sound more like an assignment than a speech that you are truly passionate about.

• Practice, practice, practice.

  Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself. Don't be a statue; you should move your head and arms in a normal manner. After you're comfortable in front of the mirror, use your parents or your best friend as an audience. Ask for their constructive criticism and take their advice. If your speech is too short, add to it, but don't add things just to fill time. Make sure it's relevant to your campaign. If your speech is too long, cut some things out, but don't elimate your most important issues.

• Eat a light meal and drink some water.

You don't want to feel hungy and light-headed while you're speaking, and you don't want your mouth to feel like the Sahara Desert. Just don't eat too much--you don't want to throw up, either.

• Dress appropriately.

People are more likely to take you seriously if you are well groomed. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed, and shine your shoes. If you want people to think you really care about the school, you have to look like you really care about yourself. Avoid high heels--they are uncomfortable and difficult to walk in when you're nervous. Also, don't wear anything that is too tight--you need to be able to breathe.

• Look at your audience.

Making eye contact with members of the audience will make them look at you and keep them engaged in your message. Ask your close friends to sit in different areas of the room so that you won't focus on just one place. Keep your head up: look at the audience, not your shoes.

• Smile.

Look like you're excited about running for office. No one will vote for someone who looks like they don't really want the office.

• Don't talk too fast.

Everyone has a tendency to rush when they are speaking in public. Make sure your audience can actually understand what you are saying. Force yourself to slow down.

• Don't rush off the stage.

  After you finish speaking, look at the audience, make eye contact with several people, nod at your opponents, gather up your notecards, and walk off the stage. The last thing you do will make a lasting impression.

Now you're ready for the big day. If you've found a few issues to discuss, come up with some reasonable solutions, and practiced in front of your friends and family, you'll do great. Remember, everyone gets nervous when speaking in front of an audience, and the world won't come to an end if you mess up. Just do your best, be sincere, and have fun. Good luck!