The month of February has a bunch of activities going on across campus, so I look forward to seeing many of you out and about this month! A big thing this month is that our nominations open Feb. 4 for the ASA 2019-2020 positions. When nominations open, all ASA positions will be available for students to run for, from exec positions to councillor positions.

I thought I would use this opportunity to speak about my time on the ASA and how being involved has been the absolute highlight of my time at university. In my first year of university, I was incredibly introverted and shy and the last place I thought I would end up was on the ASA. I ended up being convinced to run and handed in my nomination package just minutes before they were due. I wound up winning my election and I absolutely loved my first year on council, but I noticed there were areas within the organization and the university in general I wanted to get involved in. So, I ran for an exec position, and was also what pushed me to run for President. Overall, the ASA has provided me with the greatest university experience I could have ever dreamed of. Here are my top three takeaways from the time I have spent in the organization.

1. Building Relationships

My three years on council have provided me with some of the best friends I could ever have. This organization helped me to build relationships with peers within the organization and with the whole student body in general and they’re definitely people who will be lifelong friends of mine. I have also gotten the opportunity to get to know many of the faculty, staff, and administrators, all of whom are incredibly valuable to me. Building relationships with the people around me is something I personally value a lot and being a part of the ASA has given me the ability to foster and create many meaningful and long-lasting relationships.

2. Building Leadership Experience

Another really valuable takeaway I’ve had from being on council is having the opportunity to foster my own leadership style and gain more leadership experience. I was involved with student council throughout high school, but I never gave much thought about my own leadership. By being on the ASA, I have had the opportunity to spend time reflecting on my own leadership style, attend conferences, and also help those around me foster their own growth. This has been a huge takeaway for me because it’s something that will be of really great value in my future as well.

3. Being a Part of the Decision Making Process

One of the biggest reasons I decided to stay with the organization is that there were aspects within the organization, and within the university, that I wanted to change. Being on the ASA has given me the opportunity to see those changes through and be a part of the decision making process. I’ve been able to be a part of changes to student life on campus and it is incredibly rewarding for me to know that I have been a part of making this campus a better place than I came to it as.

Overall, being an ASA member has been the best part of my university experience and I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to get more involved to give it a try. Nominations will be open from Feb. 4 to 28 and if you have any questions about the process, you can ask any of the current ASA members and we will be happy to help.