Event Open Student Council Elections Second Term Speeches 2020

S'loo wasn't sure why she was doing this, especially considering she didn't have to give a speech in the first place. She wasn't even running for anything big like president, she just wanted to be the secretary. She doubted people even knew she'd been secretary last term or cared who won that position this time. Well at least that should make winning easier and making things easy for herself was a good thing. She needed all the help she could get.

Taking a deep breath, then another for good measure, S'loo toyed with her single note card, then slowly walked towards the podium. Tongue stuck out in concentration, she held the card up and began. Her voice was loud enough, though her face was mostly blocked by the card and she only remembered to peek out and look at the audience when she was done. It was a short speech and the card was mostly just for comfort. Fortunately as a secretary, public speaking would not really be a requirement.

"You probably mostly don't know me, but I'm S'loo Rukt'in and I was the student council secretary last term. Don't worry, I'm not going to try for president so it's okay if you don't know my face. I just would like to be secretary again. And I think I did a good job? So um vote for me? Please. "

S'loo looked at the card then looked at the audience again, wondering if she should add more. Now that she was up here her speech did seem short. "If you vote for me, S'loo, as secretary, I will um.." She flapped her wings, fidgeting, "I will keep everything organized so that whoever you vote for for president will be able to do more stuff for you."

Smiling awkwardly, S'loo waved at anyone still watching before leaving the stage as quickly as she could without looking like she was fleeing.

It was Andrasta's turn to take the podium and give her speech. She had probably spent more time preparing for this than was normal. Her friends and her foster family would have seen her full of new energy and unexpected motivation for the past week.

“Hey everyone. I’m Andrasta Keegan, and I’ve managed to stay out of detention for almost an entire year.”

This made some people laugh a little. It wasn’t something you expected to hear from someone running for student council. Andrasta was smiling along with them.

“Before I came to Starlight Academy, I lived on a farm on the English countryside. My parents told me they had prophetic dreams before I was born, about how I was going to inherit the soul of a forgotten god of destruction, and some stuff about my grand destiny where I’d destroy most of human society as we know it. So, to keep a long story short, they started a cult around me. I grew up being home schooled by my parents and some other high-ranking cult members. The way they treated me, the lessons they taught, and their value system was totally different from anything here.”

Her eyes swept the crowd. She was standing up straight, remembering what her ghost friend had told her about posture and enunciation.

“I didn’t adjust very well to being here at first. I wasn’t used to the rules, I didn’t understand the way teachers wanted me to treat them, and I thought the way they were treating me was disrespectful. So I ended up arguing with them a lot, and I ended up spending a lot of time in detention.

“Now, the point of punishments like detention is that it’s supposed to be so awful that you don’t want to do it again. You’re supposed to be so afraid of detention that you start acting the way they want you to. But that’s not how it worked for me. Detention sucked, and it made me hate the people who put me there. So I tried to get back at them, and I got more detention for it, and I would get angrier at them, and it kept getting worse.

“You might think that I was just having a weird reaction to all the detention, if it’s supposed to make me better. But there’s plenty of other kids who react the same way as I did. They hate their teachers because they think their teachers hate them. And they get the idea put in their heads that they’re just bad kids, period, and they can’t change that about themselves, so why bother trying?

“I’m a lot better than I used to be, but it didn’t have anything to do with the punishments at this school. It was all because of the support of my friends and my foster family, who showed me the compassion and respect that I needed to grow – two things that you don’t get in detention.

“Detention doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. It makes kids behave worse, which is the exact opposite of what a punishment is supposed to do. It makes them miserable for no reason. And if you don’t believe me, you can believe the child psychologists who did studies on this.

“I am Andrasta Keegan, and I’m running to be your Student Council Class President to abolish detention. Student council works with school administrators, and that puts me in a position to make this case to them and make sure that detention ends.

“But that’s not my only goal. I was lucky to have such good friends supporting me, and we can’t leave that to luck. As student council president, I’ll make sure the school puts on more events for us to enjoy, like dodgeball games or a party at the lake, drawing out new people and helping them find and make friends. I’ll also work to improve the school’s mentoring program.

“As your president, I will strengthen our community. As your president, I will fight to make Starlight Academy a place where we are all treated with compassion and respect. Vote for Andrasta. Thank you.”

She took her written speech off the podium and walked away, taking a deep breath. She had been holding it together, but it was nerve-wracking talking in front of that many people.

Orsick's turn at the podium had come. He headed out with his prepared notes, exuding confidence externally. Internally he was just a bundle of nerves. Still, he was certainly ready to deliver his speech.

"What's up Starlight? Many of you probably already know who I am, but for those who don't I am Orsick Drakenhardt, current student council president. I the school wasn't plunged into an era of darkness," he joked and formed a little glob of shadow energy in his hand that quickly disappeared. This got a few people to chuckle. "But I think we've definitely made some steps in a good direction."

"I am not running for president this term. I honestly feel that the seat should be to an extent a revolving door with fresh ideas brought into the rotation to be considered. I said it last term, and I'll say it again. A great portion of island culture starts here, with us students. Compared to everywhere else we're even more likely to encounter new arrivals here. I know there are some in this room right now."

"It's our duty as more experienced students to make sure less experienced students adjust. As someone who was born and raised here it always bothered me that it felt like we weren't doing more. As I said though, that has started to change."

"I'm taking a step back from being president, and moving to the Auditor position to make sure the policies set in place run smoothly. That we don't lose sight of our goals and agendas. We have to keep pushing forward as a student body, show everyone how it's done. "

"Don't just dismissively point someone to cultural classes, try making their acquaintances. If people start gaining their support net from those of us who are more seasoned then they can acclimate better. We can't just be wholly put off by people's lack of content just because we've adjuster, or were born here, or whatever the circumstances. It's not uncommon knowledge that this place tends to be a huge adjustment for most people."

"This term I'm going to continue to push for these goals. I'm also going to push for more promotion of school clubs and events. There is a lot of helpful information to be found in our student run organizations such as the Demonic Student Union and Hereafter Club. Both focus on supporting and spreading helpful information about misunderstood species that live here. The Helper's club is a way to delve into community and school outreach."

"Again, I am not running for president, but I encourage you to consider those that are. They all have excellent platforms. As auditor, I will do everything I can to make sure these agendas will see the light of day."

"Things can only get better from here. The tone of the island starts here at the school. Cast a shadow on unwelcoming behavior. Vote Orsick Drakenhardt for auditor."

And with that, Orsick collected his notes, and stepped off of the stage. Exhaling as soon as he was out of sight.

Surprisingly, or better yet, not unsurprisingly, Bel was not at all nervous. Her years in Wales spent in training to take on the mantle of the Celtic goddess Beltane had served her well. In fact, Bel was not shy and public speaking was not one of her fears and it showed in the way she easily chatted in a relaxed and animated manner with the coordinators of today’s Student council event.

“This year’s election is going to be loads of fun. I am so excited for it,” Bel told the young woman she was talking to. “My best friend was also on the council and ever since then, I have wanted to run. Even my boyfriend said I should go for it and that I’d make a great President.

“As a matter of fact, he’s sitting out there right now supporting me,” she explained in a cheery tone as she turned slightly to give Sam a tiny wave, happy that he had decided to come to support her, it meant a lot.

Chatting a while longer with the coordinator, Bel kept one eye on the other candidates as they went up one by one to give their speeches.

“Oh! Look! It’s my turn,” she exclaimed excitedly, her face lighting up when her name was finally called by the panel.

Bel, who had very deliberately decided to wear the school colours, had on a blue and gold t-shirt and a pleated skirt that read,” Show Your School Spirit, Remember to Vote! “, walked across the stage and stepped up to the small podium where she cleared her throat.

“Good afternoon to everyone, to my fellow teammates and classmates, Starlight students, the school faculty, and its staff, and especially to my campaign helpers - Sidney Bowers, Bastet Rose Bywan and her snake friend, Oroni,” she stated proudly, flashing the crowd of friendly faces her warmest and most welcoming of smiles.

“Thank you for coming out to support all the candidates this afternoon.” Here Bel glanced back at her running mates for a second before continuing on.

“My name is Bel, and as many of you here might know, I am the head of Starlight’s cheer squad,” she explained with an engaging smile. ”And I sincerely hope, with all your support, to become your new Student Council President.”

"As one of my duties as your student council representative,” Bel continued. “I would seek to organize more school events that will promote school spirit, student unity, inclusiveness and tolerance of others.”

“I would also petition for more structured programs to help, not only newcomers adjust to the school and the island, but also to help our sister Dark Academy students integrate better, find the support they may need, and feel at home,” she stated, remembering her interviews with Dark Crystal students a few days before today’s speeches.

“A tour around the campus or a quick tour of the island simply does not cut it anymore. We need to do more than ever before to make people feel welcome since many newcomers to the island may simply not be able to return or leave Manta Carlos as we did before we moved to a liminal space,” Bel paused as she looked around the room for effect.

“We need to actively go out of our way to help students, both old and new, so that they feel that Starlight is their home and that whatever happens, they will have the full support of the school and those around them to deal with the changes that are affecting everyone,” she said as she wound down her speech.

“Once again. Thank you for coming. And remember vote Bel,” she said as she gave everyone one last smile before waving to everyone and leaving the podium.