Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
My name is Ariel and I am very interested in becoming your Campus Life Representative. I have boundless energy, a strong need to communicate with people, and I have not yet had an outlet to apply my skills. I feel very strongly about positive social change on Swarthmore’s Campus through the democratic process by representing the voice of all Swatties. I want to become committed to helping any and all members of our student body to actualize their vision for relevant changes that will benefit the entire Swat community.
I have had experience in working with individuals and communities to accomplish goals and satisfy needs. Currently, I am working as assistant to the Education Program Coordinator at the Arboretum where one of my duties is communicating event information to volunteers. For two summers before entering Swarthmore, I interned in Pennsylvania State Representative Michael Gerber’s constituents’ service office where I interacted with constituents from the community who came to the office for help. I assisted a low-income mother file the necessary forms to open a day care, personally contacted elderly World War II veterans or their surviving spouses to assure they received awards of recognitions for their service, to their country and provided constituents with information ranging from college funding to consumer protection.
In addition to dedicating my efforts to reaching out to Swatties to ascertain their concerns and inspirations to improve the student life on campus, I also want to contribute my own ideas to a dynamic, collaborative coalition that is student council. I would like to set up an official online system to input complaints and recommendations from students so that Student Council can review and determine which proposals are most feasible to execute. As a student council member, I will be willing to not only set up this system, but also collate the feedback comments and present them at meetings.
I am eager to serve my Swat peers by being an outstanding listener to the pulse of public opinion within our community and acting on your needs with my full conviction.
Respectfully,
Ariel
