5 reasons you should join your high school's student council

1. Soft skills and personal development

Soft skills are one of the most valuable skills you can develop, especially when you go to university. Student council truly gives you the opportunity to foster skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, organization and public speaking – all of which you need in university. Not only do these skills help you in class but they’re also super valuable if you’re interested in co-op programs and job applications. 

Student council also gives you the opportunity to focus on yourself. You get to decide how you choose to present yourself, what passions you wish to explore, what kind of leadership style you prefer, and learn what kind of university program or career you think you might enjoy.

2. Expand your résumé

Perhaps you’re looking for a part-time job, applying to university, or considering what a potential co-op job will require. In any case, you’ll need a résumé! Choosing what to include on your résumé can be difficult, especially if you don’t have a lot of work or volunteer experience. Lucky for you, a student council position looks great. It shows employers and universities that you’re passionate and take initiative.

Community involvement is always an asset — it’s favoured in many university applications and is even a requirement for some scholarships and bursaries. Don’t miss out on opportunities like these where you can be rewarded for being involved!

3. Hands-on experience in a safe place

Another great benefit of student council is that you’re gaining valuable, relevant experience. Believe it or not, a lot of the organizing and event planning you do with student council are things you will encounter many times throughout university and your career.

You’re also learning these skills in a safe and comfortable environment with support from your peers to help you succeed and grow.

By taking advantage of this opportunity in high school, you’ll gain the confidence to pursue further development when you enter your university career.

Most universities offer co-op, internships, or other experiential learning opportunities. Waterloo is home to the world’s largest co-op program, which equips our graduates with career-ready work experience when they graduate. By being able to gain preliminary experience before entering university, you’ll put yourself at even more of an advantage over your peers, and will be setting yourself up for success in the long run. Find out how co-op at Waterloo can help you explore potential careers and find the path that’s right for you.

Third-year student Vanessa says "being the student council treasurer in my final year of high school provided me with the skills necessary to make the transition from high school to university a smooth one. I learned about responsibility and confidentiality when dealing with money."

She adds that she also learned about representing a population and speaking on behalf of their wishes and needs.

"My experience as a student council executive has led me to leadership positions in university, like being the chapter president of a sorority."

4. Networking opportunities

Student council creates an environment where individuals from your high school meet regularly to collaborate on student-led initiatives. You’ll meet different folks with different backgrounds, sets of skills and opinions. You’ll learn how to effectively collaborate with others and use empathy to guide you in your decision making. This is what networking is all about – sharing your thoughts and opinions and learning from others.

5. Learning to be a leader

By joining your high school’s student council, you’re elected by your fellow students to be their voice on a matter you’re passionate about. You have the chance to support different groups and give a voice to the voiceless. This is a great opportunity to better understand how different issues affect different individuals and groups, and have a chance to do something about it.

You can take what you learned being in your high school’s student council and apply it to when you get to university, where you’ll have countless opportunities to get involved in meaningful ways. From student-led initiatives to volunteering to clubs and communities, you’ll be able to take your leadership skills to the next level and share your voice on things that matter most to you.
All in all, you’ll be prepared to seize any exciting opportunities that come your way in the future!

So, there you have it! My top five reasons why you should join your student council. After all, high school is not always about the academics!