Life After SA

Last year, my senior year, I was chosen to be the Executive Secretary of the Abilene Christian University Students’ Association. It was the pinnacle of my college career. I was on top of my game. That job was made for me. Now, I understand that you might think that student governments do nothing more than throw paltry pizza parties, heckle the faculty due to their inadequate attendance policies, and complain about the miserable meal plans on campus. But no, my friends. The Students’ Association has a budget of around $200,000 a year. That’s no measly money! Ah, yes, now your ears perk up. $200k placed in the hands of 4 student executive officers and 30 student senators.

As secretary, I was “the face of SA.” Have a problem? Come to me, and I’ll direct you where to go for assistance. Have a suggestion? I’ll help you develop it into action. Have dry lips? I’ll offer you some lip balm. Need a scantron? Here, have this extra one that was in my desk. I was the Super Secretary, college student extraordinaire. Mentor to students, friend to administration, liaison to faculty. When people stepped into the SA office, they were in a safe, sheltered place greeted and comforted by me. As the ACU cliché goes, I was bleeding purple and white.

Alas, my term is over. I walk around campus knowing I once had a direct line to President Money, and now, should I ever have a reason to call, I will only be able to reach a student worker in his office. My fame, my power, my authority. Gone, gone, gone.

But there is life after SA. I still mentor students. Although, instead of helping them develop leadership abilities, I advise them on what movies to see over the weekend. I still am a friend to administration. Well, rather to one administrator, Ruby, who works in the CS department office. And I still am a liaison to faculty but only to the professors whose classes I am currently enrolled in. Instead of spending 30 hours a week cooped up in a windowless office in the basement of the Campus Center, I have time to read and hang out with friends. And I know when it rains. I still am college student extraordinaire, just on a much smaller scale.

“Didn’t you use to be the secretary of SA?” someone recently asked me.

“Yes, but I’ve moved onto bigger and better things.” Things that include taking naps, and watching movies, and waiting for a reason to call Dr. Money.