This is the speech I gave when running for president of the student council in high school. I hope it helps you prepare your speech; good luck with your election!

Good afternoon. My name is Andrew Yaksic, and I am the people's choice for president of the Student Council. I am here to urge you to vote me into presidential office tomorrow. I know a lot of you want me to stand up here and crack wise for two minutes and tell you that a vote for Yaksic is a lot like a vote for ice cream sandwiches, but I'd first like to address some of the issues involved in tomorrow's election.

Tomorrow's election is of dire importance to the short-term and long-term future of Malden Catholic. We need strong leadership next year. I would submit to you that I am the best qualified candidate to lead the Student Council and the student body. I am currently participating in 14 full-time extracurriculars, and I hold leadership positions in 7 of them. Among these extracurriculars is the Student Council. I am a two-year homeroom representative, and I served this past year as co-chair of the Social Committee, which is part of the Executive Board. That means that I have two years of Student Council experience already under my rather large belt. I am also the captain of the Mock Trial team; but enough about me.

I'm hoping that I've already won you over with my charming good looks... but I'll just assume that they haven't worked and move on to Plan B. A major concern of the students seems to be that I am not in touch with our student-athletes. This is simply ludicrous. I myself am a student-athlete. I played intramural volleyball, where my team went 0 and 2. I can assure you that I will keep the best interests of the athletes in mind while representing you. I'll even do my best to start up a fencing team here... or at least an ultimate Frisbee team. Maybe even a rugby team.

One of my major concerns and first actions as president will be to open up the Student Council meetings. They have been closed since I was first elected to the Council in 2000, with good reason. My proposition is that if I am elected, I will hold meetings in the auditorium or Brother Gilbert Center where concerned students can raise their issues with the president himself. This is like the "suggestion box" that previous years' presidential candidates have... well, suggested, but never implemented. I believe that this will be among the best of the improvements that I plan to make here. I will also try to schedule the dances so that there are no cancellations, and if cancellations arise, I will do my best to get them rescheduled.

Of course, there are certain things that I can't promise. For example, I can't promise girls next year... unless by "girls" you mean "the best year of your high school career." Which, of course, you probably don't.

I would like to remind you all that the position of Student Council president is not a figurehead. This is a real job with real hard work, and I feel that I am the best qualified candidate to perform the job. I am here every weekday until at least 4:30. I'm usually here a lot longer. Sometimes I can even be found here on a Saturday. I haven't missed a day of school unless I've been out of the state... or that time the Patriots won the Super Bowl, you know, same thing.

I would urge you all not to cast your vote based on what kind of car I drive, or on how athletic I look. The truth is, I could drop and rattle off 100 push-ups right here, right now; but I can't let my athletic skills overshadow all of the other reasons why you should vote for me.

Gentlemen, I cannot encourage you enough to make the right choice and vote me into presidential office. My dedication and hard work will lead us into a golden age. Three-time presidential candidate Henry Clay said in desperation after losing his third election, "I would rather be right than president." I submit to you that I can be both. I would encourage you all to visit www.yaksic.com and further inform yourself as to why you should vote for me.

I apologize if I wasn't funny enough to earn your vote, or if I'm not popular enough to earn your vote. But I hope my professional demeanor and serious attitude have shown you that I am devoted to the cause of improving Malden Catholic. I have earned the trust of faculty members and students alike. I can assure you that you can trust me with any task or any request. I have always come through in the past. I have a fun-loving side that there just wasn't enough time to let shine through here. I hope you all vote tomorrow, and I hope you all make the right choice. For the future of our school, put Yak back in the SAC and vote Yaksic for president. Thank you.