As I am sure most of you know, the school's Senior Beta Club attended State Convention last week in Columbus, and for those of you that do not know, I ran and campaigned for a state office while there, but unfortunately did not win an office place. My friends and I, along with teachers and advisors, worked very hard to put a campaign together and to make the projects needed to go to Convention. I would like to share with you the experience I had while there because it was both a rewarding and very memorable experience.
What is Beta Convention you might ask? Beta Convention is held once a year at a site determined state sponsors to enforce the ideals of leadership, achievement, service, and character, and each Beta chapter throughout the state is invited to attend. (Fun fact: Only 18 states hold state-wide conventions and Ohio's happens to be one of the smallest!) Not all schools attend Convention, however, I highly encourage them to do so and wish they did. Convention only lasts two days, but trust me, two days is more than enough time.
We arrive on Wednesday and have the night to ourselves for the most part. As a group this year we went out and ate dinner and wandered around downtown for quite some time. Most of the activities do not begin until Thursday, and not too early either, which makes most of us happy. Throughout the day there are tests ranging in subjects from Spanish to Agriculture, oratory competitions, art competitions, and talent competitions that happen later at night. Needless to say, there is something for everybody there to participate in making it all the better. By having so many options, students are able to participate in something that they excel in and really have a chance to compete in. Two general sessions are help on Thursday where everybody attends and gathers together to listen to speakers share a story, or a lesson with the rest of it. The 2014-2015 Ohio State President gave a speech this year that really touched all of us emotionally, and the other speakers all presented speeches that were relatable to the rest of the audience making the experience interesting and memorable. To end the night on Thursday, an annual Beta dance gets help, which in my opinion, is ten times better than homecoming, and our very own Mr. Shanower and his brother DJ this because they come to run sound for the Convention. The main event that happened for me on Thursday though was campaigning.
I was so nervous about the campaigning part that I woke up at 4:30 in the morning un able to sleep. While my speech was running through my mind I was watching Shrek, some paid programming, and another show, but I am still not sure as to what it was called because I did not have my contacts in. After that and my friends woke, we all proceeded to get ready and to go to our events. I had a meeting at 10:00 to meet the other candidates, and later that day I had to present a speech, my friends had to deliver my campaign skit, and then I had a question and answer segment. I do not want to go into long detail about all of this because I want to get to the point I am trying to make, but the question and answer segment was rough! The other candidates and I were extremely nervous because we did not know any of the questions he could potentially be asked and the sponsors who are in charge of the Convention claimed they were "easy." Well, I disagree! The guy sitting next to me had to answer his question before me and his question was: If you could describe your life in one song, what would be? For only having 30 seconds that is difficult to come up with an answer to and thank goodness my question was slightly easier than that.
The part I would like to get to is my speech. I gave a speech on how we as humans lack empathy for others. In my speech I said things such as "we judge others based on appearance, occupation and attire" and "we judge others without knowing the unique details behind every person's own story." I do not think my speech necessarily appealed to all of the people in the room, particularly the students, but some of them did pay attention and really took in what I had to say. After the first general session was over (this was when I gave my speech), I was walking out flustered because I forgot some of my speech, ran low and basically out of time while giving it, and I said, "Uhm," twice during my speech. When I was walking out, however, moms from another school went out of their way to approach me, to thank me for what I said, and to say they appreciated what I stood up and said during my speech to that room of students. This made me smile and feel good inside because even though I thought I did a poor job, I really did make an impact on someone and there were people listening to me. This brought up my emotions and I was able to continue walking out of that room with a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. Later on though, I found out a student campaigning against me was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This student was from the school that those moms who approached me were from. After putting two and two together, I briefly remembered those moms being sort of shaken up while they were talking to me, and I thought it was odd that they approached me, but now I understood why, and that me made feel even better inside. The student with the disease probably gets judged for the way he looks and speaks because it effects one's nervous system, one's function of the arms and legs, and one's facial appearances. Others probably judge this student without knowing he has Parkinson's and to be honest with you, I had not the slightest clue this student and fellow Beta of mine had the disease until I was told. Once I was told everything started to make sense and I had the greatest amount of empathy towards this person, and knowing that I spoke to that particular group of people was a victory in and of itself for me.
This experience was something I will always remember! I met new people, talked to people I never would have spoken to before, and learned the different stories of so many people around me. I do not regret one thing and would not want to change one thing because I went there and did what I was sent there to do. I encourage everybody to attend Convention at least once if they are able to, so that they can connect and experience the fulfillment that I did, but in there own way.
