We’ve all seen them: canvassers. Those people who stand on the street with clipboards that New Yorkers avoid like the plague. Well, coming from someone who has been the clipboard-holder, everyone should be a canvasser at least once in their life. Here’s why:
1. You Learn to Respect Canvassers
Yes, I’m aware that canvassers are kind of annoying and a bit of an inconvenience. However, it is important to remember that on the other side of that (maybe fake) smile and clipboard is a real human being. Being a canvasser teaches you how genuinely exciting it is to have someone stop for your cause. If not, you at least learn the power of a nice acknowledgement. There is nothing worse than being straight up ignored. So, maybe next time you see one of us, you will consider stopping - or at the very least, saying hi and making an attempt at an excuse.
2. You Learn to Respect Other People
Taking this lesson further, canvassing teaches you how to generally respect other people. Again, an acknowledgement and a smile is really very powerful. The right choice of words can literally make someone’s day. Consider thanking the person who held the door for you or complimenting that person you pass in the hall everyday. I know you're tired and stressed, but it really is beneficial to everyone involved. I promise.
3. You Learn to Be Convincing
Being in college, we all have heard the word networking about a thousand times. Well, one of the most important parts of networking is ‘the elevator pitch’. In a minute or less you have to convince someone why you are worth keeping in their memory and maybe calling when that internship opens up. Well, with canvassing you do this all day with the added difficulty of asking for money! Seriously though, canvassing teaches you how to convince people that what you are saying is worth their time (and money). If you can take this lesson and convince that interviewer that you are worth their time, then you are ahead of the game!
4. You Meet Cool People
College is stressful. You know what else is stressful? Canvassing. You know what the best medicine for stress is? Friends! Through canvassing I made some of my best friends. These are people who have similar views as me and also understand the realities of life. We don’t sugarcoat how stressful and scary life can be, but together we work through it. Canvassing helps you find people to not only open up to but also to party with after, and we all need a little of that.
5. You Get To Save The World
Everyone needs a job, it’s just a given. Why not get paid to change the world! It’s just really satisfying to do something everyday that you know is helping people all over. No matter how tiring or stressful canvassing is, you get to leave everyday knowing you’ve made a difference and will make one again tomorrow.
6. You Get to Explore Your City
Canvassing is literally the only reason I actually know anything about Brooklyn or Manhattan. It’s kind of fun to go to a new neighborhood everyday and see the kind of people who live there and what’s around. It’s also really helpful to become at least familiar with a large section of the subway map. Whether you’re in New York or not, I’m sure you would benefit from exploring whatever city you are in.
7. You Learn the Importance of Teamwork
A canvassing office is really a team. We work together towards the same goal. Whether you like it or not, this world involves a lot of working together. Canvassing teaches you how to better work with others. Sometimes you might have to work with someone you don’t like so much, but you get over it because you are (again) saving the world! Take this to college and you are instead saving your GPA!
8. You Learn the Importance of Patience
Above all, canvassing requires patience. You stand around all day, hearing a million people say some variation of the term ‘no’, waiting for that one person who just stops and says ‘yes!’. Well, we could all work on our ability to accept the no’s in our lives. Patience is built on hope and hope is built on trust. Trust that you are doing something right, and as hard as it may be and as much rejection as you get, you are on the right path and it’s all going to pay off. Sounds a lot like college huh?
No, I’m not actually trying to convince you to become a canvasser. I’m not going to totally sugarcoat it: Canvassing is rough. It’s not for everyone. Sure, you can take the lessons in this article and put them to use without being a canvasser, but I do seriously think everyone should at least try it. Maybe just for a day. The lessons you learn are worth a lifetime. Who knows? You just might like it.
