Dear Student Leader,

Right now we are in the weird part of the Fall Semester, the awkward time right after midterm exams and before Thanksgiving, but so close to final exams. Right now, you are most likely planning how you want your student organization to finish out the semester, what recruitment techniques you are going to use next semester, what programs you want to do next semester, and what your plans are for your seniors who are graduating. But don't worry, you know you will be thinking about your organization over winter break because even though classes aren't in session and your organization isn't meeting, you are always wanting to better your organization.

I know who you are. Other students know who you are. Faculty, Staff and Administration know who you are. You are the president of multiple organizations. You are a part of the community service organization on campus and complete multiple community service hours a semester. You hold multiple jobs on and off campus. You take a full course load each semester. You are on multiple committees on campus. You are a sister/brother/son/daughter/friend/aunt/uncle/cousin to many people. Other students and adults on campus applaud you for all you do and ask you how you keep up all the energy, but some of them tell you how great all you did during college will look on your resume.

Everyone always tells you how important being a student leader on campus is and that what you are doing is great. Also, everyone probably questions you as to why you do what you do. Yes, you are doing all these great things and it's not just for your resume, but rather it is because you truly love making a difference. I am sure you know other student leaders on campus who don't work nearly as hard as you do and you feel like they get more recognition than you; however, don't you worry. Soon those student leaders will give up because they will realize just how hard it is to be a student leader on campus and how it is not just for some title you can put on your resume. Being a student leader on campus should be considered a full-time job.

I know as a student leader a thank you is such a rare thing you hear. So, I want to take the time out of my letter to you to say those two words to you. THANK YOU! I truly mean those two words. Thank you for all the time you put into your various student organizations, committees, community service, classes, jobs, and social life. Thank you for trying to make the campus a better environment for all of your fellow peers. Thank you for putting in countless hours to sit in meetings with administration or fellow student leaders to plan campus wide programs. Thank you for the countless late or sleepless nights that are spent working for your organizations. Thank you for taking the time to leave your mark on our campus. I know that sometimes it feels all the work you do is underappreciated or that you don't get credit where credit is due, so thank you for still doing all that you do even when you don't get a thank you. And most importantly, thank you for being a freaking awesome student leader!

I know it is sometimes hard to do all the things you want to do on campus due to funding, lack of administration support, or your campus atmosphere. Please don't get discouraged because it happens to all of us. Please keep fighting because if you don't fight, who will? I want you to know it is okay to cry sometimes due to frustration from other student leaders on campus or because you're fighting so hard to get things done on campus. It is okay to be selfish some nights and say you need a break and to go enjoy your college experience outside of all the student leader experience you endure. It is okay to not want to live your life within a fish bowl sometimes, but at the end of the day I am sure you probably wouldn't change it for the world.

So from one student leader to the next, thank you for giving me hope to continue being a student leader on campus. Thank you for fighting the same fights that I have, whether on Manhattanville's campus or another campus somewhere else on this globe. Thank you for those endless social media threads that give me inspiration for programming, advertising, and just some good laughs. Thank you for showing me that I am not the only one in this fight to make our campus and college community environment the best we can for our fellow peers. And once again, thank you for being you.

With all due respect,

Jackie