Overview of SGA
UMD SGA is the University of Maryland's premier student-led governing body. It is composed of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. My positions are within the legislative branch only.
This year, I held the position of Cambridge Community Representative on the legislature and Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention on legislative leadership. I work for myself in my capacity as a legislator and the position is generally more outreach to the community, participating in two committees (Diversity and Inclusion and Sexual Misconduct Prevention), writing legislation for said committees, and participating in our General Body Meetings. I work under the Speaker of the Legislature in my coordinator position and I am on legislative leadership. There, I help run the general body meetings once a week, run the entire outreach/recruitment program for SGA (tabling at events, running interviews, emailing prospective candidates, and making new legislators feel welcome), and I get to be one of the few legislators that helps the student body president make executive decisions if something comes up. I also plan group bonding activities, retreats, and general professional development events with the Speaker of the Legislature.
This year, I held the position of Cambridge Community Representative on the legislature and Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention on legislative leadership. I work for myself in my capacity as a legislator and the position is generally more outreach to the community, participating in two committees (Diversity and Inclusion and Sexual Misconduct Prevention), writing legislation for said committees, and participating in our General Body Meetings. I work under the Speaker of the Legislature in my coordinator position and I am on legislative leadership. There, I help run the general body meetings once a week, run the entire outreach/recruitment program for SGA (tabling at events, running interviews, emailing prospective candidates, and making new legislators feel welcome), and I get to be one of the few legislators that helps the student body president make executive decisions if something comes up. I also plan group bonding activities, retreats, and general professional development events with the Speaker of the Legislature.
A Learning Process
My position as Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention was constantly changing, and I felt that I had to constantly adapt to make sure I was successfully filling the role. I was solely responsible for bringing new, qualified legislators into the organization and while that process was similar fall to spring semester, I had to come up with an entirely new process at the start because I got little guidance on how to conduct successful outreach to receive applicants, process the applications, vet the applications, schedule interviews, and successfully get my appointees on the legislature.
One of the biggest skills I learned was effective mentoring. I knew that each new legislator would find their group of people they felt most comfortable with eventually, but the time period between when they were appointed and they found those people, it was my job to make them feel safe and effective in their new positions. I tried my best to give them what I did not have when I was appointed first semester freshman year: someone to talk to and ask all the questions to, and solid line of communication, and encouragement to step out of their comfort zone and speak up during large meetings. I would follow up with the newly appointed people a couple of weeks after as well once they got settled, to make sure they felt successful in their position once they got their feet on the ground.
Another learning experience came from applicants themselves. It was absolutely amazing to see how many dedicated people applied for every position. But, only one (sometimes two) people could actually be appointed to those positions. Some of the most difficult decisions that I still reflect on are those where I had to chose one person over another to be my appointment. I had the Speaker of the Legislature and Speaker Pro Tempore helping me during interviews, and I valued their input, but in the end, it was my decision and I worried that if someone was received badly in the organization, I would be all my fault. I had to separate all my personal beliefs and biases and focus solely on what the applicant in front of me was saying while also weighing their professional experience and ideas for the organization. Personally, I was not looking for the most polished, well-spoken government fanatic, but rather someone who had solid ideas for change and had the passion in their eyes when they talked about what they wanted to complete. I got to meet an estimated 100 people over my course of Coordinate of Recruitment and Retention and I am so glad I got the opportunity to expand my campus-view and have real conversations with so many different people.
One of the biggest skills I learned was effective mentoring. I knew that each new legislator would find their group of people they felt most comfortable with eventually, but the time period between when they were appointed and they found those people, it was my job to make them feel safe and effective in their new positions. I tried my best to give them what I did not have when I was appointed first semester freshman year: someone to talk to and ask all the questions to, and solid line of communication, and encouragement to step out of their comfort zone and speak up during large meetings. I would follow up with the newly appointed people a couple of weeks after as well once they got settled, to make sure they felt successful in their position once they got their feet on the ground.
Another learning experience came from applicants themselves. It was absolutely amazing to see how many dedicated people applied for every position. But, only one (sometimes two) people could actually be appointed to those positions. Some of the most difficult decisions that I still reflect on are those where I had to chose one person over another to be my appointment. I had the Speaker of the Legislature and Speaker Pro Tempore helping me during interviews, and I valued their input, but in the end, it was my decision and I worried that if someone was received badly in the organization, I would be all my fault. I had to separate all my personal beliefs and biases and focus solely on what the applicant in front of me was saying while also weighing their professional experience and ideas for the organization. Personally, I was not looking for the most polished, well-spoken government fanatic, but rather someone who had solid ideas for change and had the passion in their eyes when they talked about what they wanted to complete. I got to meet an estimated 100 people over my course of Coordinate of Recruitment and Retention and I am so glad I got the opportunity to expand my campus-view and have real conversations with so many different people.
Professional Development and Growth
My position on legislative leadership has offered my several opportunities to working with the executive branch of SGA and attend opportunities that I would not have normally known about or been able to participate in. Getting the chance to lobby in Annapolis is one of those opportunities that legislators get, and I got to do that twice this year in my positions in SGA.
My first opportunity did not come from SGA, but one of my other involvements in the Alumni Association. I got the chance to attend the Board of Trustees lobbying day in Annapolis and speak with the Comptroller of Maryland as well as my own senators. After this, there was a large reception for Maryland Alumni and donors, which the Graduate Student Government (GSG) and Student Government Association (SGA) president get to attend. While this opportunity is not directly related to my practicum position, it factored into my overall experience of the position and allowed me to further grow my connected with UMD administration, higher-ups, and donors, which are three of the most important groups of people to get to know if you want to see direct change on campus. This night gave me the chance to talk to all of the trustees that make up a good amount of influence on our administration about everything that students are going through in real-life, advocate for issues I am personally passionate about, and lobby for SGA's legislative agenda.
My second opportunity was during the first week of March and is affectionally named "Ice Cream Day". SGA bringing the infamous Maryland Dairy Ice Cream to Annapolis and gives it out to legislators in the Maryland General Assembly (MGA) while we talk to them about the legislation we think students care about the most or affect students the most. Legislation we are previously lobbied for include more transparent textbook pricing and student athlete bargaining rights. This day is an amazing opportunity to network with everyone who works at the MGA and let them know what is happening on campus and how students are actually feeling.This event is SGA's most successful lobbying effort and legislators now expect it every year as an annual tradition to put faces to the legislation we advocate for and ask student questions about the state's flagship institution.
My second opportunity was during the first week of March and is affectionally named "Ice Cream Day". SGA bringing the infamous Maryland Dairy Ice Cream to Annapolis and gives it out to legislators in the Maryland General Assembly (MGA) while we talk to them about the legislation we think students care about the most or affect students the most. Legislation we are previously lobbied for include more transparent textbook pricing and student athlete bargaining rights. This day is an amazing opportunity to network with everyone who works at the MGA and let them know what is happening on campus and how students are actually feeling.This event is SGA's most successful lobbying effort and legislators now expect it every year as an annual tradition to put faces to the legislation we advocate for and ask student questions about the state's flagship institution.
Applying Experiences to the Real World
I knew I wanted to do SGA the minute I stepped one foot onto campus. I knew I wanted to meet people all across campus and from all walks of life and learn their stories. I knew that I just wanted to help students the way in any way I could find. What I have learned this past year both as a legislator and on legislative leadership has made me a better student leader, mentor, and overall learner. My practicum gave me the opportunity to reflect on all the work I had done in the past semester, and document everything that happened this semester. I would have continued in SGA in my positions if it wasn't for my practicum, but what I would not have done was take time every week to write down what I did, why I cared so much, why it mattered to students, and how much time I spent doing it. I have always known this is what I wanted to do, but sometime it got clouded in emotions, sleeplessness, politics, and forgetfulness. I am thankful for the requirement to reflect and document all of my experiences this semester because it gave me a new outlook on the one thing that has driven me in college to succeed, do better, and change campus.
Moving forward, I do not know where this experience will lead me. I got involved in elections (which is not part of my practicum) and the ticket that I supported and affiliated with did not win the majority of legislative seats nor the executive board, which means my future in SGA is unknown at the moment. Student government is still a form of government, which means elections determine your fate, no matter how much passion and dedication you put into the organization.
Moving forward, I do not know where this experience will lead me. I got involved in elections (which is not part of my practicum) and the ticket that I supported and affiliated with did not win the majority of legislative seats nor the executive board, which means my future in SGA is unknown at the moment. Student government is still a form of government, which means elections determine your fate, no matter how much passion and dedication you put into the organization.
"I do complain about the work, but in the end, this is what I want to do. I thoroughly enjoy every second I spend in the positions I have held and the people in this organization have completely changed my life. I am so incredibly lucky to have been appointed my first month into freshman year and continue in the capacities I’ve had. Part of the reason I am so uncomfortable with the election results because it leaves me with no clear path going forward in SGA. But, this too shall pass and I’m sure it all happened for a reason. We have to move on and not dwell in the past too much, no matter how much we are unsure where we are supposed to go." -Weekly Reflection from April 26th-May 2nd
In the real world, you don't win every contest. You don't get to do everything you set out to do, and everything doesn't follow a closely detailed plan you laid out years ago. This is reflected in my time in SGA. Plans change, you learn and morph along with it, and you meet some pretty awesome people while you are doing all of that. My practicum experience has lead me to all parts of campus to talk to students from all walks of life about all sorts of passion projects. This has been the real treat of it all because I know now more about the university than I ever thought was possible, and I can use that knowledge wether I am directly involved in SGA or not. I know I can use my experiences in SGA this semester and over my past two years to grow myself professionally and personally, and use the connections I've made to even get a job one day. This opportunities SGA offers doesn't stop when you lose an election, and while it is discouraging, I'm so excited to see what else this organization brings me.
Next Steps
What I am doing for the rest of my time at the University of Maryland is currently unknown. I am currently weighing my options for what I would like to do next year, and who I want to work with. There are some opportunities in the next administration I am weighing but I am also considered taking a break and focusing on other student groups, my academics, and possibly an internship. However, knowing my drive and passion for the organization that has given me so much, I won't be able to stay away for too long.
Professionally, I hope to use my journalism and government and politics degree to go into political communications and work with public servants already in office and make sure their communications to their constituents are streamlined and transparent. I know I want to work in the government because how much the people who work there have the ability to make change, if they work effectively. My dream job is working for a Congressperson or the Speaker of the House as a staffer, and eventually up to a Chief-of-Staff or other higher-up organizational position. I know my background in student government, alumni relations, politics, and communications prepare me for this role I hope to one day assume.
Professionally, I hope to use my journalism and government and politics degree to go into political communications and work with public servants already in office and make sure their communications to their constituents are streamlined and transparent. I know I want to work in the government because how much the people who work there have the ability to make change, if they work effectively. My dream job is working for a Congressperson or the Speaker of the House as a staffer, and eventually up to a Chief-of-Staff or other higher-up organizational position. I know my background in student government, alumni relations, politics, and communications prepare me for this role I hope to one day assume.
I do know, however, that I plan to keep the people I met along the way as close friends and continue communicating with the about their endeavors. They have pushed me throughout this experience to be the best student leader I can be and remind me why I put so much work into the positions I held. They are one of the best things that has come from SGA and I am forever grateful for their mentorship and friendship.
This semester has been a whirlwind adventure and I hope I could bring you along on just some of what I got to experience as the Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention for UMD SGA.