top of page

This Is Not The Time To Run




Two weeks ago, I watched my 11-year-old daughter excitedly announce to the family that she was running for middle school student council. She eagerly called the family together to explain that she plans to be a CEO one day, so she needs experience in leadership as early as possible. She presented the permission form required to register for the election and shared that she would need supplies and our help in creating the posters for her campaign. She also shared that she had spoken with existing members of the student council to ask them about their experiences. “Sixth grade is just the beginning mom. Seventh grade is when you become more involved, and eighth grade is when you really can do the most to help the school.” I commended her for her due diligence and asked her why it was important to her that she be a part of the group. She said, “I want to help make good choices for my school and I want to make my school the best.”

As we all sat creating her posters, we discussed the message she would share in her campaign. She mentioned that one candidate was already campaigning, wearing custom t-shirts, and passing out pencils to everyone for their vote. In her mind, this ability to allocate resources to a middle school election seemed unfair and could sway the students based on material items and not what really mattered, a better school. She knew that would not be an approved method of campaigning for her, so she began to highlight in her posters what she believed to be true. She wrote on one poster, trust is earned, not bought. On another she wrote stay calm and vote with a photo of her meditating. On another, she placed a photo of herself at age 4, arms raised above her head wearing a shirt with the words “Dream Big” on the front. Her creativity was flowing, and she was using what she had and what she knew to go for what she wanted.  

At no point in her mind did she believe that the process for choosing the next student council would be anything but fair and equitable. This assurance allowed her to operate completely in her knowledge without reservation. It allowed her to believe that her desire to be on the student council would be equally considered. This belief that her ideals and values could be the deciding factor propelled her forward in her purpose. I watched her engage with her teachers to ask for wall space in their classrooms. She proudly put her posters up and waited for the results. The next day she encountered students who excitedly supported her, but she also encountered those who were wearing new t-shirts and carrying new pencils. She was asked why she was running considering everyone already knew who was going to win. She was told that she should not run because it was pointless against her opponent and how could she win with only posters when her opponent had so much more. She told them that the only thing that mattered was honestly earning the trust and votes of her class.

This experience allowed me to see many things. Among them was what equity in a process should look like. It allowed me to see an unbiased process with openness for all to pursue an opportunity. She was able to dream, work hard, be her authentic self, stay true to her values and still have an equal chance at her dream.

It is for her, us, and the generations to follow that we must continue to work together to have a world that creates an equal chance, especially when the resources for certain communities are sometimes inaccessible, inequitable, and historically withheld. What makes her dreams and aspirations any less valuable or important than any other? Shouldn’t she be able to freely pursue her passions without invisible or insurmountable barriers? The obvious answer is yes. The reality is less so. An equal chance. Not more. Not less. Just equal. It seems so simple and yet we find ourselves in this battle for common and equitable humanity.

I recently had a conversation with a highly respected equity leader who shared that over the past few years, he has witnessed the shift, an increased fear of openly providing equal access for underserved communities. He saw relationships and partnerships diminish and dissolve over refusals to even mention the words Black or Hispanic in today’s climate due to fear of retaliation from those who do not acknowledge the nuances and barriers that come with striving for equity. Can you imagine what it is like to strive for change and live in a world that is afraid to acknowledge your mere existence? Can you perceive the imminent feeling of disregard and erasure? Our society has faced times of triumph and times of challenge. Each generation before us had to decide what side of history they would choose. This is our moment. This is our leg of history’s race. These are the moments where we stand, not run. 

Where will we stand when future generations ask us what we did to make the world a more equitable and inclusive place? I know what my answer will be. I have two brilliant young minds at home, and a generation of many others who are counting on us to get this one right, for everyone. We shape the future today. We are better together and more successful when we collectively work through multiple perspectives and experiences. There is nothing to lose by giving everyone an equal opportunity to succeed.

I am writing these thoughts and reflections on my way home, from a plane, high above the clouds, where everything feels limitless and possible. I hope to bring this feeling down with me as I greet the newest leader of the sixth-grade student council.

bottom of page