Have you ever considered what it would be like to participate in student government at Westfield State University?
The Student Government Association at Westfield State is made up of a 75-member legislature and an 8-member executive council that are elected yearly through a campus-wide election.
Nicholas Smith, the current SGA President, was asked about his experiences as a student government leader at WSU.
Nicholas is a senior from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. He has applied to a master’s program and hopes to pursue a career in Mental Health Counseling with a Forensic concentration. He plans to work with offenders as a counselor.
When asked what it was like having so much responsibility, he said, “It can be a lot. It can be stressful from week to week, but I get to meet a lot of people and do a lot of cool things. I’m in a position to help grow student leaders. I can help show them how to plan an event, how to meet with people and how to have adult conversations with SGA, and that’s what I love doing.”
During his free time, Nicholas does oil painting, drawing, and sketching. He also plays ultimate frisbee and is a member of the university’s ultimate frisbee team. But he has said that it is difficult to pursue these interests because he is kept busy by his responsibilities in student government.
When asked what some of the challenges are with being the president of SGA, Nicholas said, “Definitely the student aspect. A lot of the things that I do are back-to-back to back-to-back, such as going to classes and then going to meetings. Balancing being a student, having roommates, and that ‘college life’ can all be very difficult. I’m kind of on the clock longer than most students: so, if my day ends class-wise at 2:00 pm, I’m probably still here until 5:00. It’s definitely challenging balancing it, but it’s also rewarding, and I appreciate that.”
The duties of the president include overseeing events and activities, budget allocation, and facilitating communication between the government and the student body.
If you are interested in joining student government, elections will be held on April 17th and 18th. Students interested in running for positions should contact the SGA by email at [email protected], or stop by the Student Government Room located in the Garden Level of the Ely Campus Center, Room E017.
Despite the demands on his time, Nicholas says that he’s happy to be an active participant and leader in student government. He added, “I would recommend people join Student Government because you get to meet a lot of amazing people that have stories you don’t know, and you get to work with other students. I think that’s super cool.”
