Back in 2012, before I began writing these “Running the Campus” blog posts, I started sending out “weeklies,” emails to the campus and community that usually included something about what was happening at NECC that week, a perspective on a big issue facing higher education, and a short story about my daughters, who were twelve and eight years old and known in the weeklies as “Big Sis T and Little Sis Z.”
A few of those early “Weeklies” are still in the Archives of “Running the Campus.”
Well, big Sis T is 24 now and making music out in Los Angeles, and Little Sis Z, after spending the summer interning for her local Congresswoman, is down in Washington, D.C. studying public administration and eyeing a career in politics.
It’s election day in America, which got me thinking about some of the conversations I used to have with Big Sis T and Little Sis Z back in the day, like this one I found in the archives from October 1, 2015:
All Politics Is Local
If the run-up to the presidential primaries has you weary, maybe it’s time to step back and take a look at the local political scene…
In exciting hometown election news, this week Little Sis Z earned a spot on her middle school student council!
Candidates for this esteemed public office were asked to write short essay applications, a sort of candidate profile and party platform, all rolled into one three-paragraph epistle (if only Hillary, Donald, and the rest could be so concise…)
In her appeal to the electorate, Little Sis declared that she would make a good student councilor because, “I’m not afraid to stand in front of a lot of people and talk. (I will vouch for her on that one.) I’m also a very good leader, and I am good at convincing people to do the right thing.”
Well, she is a beltway outsider (her locker is way, way on the other side of the school from the main office) with a bold, populist message of hope and integrity, and she rode a wave of support into office!
Little Sis, Big Sis, and I celebrated with sandwiches and a couple of root beers at post-election headquarters (the Barking Dog, down the street from her school), happily munched away, and looked back on her campaign:
DAD: Congratulations, Z! I’m very proud of you. Now that you are heading into office, what do you think are the three things you are really good at that you have to offer your fellow students?
LITTLE SIS Z: Well, I’m creative.
DAD: Yep. All those D.I.Y. projects around the house prove that one!
LITTLE SIS Z: And I’m a good helper.
DAD: No doubt. You help teachers, your friends, your parents—even your sister!
BIG SIS T: Well…
DAD: Just hold on, you’ll get your turn.
LITTLE SIS Z: And I love cooking—and eating!
DAD: Creativity, helping, and cooking (and eating). Those are three very wonderful things to offer as a new student councilor! OK, how about you, T. What are three things you think you are really good at that you have to offer?
BIG SIS T: Music. I love my music, and I’m getting pretty good at that.
DAD: T, you are awesome with your guitar, and you have a beautiful voice. What else?
BIG SIS T: Happiness! I enjoy being happy and making other people happy. My friends all think I’m the happiest person they know.
DAD: Yep, you do smile a lot. What else?
BIG SIS T: I’d have to say, the third thing I’m good at that I have to offer might be my favorite.
DAD: Wow, better than your music and making people happy? What could that possibly be?
BIG SIS T: Binge watching Netflix.
DAD: Didn’t see that one coming. Z, our future is in your hands—lead well, and help us do the right thing.
LITTLE SIS Z: I’m on it, Dad.
Please take a page from Big Sis T and Little Sis Z’s playbook and get out there and vote today!
