One year ago when I considered applying to be the president of KY I wrote down my reasons for it: “KY has offered me a home; a place where I’ve been able to try new things, push my own boundaries and, above all, get to know some amazing people. I wouldn’t literally be standing here without the people I’ve become to know over the years. I want to be the president of KY to ensure that the new students can continue to get this similar feeling of home that I have been privileged to experience.”
Throughout my year at KY board I feel like I’ve been able to do work towards achieving exactly that goal: the development of our community for the benefit of our members, both new and old. Sometimes it has been helping our volunteers in the corridor of our office, other times vision work towards something that shows in the daily life of KY first in a few years. Nevertheless, all the cool things you get to do in this role have positively surprised me on a weekly basis. As the president of KY you get to sit at tables, talk with school staff and have an impact in the lives of so many people that the sense of excitement it evokes is hard to describe, you have to experience it yourself.
My year has also been defined by learning new things, dealing with difficult situations and working alongside wonderful people. Whether it’s preparing the weekly morning schools with my vice president, representing the student’s voice at the school of business top management team or running a meeting for the kylterichairs of Finland all of my tasks can be summarized under three categories: leading the board, managing projects and advocating for our members. Not to forget about the annual balls where the best connections to other student associations are actually made. With a responsibility portfolio this wide you can make your calendar as full as you like.
However, the most important guideline for thriving in this position is to choose your battles wisely. With endless opportunities and a (hopefully) strong passion towards your work it’s easy to get carried away and think that everything has to be achieved and fixed within a single year. Whilst you manage the board’s work, you are also, at the end of the day, solely responsible for your own work and workload. It requires a lot of self-management skills, setting boundaries and tolerating imperfection. Luckily, you are never truly alone, because the board as well as the representative council always shares the responsibility of big and small decisions with you.
So, has my year as the president of KY met my expectations? Absolutely yes, and for the most part, it has exceeded them by a long way. During the long and sometimes exhausting days, I’ve tried to remind myself that I’m in my dream job and remember to be grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. A year as the president of KY is to work towards your passion, to grow as a person and contribute to the common good, and I’m proud to say that’s exactly what I’ve been privileged to do this year and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
