Towards every end of an academic session, elections are usually conducted. Students elect or appoint departmental executives with high expectations. These excos are chosen not only to bear titles but to shoulder responsibilities that directly affect the welfare, growth, and overall experience of students in the department. They stand as a bridge between the students and the faculty, serving as both representatives and problem solvers.
But as weeks roll into months, there is often the temptation for leaders to slip into comfort zones, ignoring their promises, and forgetting the weight of the mandate entrusted to them. This gentle reminder, therefore, is not to point fingers but to nudge our excos back to the crux of what their service truly means. Being an executive is not a badge of honour to be worn passively, it is a call to service and action. Students look up to their leaders for timely information, welfare interventions, and platforms to thrive academically and socially. From organizing tutorials and seminars to ensuring proper communication between lecturers and students, the responsibilities of excos are far-reaching.
Leadership in this context is about service, not self. Excos are the first line of contact for students’ needs and concerns, and their effectiveness or lack of it directly shapes the experience of the entire department. When excos rise to their roles, the results are evident. Information flows better when students are kept in loop. The Welfare improves when the needs of students are given priority. Opportunities emerge when programs are well-organized and platforms are created for students to express themselves. The image of the department also grows stronger when leaders are active, consistent, and intentional about service. On the other hand, when excos become complacent, disconnection sets in. Students begin to feel neglected, and the gap between leadership and the people they represent widens.
To our excos, the question worth asking is simple: Am I truly serving to the best of my ability? The students entrusted them with a mandate sometimes through the ballot, other times by nomination because they believed they could deliver. The call today is to rise up to that trust. Service does not have to be dramatic. Even small, consistent acts of responsibility leave lasting impressions. A timely announcement, a well-coordinated program, solid feedback systems, true representation, availability, or a willingness to listen to concerns with empathy can go a long way.
In particular, the social director carries a responsibility that excites many students. The academic session is not confined to the expository pages of POS 321 or POS 412, frequent walks to awba dam or even night walks to love garden. In as much as seminars and conferences are important, departmental life is not complete without vibrant and memorable social events, and students are keenly expecting a smooth, well-coordinated, and eventful social calendar this session. This is an opportunity not just to entertain, but to unite the department and create lasting bonds among students.
Leadership is never about the position, it is about the impact. As departmental executives, you hold a unique chance to leave behind a legacy worth remembering. Let it not be said that your tenure was only about titles or students were later known to be a member of the executive council through the sessional package (book). Instead, let it be remembered that you served, uplifted, and gave your best for the department. This is a gentle reminder, leadership is service. And true service, when rendered wholeheartedly, never goes unnoticed.
