Cause Reflection

Aliyah Gadson
WGST 2310
December 8, 2015

Earlier in the semester when I viewed what would be required of me for the cause
reflection, I began to seek out organizations that I would want to be a part of. One of my friends,
who is a Senator for our Student Government Association (SGA), persuaded me to see what
SGA was all about. I started out by researching the legislative branch of the SGA on their
website. I found that the Senate was comprised of various students whom all represent the
different colleges that we have here on campus. I decided to review the steps that would be
required for me to join Senate, and I started asking Senators about their experience of Senate and
what they actually do.
The first step was too gather signatures from fifty constituents in my college. As a Belk
College of Business major, I thought this would be a great opportunity to meet other students in
my college. I gathered signatures by walking around the union, the Friday building, Prospector,
and by knocking on each door on every single hall in Lynch. Once I obtained the fifty signatures,
I turned it in to the President Pro Tempore of Senate, and it was time for the next step.
The next step in the process was to attend a Senate meeting. My job was to sit in and
watch what they do in order to see if it would be a great fit for me. As I sat in the meeting, I
began to see that Senate was an organization that I would love to be a part of. They had a guest
speaker that day and listening to her wise words were captivating. I figured that helping the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) as a student leader and being able to listen to
wise speakers would be a great idea. The leadership experience and networking opportunities
that I would gain would be unbelievable. During the meeting, I introduced myself and stated why

I was there, and I stayed after for a few minutes so that I could meet some of the Senators. Some
of the asked me questions, and although it was a little intimidating, I knew it was something that
I had to peruse.
Senate is comprised of various committees, and I had to interview with the Internal
Affairs committee as the next step in the process. Once I completed the interview, I had to wait.
Waiting was the hardest part because I was so anxious to find out whether or not I had made it.
About two weeks later, I got the great news that at the next Senate meeting I would be sworn in
as a Senator representing the Belk College of Business.
As a woman in the business field, I know that I will face barriers. Being chosen as a
representative for my college is a huge milestone. The other Senators for my college are all white
males, so I am glad that I can bring some diversity. I honor this positon, and as a student leader I
know it will be my job to set the precedent and be a great example. I want to show minorities
that we have the power to make change and that all we have to do is try. If we do not put
ourselves out there, then we will continue to be led by people who may have no interest in the
problems that we face.
So far, I have learned some very important lessons. The first most important lesson that I
have learned is that not trying gets you nowhere. It is so important for us to face our fears and
anxiety and nervousness in order for us to be great. Great people are not fearless they just learn
how to push past it in order to be successful. The second most important lesson that I have
learned thus far is that once you have a position of power, you need to use it effectively.
Although I am a Senator, I often find myself being silent in meetings because I am shy or afraid
to say the wrong thing; however, everything is a learning experience, and I would gain so much
more from my experience if I actively participated. I have also learned a lot about what it takes

to become a student organization as well as how student organizations receive funding. The
committee that I am on is the Organizational Ways and Means Committee (OWAM). We deal
with student organization proposals, legislation, and grants.
Once I obtain my business degree, I plan to go to law or business school or perhaps both.
I know that the skills and leadership experience that I have developed as a Senator will carry me
a long way. Maybe one day I will even work the government. As it obtains to being an
undergraduate student here at UNCC, I could also use the information that I have learned to start
my own organization or to help other students start theirs.
I will never forget the power that we yield as student leaders. The legislation that we
propose, write, and approve affects us all. I would recommend that all students try to find
leadership roles such as this one because the experience compares to that of no other. It is also a
great networking opportunity, and the people that you work with really do become your friends. I
wouldnt change this experience for anything in the world, and I am so glad that I took the first
step and decided to try.