Student Council President

One of my twins— the ugly one— recently ran for student council president at his middle school. He knew that I’d run (and won) when I was his age so he asked me if there were any secrets I could share.  

I suggested that he campaign exclusively with the 6th and 7th graders because every one of his fellow 8th graders would focus on the 8th grade vote. Because 6th and 7th graders were… you know… dweebs.  

Note: I now know that no one uses the word dweeb anymore.  Apparently, my using it was either “suss” or “cap” because the right word for them would either be “simps” or “noobs.”

Feelin’ old, yo!

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Anyhoo… he won by such a large margin that the school probably thought he cheated.  

And he did.  In a way.  By listening to me.  

I’m sharing this not because I feel guilty but because I’m thinking about starting Yeet Analytics:  a student council political consultancy. 

I’m going to be rich! RICH!

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Oh… and maybe there is *some* guilt.  

It did get me thinking about how privilege sometimes comes by way of well-meaning parents.

It got me thinking about how I was raised by a first generation immigrant— a single mom who didn’t have any secrets to share about how to get elected to the student council or how to get into an Ivy League school or how to get hired in the world of finance.  She was just #UnconditionalLove.

It got me thinking that we *really* need to do more to even the playing field for kids and young adults everywhere. 

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Mentorship is a good start…  if we could get it to those who need it most.  I’m already proud of programs like the ones my Firm is running with BMCC/CUNY/CCAC. And I’m thinking that maybe we should go even younger.  Waaaay younger.

Also, ecstatic that we’re deepening relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU); orgs like Girls Who Code; and conferences like Grace Hopper.

Also great: partnering with apprenticeship organizations like Year Up.  #LoveThem

Eager to learn about what else we’re doing across the Street and in other industries.  Because we can do more together.  And because serving the next generation is– as a certain president likes to say– “fire.”