Class president stressed about graduation

Aneroo, LPN · Dec 7, 2004

I understand your frustration. I'm the VP of our class, pinning is in May. It has been horrible to get our class to participate in anything, esp fundraising. We tell them how little money we have, how much things cost, and still, no one offers to help. It's always the same people doing everything. I suggested during our slideshow at pinning that we have a slide that says "This ceremony brought to you by the following students...". One instructor told us at the beginning that 10 percent of the people would do 90 percent of the work.

However, I totally disagree with you telling people not to run for office. It's hard! It's rewarding though. Knowing that ceremony happened because of me and about 8 other people is going to be great. And putting down that I was class VP, and that I assisted in planning and implentation of our pinning ceremony on my resume...that'll be great! It does use a lot of your time, esp with fundraising. We really stressed that to the new class coming in, and they've been great about getting their stuff together. You will have time to study. We study at fundraisers! If you have a family, kids, full time job, it might not be the best thing for you. But if you're WILLING to put the time and effort into the job, then go for it. It's incredibly frustrating, yet rewarding (kinda like nursing!) -Andrea

babynursewannab · Dec 7, 2004

oh hon!

i am not even president. i may as well be (we don't even have one), but i am in exactly the same position as you. our ceremony is next wed (12/15) and we don't have the programs together yet. food??? hope those who signed up bring what they promised...i had to cancel food and only order drinks from food services to save money because no one would fundraise!!! ***sigh***

voting, class photos, plaque ordering, faculty recognition, class gifts, plants, banners, decorations, invitations and prizes all generously arranged by myself and one other person. nevermind it is not just for our regular graduating class. our school is graduating one traditional and two accelerated classes this semester...so i'm doing this for a few people i know and a bunch i don't!

i would have done this without annoyance if it weren't for being yelled at recently for not giving enough notice and information on graduation pictures and nclex review courses. the first...no one told the students we were responsible for arranging it, so i took it on with 3 weeks notice...without me stepping in, there would have been no photos (so bite me :angryfire )... the second...sorry i have only been telling everyone about it for 8 months!!! jeesh. just as you have found, i love a sense of entitlement coming from an apathetic group.

*whew* there was a little anger release. well, chicky, just chalk it up to human nature and revel in the fact that anything that happens is credited to you. if you are anything like me (and i get a vague sense you are) you'll thrive off of the pressure. it's your party hon!

congratulations on your pending graduation!!! :balloons:

-alyssa

kahumai, RN · Dec 7, 2004

On top of everything else, the students that havn't wanted to be bothered with planning or fundraising for the two years are now very interested in what has been planned.

Unfortunately, this is true at my school, too. I'm the Public Relations person, and I'm wasting MY time making certificates of acheivement thanking people for all of their "hard work" when I never saw them at any meetings, fundraising events, anything! It's not like I don't have the same classes they do and I have time for all of this, you know? Either way, good luck with finding the time to live your life over the next week or so, and remember..."That which does not kill us makes us stronger!!!" :chuckle

kellyo, LPN · Dec 8, 2004

I just became co-president last week (our class has two sections). I worry about how "active" our class will be...

NewEnglandRN, RN · Dec 8, 2004

Hi,

I understand your frustration. Take heart in the wonderful job you have done for your graduating class. You came forward when no one else did... good for you, you are a leader.

I am VP for my class and we had our first fundraising Bake Sale today. I was really concerned because not many people signed up to bring items. Imagine my surprise when about 70% of the class brought something! We managed to raise $250 in two hours with a simple bake sale we threw together in one week.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation and know in your heart you made a difference.

Aneroo, LPN · Dec 8, 2004

I am VP for my class and we had our first fundraising Bake Sale today. I was really concerned because not many people signed up to bring items. Imagine my surprise when about 70% of the class brought something! We managed to raise $250 in two hours with a simple bake sale we threw together in one week.
QUOTE]
You lucky dog you! Your class cares more than ours! -Andrea

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2004

I was hoping to be impeached but since that didn't happen, I stepped down. Guess I took the easy way out and it's not an option for OP this late in the game. How I can relate to your woes. It will be over very very soon.

Kat

Nightcrawler, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2004

Forget about being impeached, I almost quit and said the he@@ with all of it last week. I am feeling better now that invitations are out, the program is at the printer, food is ordered and most of the party supplies purchased. The party planning is starting to feel doable, but now the problem is that my first final is tomorrow!!!! I figure that if I concentrate on studying from now until the end of finals on Monday that I should be okay. The only party oriented thing that HAS to be done this weekend is to pick up the 16 pointsettias that are on order and will come in on Sunday..... Oh yeah, and write the speech that I am completely blocked on and have been for the past week. I figure that everything else can wait until Tuesday when I can comfortably tear out my hair and run all over town picking up things.... The reception is next Wednesday, with pinning the following day...... sigh......

I had to laugh out loud when I read postings about printing awards certificates, because there was a time when we talked about doing that....I reminded my VP about that idea yesterday, and we laughed at all of the things that we once thought that we would have the time for. At one time we actually wanted to do a sit down dinner for 400 and do pinning in a sort of awards ceremony type thing with catered food and service. Considering that we only fundraised $2100, there was never any chance of that happening. Even on a budget we are managing to do some very very nice things for the graduates. We paid for the sitting fee for the class portrait, which included a 8x10 for each student, we are providing a CD with a copy of the slideshow so that everyone has one for a keepsake, we had napkins printed so that they would be personalized. Our pinning ceremony is done outside of school uniform, so traditionally it is very hard to distinguish graduates from guests before and after the ceremony, so our class will all have white lei's to distinguish them.... oh, and each invitation, which we paid for out of class funds includes a copy of our class picture. All of this took a lot of work and planning, so you can understand how upset I was when I was accused of not thinking of the classes wishes. Mind you I don't have any family coming to graduation, so why should I care?????

Anyway, thank all of you for your words of understanding and encouragement. Your stories have helped me feel not so alone. I am sure that there are many many others out there like us. It will be beautiful and well worth it in the end. Good luck to all of you.

TamNurse · Mar 3, 2005

I was hoping to be impeached but since that didn't happen, I stepped down. Guess I took the easy way out and it's not an option for OP this late in the game. How I can relate to your woes. It will be over very very soon.
Kat

That's what I feel like doing too! We have a very small class of 27 graduates to please and it seems an impossible task. I never ASKED to be the boss of this!! Now, a clique of mommies want to distribute... are you ready? Glow Sticks to the children with the statement " The children are our points of light and the reason we did this" Can I throw-up now or later? Don't get me wrong, I like kids. However, this will be disruptive and distracting. Above all, it's tacky!

renerian, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2005

I assumed your formed a committee to help you right? If not I think that would be a huge help say I AM IN NEED OF HELP..I am sure people will come forward.

renerian

Liddle Noodnik · Mar 4, 2005

Thanks all of you for listening. Sometimes that is all I need

Sometimes that IS all that's needed.

It's funny about service positions; so few will fill them and even fewer will follow thru. It so often ends up like you say - no help and plenty of criticism. Been there a few times myself and I wind up resentful half the time, though I know that the service I performed was valuable.

I am sure that everything will come out more than fine - but I'd like to suggest you have your own way of celebrating, with friends and family that DO love and appreciate you. This IS a big deal!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{Nightcrawler}}}}}}}}}}]] Congratulations and I hope you can enjoy your success! :balloons: :Melody: