As my executive team and I are ending our term and applications are opening we wanted to reflect on our experiences as a SSSC executive and pass down the advice, lessons and teachings we would have told our younger selves coming into our executive roles.
We were all in your positions just a year ago, applying and running for our executive spot. We want to thank you for putting yourself out there and having the courage to be a candidate. All six of us were in your exact shoes. We know firsthand how exciting yet daunting it can be. You're already taking the proper steps towards your SSSC future, and always know that beyond this blog post, you can reach out to any of us.
Firstly, there are six executive roles; President, Vice President Academics, Advocacy, Communications, Events and Finance. These executive roles work as a team to represent the student body and executive student events, opportunities and advocacy work. Being an SSSC executive is a significant role, and although it is extremely rewarding and a privilege in our faculty, it is a lot of work both on the ground and behind the scenes. From this, you must ask yourself how much time you will commit to this role next year? For the 6 of us, this is our priority besides our courses. SSSC is a large-scale council, we operate internally with our portfolios and student body. We constantly meet and work with our faculty administration, other faculty councils, department clubs and external stakeholders. Regardless of your portfolio and VP role, it is a hefty time commitment and something you need to recognize will take up a large amount of your next student year. As an executive, you must be comfortable leading, making difficult decisions, and involving yourself in choices that represent both yourself, your portfolio, and the student body's needs. This understanding comes from a commitment to doing more for our faculty.
A large piece of advice we have when you're thinking about becoming a SSSC executive is to have a vision for your role and your year. The way you lead your portfolio is driven by your goals and outcomes. Being a leader that knows what they want to do is impactful, but make sure it connects to the SSSC. Do your research on our council, what's been done, what cannot be done. SSSC is a well-established council and your foundations of SSSC must be evident in your presentation of yourself.
So you're probably asking why the 6 of us chose to be executives; we decided to be an SSSC because of our passion and commitment to improving the student body and carrying on the decades of student-driven work of the Social Science Student’s Council. My VPs each will give their testaments from their student government journey, how they became a VP, their experience in the role and portfolio-specific guidance:
Vice President Events
Aidan Runstedler
I have been on the council since my first year, but stepping into an executive role was anything but easy. I had never been part of the Events Portfolio before, and with no prior executive experience and being younger than most other applicants, I questioned my ability to succeed. However, I quickly realized that experience isn’t the defining factor of a great executive—passion and mindset are.
As VP Events, the most crucial skill is being realistic. Not every event can be a large-scale gala or panel with one hundred guests. Smaller initiatives, like booths in the UCC Atrium, require just as much attention to detail and planning. By organizing a diverse range of large and small initiatives, you can engage the broadest possible student audience, catering to various interests and ensuring broad representation. Moreover, budgeting is another key challenge; some events seem impossible due to high costs, but with strategic delegation and strong organization, even the most ambitious ideas can become a reality.
VP Events is one of the most people-facing roles on council, making it incredibly rewarding. You see feedback and success in real time as events unfold. Of course, turnout fluctuates, and some events don’t go as planned, but nothing compares to seeing an event come to life after months of hard work.
Becoming VP of Events was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Although it came with a learning curve and moments of imposter syndrome, it has shaped me in ways I never expected. I’ll always be grateful for the experience.
Vice President Finance
Matt Shoss
Unlike many other executives, this is my first year on the Social Science Student Council. I stepped into the role of VP Finance with a mix of anticipation and excitement. The role of VP finance includes the responsibility of leading the finance portfolio, which aligns with my academic pursuits and challenges me to apply my knowledge in real-world scenarios. Applying the theory I had learned to manage the council’s budget and financial strategies has been extremely exciting. This position has not only enhanced my understanding of financial management within a student-run organization but has also allowed me to contribute significantly to the sustainability and success of our council's initiatives. Through this role, I've gained invaluable opportunities and developed a deeper appreciation for the impact we can make on our community.
The finance portfolio is unique in size, being the smallest portfolio on the council. With that, the bond that the finance team has is powerful. I’ve had the incredible honour of hiring and working alongside some wonderful people I now consider good friends. This role not only allows you to learn about the finances of the student council firsthand, but also gives you the chance to meet some fantastic people. I highly encourage and recommend the role of VP Finance to anyone who has a passion for finances.
Vice President Academics
Shreya Kohli
Academics have been one of the most rewarding experiences of my undergraduate education. As someone who joined in their third year on the events team, I was highly intimidated to take on the role. However, as I campaigned and learned more about the academic scope of social science, it strengthened my commitment to improving the student experience. Working closely with deans, academic advisors, and professors has given me a deeper appreciation for the work that goes into academic decision-making and how student advocacy can directly influence policy. Leading the largest team on council, throughout this year I continued to enhance critical skills in communication and collaboration, while continually recognizing the effectiveness of teamwork. I'm so glad I chose to run for VP Academics, as it allowed me to merge my passion for event planning with my dedication to academic advocacy. Taking on an executive role on the council means pouring your whole heart and soul into your team. While it can be a lot of work at times, the rewards far outweigh the challenges, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Vice President Communications
Brianna Furlano
The SSSC communications portfolio is where I indeed found my place at Western. I was eager to get involved in my first year but found university life overwhelming. In my third year, I finally decided to join the SSSC as a Content Coordinator, helping manage social media and marketing for our advocacy, events and initiatives. From designing graphics to responding to Instagram inquiries, I kept communications with the Social Science faculty clear, engaging, and accessible. For the 2024/2025 year, I took a step forward and applied for the role of Vice President Communications. After interviewing and earning the position, I led an extraordinary team of 11 dedicated individuals who make everything happen. Their creativity and commitment are the backbone of our success, and I constantly admire their talent. Their unwavering enthusiasm makes this role not just a responsibility but a truly rewarding experience.
The communications portfolio holds bi-weekly meetings to strategize and plan our marketing efforts, ensuring our outreach remains engaging and effective. This role has strengthened my ability to work as part of a team, think strategically, and adapt to fast-moving environments. It requires hard work, as we must stay on top of initiatives across five other portfolios on the council, constantly update our website, coordinate headshots, handle merchandise, and maintain a strong presence on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
As my undergraduate journey ends, I can confidently say that becoming an executive on the SSSC was the best decision I’ve made. This role has allowed me to develop invaluable professional skills that will stay with me throughout my career. At the same time, the position requires significant time and effort, the reward of contributing to such a large organization and seeing the positive impact of our work has made it all worthwhile.
Vice President Advocacy
Yashvi Patel
I joined the SSSC in my 3rd year, and as someone removed from the student council, it was pretty nerve-racking, but I grew to enjoy the work so much that I applied to be a VP in my 4th year. As someone who sees success in how impactful and beneficial the work I create is, this role constantly motivates me to do more. This council gave me the opportunity and resources to tackle gaps in the student body’s knowledge regarding resources like tuition amenities and undocumented absences. It allowed me to address the needs of diverse groups on campus through various methods like a booth, events, social media, policy papers, and more!
It's easy to see gaps within the student body, but it takes so much more to want to make a change and address those gaps. This council has allowed me to meet people who want to implement change and meet students where they are. This will enable us to break down the bureaucratic barriers and ensure the welfare of the student body. To meet like-minded individuals, I created a team of amazingly qualified and dedicated people who care about advocating and breaking down barriers. They constantly motivate me to accomplish more and also have their own goals that I love to support, making this role more fulfilling. Being VP Advocacy doesn’t only let you collaborate with the USC and other organizations; this role also communicates with faculty, sitting on the EDIDA Council. This allows this portfolio to have an extensive range of the types of work that it will enable you to do.
Applying to the Council, especially as VP of Advocacy, was daunting, to say the least. I had several ideas without direction on implementing them, but consultations and building my platform gave me confidence in my abilities. People on SSSC wanted to hear my ideas and give me the right direction. This gave me a sense of direction, allowing me to hit the ground running and making this experience more meaningful and fruitful.
Finally, I want to end with a piece of advice and that is when you are thinking about applying: believe in yourself and your abilities. When I first joined the SSSC as a first-year representative, I dreamed of taking on an executive role but doubted my ability to ever run for President. A journey of self-belief and growth led me to be where I am now. Serving as President with my incredible executive team has been the most rewarding experience of my undergraduate career and a true highlight of my life. There's so much I've learned along the way and one that I could keep writing about, but if I could give you just one piece of advice, it would be this: trust in yourself. Know what you are capable of, and if you have a vision for improving the student body, don't hesitate to step forward. Your contribution can make a significant difference and impact on your student body.
Sincerely,
President, Chloe Vanderlugt
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