Live and direct from Santa Barbara

This morning, I woke up half an hour later than I should have been up. So, what’s new? I scrambled to get ready and walked out into the rainy morning with my backpack, duffel bag and Ozo. I drove north on the 405 and then the 101. The rain was off and on and in some places, it was actually rather sunny. I arrived at UC Santa Barbara an hour and a half later. I took the wrong exit. Got a little lost trying to figure out which parking lot I needed to park in. I overpaid at the parking machine by $3 because I didn’t have any change.

It was one of those mornings when I grumble about getting elected and having to meet my student government responsibilities.

However, I’m pretty good at seeing both sides of the issue and overall I’ve enjoyed the work I do with UCSA and the Graduate Students Association. The top ten perks of being an elected officer (in no particular order).

1. Paid travel. Each month, I’m required to attend a meeting at another University of California campus. Since July, I’ve had all-expense paid trips (well, except when I lose my receipts or forget to turn them in) to San Diego, Sacramento, Berkeley, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara. Expenses for local trips are reimbursed too. I may lose my weekend, but being VP of External Affairs has helped satisfy my need for getting out of LA on a frequent basis.
2. The stipend. I get paid. There was a time when being a student leader was something I did without any compensation, but as a graduate student, it’s a lot more difficult to do things voluntarily.
3. It’s educational. I’ve learned a whole lot about California politics and how the UC Regents work in the past year. I’ve learned a thing or two about lobbying and how to apply all the research findings I read all the time to a more practical policy perspective.
4. UCLA Store discounts. Comes in handy when I want to buy gifts, new UCLA gear, or get books for classes.
5. They feed me. GSA spends a whole lot of money on food. It’s not always great, but it’s usually something better than I could make.
6. I get a comfy office. I willingly share the office with the two people who also work on external issues. It’s nice to have a place to go besides Moore Hall that isn’t always noisy and crowded.
7. I meet some really great people. I know grad, undergraduate and professional students from all the UC campuses. At a time when my social circle is getting smaller, it’s nice to know that I can still make connections with people through my involvement on campus.
8. I get to reconnect with the undergrads. They’re almost always more on top of things than the grad students. They may have less professional experience, but they’re better organizers and they have that passion. All the grad students I know who were student activists as grad students seem to be pretty jaded. Plus, they remind me of my time being involved on campus at UCLA.
9. The drive on the 101 north to Santa Barbara is beautiful, even when it’s cloudy. There’s something about the Pacific Ocean that makes me feel, well, pacific.
10. Having to manage school, work and leadership responsibilities helps me manage my time. The less time I have to waste, the less I waste.

The drawbacks?

1. Time. I spend one weekend a month at a meeting or a conference, spend at least two hours a week in meeting on campus and over conference calls. Plus, there’s all kinds of work I actually have to do.
2. Politics will always be drama, even in student government.
3. Travelling takes its toll. I feel nauseated every time I fly lately and the 5 is a really boring drive.
4. I see my family a lot less .
5. I get to spend even less time than usual with el Venado and my friends.
6. Cost. It’s taken me anywhere from a week to get reimbursed to a few months. My check was sent to the wrong person and she cashed it!
7. My time management still sucks and I’ve been flaking on my most important responsibility, school.
8. It doesn’t really help my professionally if I want to go in to an academic or administrative career.
9. Although I travel one weekend a month, but I spend most of it indoors. Many of those days (like today) tend to be really nice. It’s rather torturous to be in one room from 10 am to 7 pm whole it’s beautiful out.
10. Results aren’t really tangible and take a long time to achieve. It’s hard to see the fruits of my labor.

I started writing this while hearing the howling wind outside, thinking about the awesome drive to Santa Barbara, and noticing that the clouds and rain had given away to sunshine and (mostly) clear skies. I also have papers to write and finals to complete within the next two weeks.

I’ve also still been considering whether or not I will run for this position again. I need to make my decision soon. Based on what I wrote above, anyone want to decide for me?