Attempt #2

A year ago, Lia ran for student council secretary/treasurer at her school and gave it her all.  After spending hours helping me make campaign posters, writing a speech with her dad, practicing her speech for several evenings, and having the courage to get up in front of several hundred students at her school to deliver her speech at the election assembly, she found out that two of her good friends won the spots for secretary/treasurer.  It was a huge blow for her.  Lia did such a great job delivering her speech and would have done such a fabulous job serving in this student council position, but just wasn't given the chance.  As time went by, her heart healed, but she was still a little unsure if she would try it again next year. 
Well fast forward 12 months and suddenly it was student council election time again.  Since she is now in 6th grade, Lia had the chance to run for president and vice president in addition to secretary/treasurer.  Although she really wanted to participate in student council, Lia was afraid to try it again due to the fear of feeling that same disappointment and heartache.  After going back and forth for several days, Lia decided to run for vice president.  I was definitely in support of this because the two friends who beat her last year were not going to be competition this year.  One had moved to another school and the second one was running for president.  As a result, I really thought she had a chance of winning.  Just like last year, Lia did a great job working on the posters and writing her speech with me.  We went in and hung her posters on the school walls at the beginning of election week and she practiced giving her speech for several days before the big assembly.  I was able to leave a napping Emmett at home with my mom (who kindly agreed to come down and watch him) to go to the school to hear her speak at the assembly.  She did an amazing job--delivering her speech with confidence and poise.  I was so impressed and truly thought she could win against the two other students who were chosen to run against her by the teacher in charge.  However, at the end of the day, Lia came home to announce that there was a tie between the two other students and that they would be having a re-vote the next day.  So not only did Lia not win, but she didn't even make it into the top two.  My heart just broke for her again.  Lia has such wonderful qualities that would make her an amazing student leader, but she just isn't given the opportunity by her pears to put them to use.  It's frustrating to say the least, but Lia held her head high and voted for one of her "competitors" the next day.  As of right now, she claims that she will never run for a student leadership position again, but I hope her attitude will change and that she will have the chance to put these wonderful, leadership skills to use one day.  Win or not, I sure am proud of you, Lia, for giving it your all a second year in a row!

Lia standing next to the adorable, "Don't BLOW It," campaign poster we made together.

A close-up of her poster.

In addition to using two of her posters from last year, we also made three of these "Take Note" posters on lined, poster paper.  We both thought they turned out quite cute.

A close-up of her second poster we hung around the school walls.

A close-up of Lia delivering her speech in front of all of the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders of her school.

Lia glancing down while reading her speech to her classmates.  I just can't get over how brave she is to do this!

Lia listening to another one of the student's speech after she was done speaking.

Lia sitting between the two other students who ran against her for the position of vice president including her good friend, Sienna, who ended up winning the election the next day.