madame president

Mary has always wanted to try out student council.  She has tried 4 times to run for class president, and every single time she has been first runner up.  Argh!  Two times it was a difference of one vote.  Double Argh!

Mary has been a great sport about it each time, and has supported and congratulated her friends that have won.  She hasn't ever said anything bad about it, or let it get to her.

She has been frustrated the past couple times, but she has quickly gotten over it and moved on.

I have been very proud of her for her supportive and great attitude.

The class president changes half way through the year at Mary's school, so this Monday it was time to pick a new president.

Mary came home with the application, she spent a good amount of time writing her speech and practicing it in front of me and Ben.

She made sure to get all of the signatures and grades she needed, and she headed off to school on Monday with high hopes.

I was nervous for her ALL DAY!  I had to hold back the desire to text her or to call her every five minutes to see if she had given her speech yet, if they had voted yet, if she had heard anything yet.

I didn't want to be too anxious though, and make it a bigger deal to Mary than it already was, especially if it didn't work out again.

Mary walked through the door after school, with a very solemn expression on her face.  My heart immediately sank.

She then broke out into a huge grin and said, "I won!  I finally won!  I get to be the class president for the rest of the year!"

She was so incredibly excited!  It was awesome.  I gave her a huge hug and asked her all about how it went down.  She happily chatted about it for the next 30 minutes or so.  ha!

She was clearly elated the next morning to go to her first student council meeting, even though it was an hour before school starts.  :)

I am so proud of her for not giving up year after year, and time after time.  I am even more proud of her for being a good sport when she lost to a good friend, or to a peer.  I am proud of the way she handled losing, and how she is handling winning, with grace, and with sensitivity for those who did not win. 

She is such a great girl.

Way to go Pres. Mary!!!!

Wahoo!