how do you write a speech for class president

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How to Write a High School President Speech

Last Updated: October 16, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 998,664 times.

Campaigning for school president is an exciting opportunity to build your leadership skills and bring change to your school. If you want to win the presidency, you’ll need to give a persuasive campaign speech to get people to vote for you. To make your speech effective, plan out what you want to say before you start writing. Then, you can structure your speech to keep it clear and concise. Finally, use a tone that fits your audience so your speech will be engaging.

Sample Speeches

Planning Your Speech

• For example, let’s say your school has rules in place that require students to get approval before they can hang posters on the school walls, even if the posters are related to school activities. If you know other students are constantly complaining about this rule, you might campaign on changing it.
• As another example, your school may have an ineffective process for lining up at lunchtime, which causes students to spend most of their lunch period purchasing food. To address this issue, you might suggest a new way of lining up or an alternative process for handing out food.
• For another option, let's say your school has tried to do programs to help students, such as anti-bullying programs or extended library hours, but limited funding made the programs ineffective. You might run on a platform of doing fundraising activities and promoting volunteerism to help support these valuable programs.

Tip: Make sure the issues you focus on are things you can actually change. For instance, getting better pizza in the cafeteria might be an issue that people care about, but it might be impossible for you to actually achieve.

• Student government positions you’ve held
• Clubs or teams you've participated in
• School events you've attended
• School events you've helped plan
• Volunteer positions you've taken

• For example, you might include prior work with your school’s student government or a leadership role you held in a club.
• Similarly, you could include the time you planned set designs for a community theater production or your stint as a summer camp counselor.

• For example, you might use words like "first," "second," "next," "then," "additionally," "similarly," "alternatively," and "furthermore."
• Repetitive phrasing can serve as a useful signpost during the speech. You might, for instance, say “The first time we came together to change things for the better” before describing an accomplishment, then introduce the second with “The second time we came together….”

• For example, make sure your speech doesn't go over the time limit. Time your speech to make sure it's about 3-7 minutes long, depending on what your school allows.
• Whenever possible, give yourself enough time to write several drafts of a speech. Each time you revise a draft, look for ways to trim the language, phrasing, and focus down to the essentials.

Structuring Your Speech

• Say, “Hello, everyone. My name is Jacob Easton. I’m a junior, and I want to be class president because we need a fresh vision for making Acme High a more welcoming and inclusive school.” In this example, your “why” statement starts a theme of inclusivity.

• For instance, if you’re using the “inclusivity” theme, you might pledge to start an anti-bullying program and a peer mentoring club.
• You might say, "Together, we can make our school a better place for all students. If elected, I will work with all of you to create an anti-bullying club so that no student is afraid to come to school. Additionally, we will form a peer mentoring club to encourage students to guide others and act as a support system."

• If you’ve held other leadership positions, identify them and mention for each how you achieved something related to your overarching theme.
• If you haven’t held official leadership positions, identify life experiences in which you had to be both decisive and collaborative.
• You might say, “As president of the debate club, I’ve expanded club membership, worked with local lawyers to build a mentorship program, and acquired donations from local office supply stores so students have the materials they need for tournaments. If you elect me to be your president, I’ll bring the same type of leadership to the student government.”

• For instance: “While our current class leadership has done good work in reviving school spirit, I will dedicate myself to making sure all students feel the embrace of that spirit and have opportunities to shape it.”

• Say, “Together, we can make our school inclusive for all. Thank you for your time this afternoon. I’m Jacob Easton, and I want your vote.”
• You might also decide to go with a catchy slogan, like, “Next Tuesday, ‘Get Awake and Vote for Jake!’”

Using the Right Tone

• You can smile or keep your facial expression neutral.
• Practice your body language in front of a mirror before you give your speech.

• For instance, you might say, “We all want to support our classmates with motivational posters. However, current rules make it hard to have school spirit. Let's change that."
• Read the speech out loud as your write it. This will help ensure that each sentence fits the way you speak. If the sentence doesn’t sound right or feel natural coming from your mouth, revise it.
• Because you’re focused on clarity and brevity, you might use sentence fragments or repeat words or phrases in ways you wouldn’t normally if you were writing an essay.

• To make your speech more formal, use grammatically correct sentences and stronger words, while avoiding casual phrasing. For example, don't use contractions or sentence fragments, which create a more conversational tone. Instead, speak in full sentences.
• To help you find a more serious tone, imagine that you're giving your speech to your teachers rather than your classmates.
• If you plan to give a formal speech, you might watch videos of famous speeches on YouTube to get an idea of what people expect.

• When choosing the right jokes and stories for your speech, steer clear of anything that might be perceived as offensive.
• Always keep your audience in mind. An "inside joke" that your friends understand might not be funny to the student body as a whole.
• If possible, connect the humor to the overall theme of your speech. For instance, let’s say your speech is about changing the rules for hanging posters on school walls. You might tell a humorous story about the time your school hung up “Go team” posters for a football game that had already happened two weeks prior because it took so long for the posters to get approved.

• For example, you’d say, “If we work together, we make it easier to get through the lunch line so we all have more time to eat,” rather than, “If I’m elected, I’ll do everything in my power to fix the lunch lines so students have more time to eat.”

Tip: In a campaign speech, write about what “we” can accomplish “together,” not about what “I” will do.

Expert Q&A

• Use your other campaign materials as supports for the ideas you'll express in your speech. For example, you may have campaign signs, buttons, and flyers to promote your candidacy. Incorporate the same issues you talk about in your speech onto your campaign materials. Similarly, if you use a slogan on your signs, say that slogan during your speech. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Dress appropriately on the day that you give your speech. Depending on the culture at your school, this might mean a nice casual outfit, like a dress or pants with a collared shirt or blouse, or a formal outfit, such as a suit, slacks, or a skirt. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/writing-a-school-election-speech.html
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/?sh=72f108694fb7
• ↑ http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/writing-a-school-election-speech.html
• ↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/structuring-speech
• ↑ https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-elected-class-president
• ↑ http://passport.vec.vic.gov.au/vote/write-up-an-election-speech/
• ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
• ↑ https://sps.columbia.edu/news/five-ways-improve-your-body-language-during-speech
• ↑ https://finley-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/f/finley-h/localcontent/how_to_write_a_speech.pdf
• ↑ https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/politics-pronouns

About This Article

To write a high school president speech, choose a few important, clear points to emphasize. Avoid long, wordy sentences and a complicated outline. Instead, keep the structure and content of your speech simple so your audience can easily follow along with what you’re saying. As you write, read your speech out loud to ensure that it sounds natural and conversational. Also, use words like “we” and “us” and reference shared experiences to build rapport with your audience. For tips on writing a campaign speech, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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1. Always Introduce Yourself to the Crowd

2. state your reason for running, 3. convince the crowd to vote for you, 4. add the issues and your solutions, 5. say thank you at the end of your speech.

• Begin with a strong opening that grabs the audience’s attention. You can use a quote, a personal anecdote, or a bold statement.
• Introduce yourself and briefly mention your grade, major, and any relevant extracurricular activities or achievements.
• A Quote: Start with a relevant and inspiring quote that sets the tone for your speech.
• An Anecdote: Share a personal story or anecdote that relates to the theme of your speech.
• A Question: Pose a thought-provoking question that gets your audience thinking about the topic.
• A Bold Statement: Begin with a powerful or surprising statement that piques interest.

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How to Write a Class President Speech

23 jul 2018.

If you are running for class president, you will need to write a speech to deliver to the student body. You will want your speech to be unique and different to set you apart from the other candidates. How do you figure out what to say in a class president speech? How should you organize it? How long should it be? Some of these questions will be answered by your principal or the student council sponsor, but general speech writing tips also apply to writing a campaign speech. Reviewing class officer speech examples online can also provide you with ideas for writing and organizing a standard campaign speech.

Explore this article

• Thank Your Listeners
• Use an Attention Grabber
• Suggest Possible School Improvements
• Present Possible Solutions
• Mention Impressive Accomplishment

1 Thank Your Listeners

Start with a thank you to those present. You will want to thank the student body, the principal, the faculty, your fellow candidates and any other guests who may be present before you begin your actual speech. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to share your views and ideas for their consideration.

2 Use an Attention Grabber

Tell a joke or story or present a quote to introduce your speech. You want to catch people's attention and show that your speech is not going to just be another boring, regular speech. Try to pick a story or quote that captures the spirit of your campaign.

3 Suggest Possible School Improvements

Introduce problems that you know are on the minds of the student body. What are the changes that your fellow classmates want to see in your school? The body of your class president speech should focus on these issues. For example, do students want juice machines available in between classes? Are students interested in organizing an after-school intramural league? The issues on which the students are focused should be addressed in your class president promises.

4 Present Possible Solutions

Offer solutions to the problems. Be careful -- you do not want to make a bunch of empty class president promises. For example, if students want 15 minutes between classes, but teachers and parents don't want to extend the school day, can you really do this? No. If problems exist that you have no answer or solution for, you may not want to list them in your speech. You could also make a statement indicating you are aware of these special problems, and you will brainstorm solutions or work toward a compromise with involved parties; however, you can't promise results at this time. It is better to be honest than to promise things you can't fulfill.

5 Mention Impressive Accomplishment

State your activities throughout the speech. You do not want to bore students with a long list of all your accomplishments and activities, but you do want to work them into your speech. For example, if you have played varsity basketball for three years, you could say something like, "Since I have played basketball during high school, I know how to work as a team. I want to put a team of students together to work on a recycling program in our school cafeteria." Just make sure to be yourself and be honest during your class president speech to show that you are genuine and sincere. Don't be shy in asking for their vote.

• Be sure not to offend anyone with your comments.
• 1 Best Speech Student Council Speech Sample
• 2 Write-Out-Loud: Student Council Speeches
• 3 Patrick Henry College: 5 Tips for Succeeding in Student Council Elections!

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to win a student election, by a former class president.

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Hoping to be your class president? Winning the position takes a lot of work, but you can absolutely make it happen. Why should you trust me? I was my Junior Class President and Student Government President my senior year, so I know what it takes to get there. In this article, I've outlined every step you need to take to become class president: starting with just getting on student council freshman year, all the way through running in a big election as a senior. 

Why Do You Want to Be Class President?

Before I talk about how to get elected, I want you   to think about why you want to become class president. Do you want to improve school dances? Do you want to have a wider variety of school lunch options? Create a class field trip? Start a fundraiser?

All of these reasons are legitimate. You need to figure out what your own goal is. If you're having trouble, sit down and brainstorm. Think about all the events your student government plans. Which did you attend? Were there issues at these events? What could have been done better? Is it something you could change? This brainstorming should lead you to some ideas of why you want to become president of your class or school.

Why do you need a reason to want to be class president? It'll keep you motivated during your campaign, and it'll help you explain to your classmates why they should vote for you. I'll delve into this in-depth later on in this article. 

First, I'll go over the two major steps you need to follow in order to run a successful campaign.

Step 1: Start Early

If you want to be president of your class or high school some day, you need to start working towards that goal early.

Plan to join student council your freshman year, but don’t expect to be elected president.  Freshman student council elections are usually a mess. Freshman elections typically happen within a month of starting school, so no one knows each other. The person elected president is usually the person whose name other students have heard the most. It’s not usually based on competence or trust.

My recommendation for freshman student council elections: Run for one of the “smaller” offices such as secretary or treasurer.  There is usually less competition for these positions, so you’ll have a better shot of being elected.  During freshman year, your aim should just be to get on the council. Once you're on it, you’ll be able to prove your effectiveness as a leader and can start the climb towards president. I was elected Freshman Treasurer, and then Sophomore Vice President, and then Junior Class President.

But by starting early, I don’t just mean joining the council early...

Step 2: Maintain Relationships

You need to work from the start to build relationships with your classmates so that they know and trust you. This is the most important step to becoming Class President.

Students want to elect someone they like and know is competent.  Be a leader in the classroom. Participate in class discussions and get good grades, it’s how you’ll prove your competence. Don’t be the class clown or the student who’s always on their cell phone or asleep.

Interact with the students around you.  Sit with different groups at lunch. Talk to them about their concerns and what changes they’d like to see happen at the school.

If you’re not currently on student council, ask if you can attend their meetings.  Some student councils allow students who’re interested in joining to sit in on their meetings, and some host an occasional meeting (monthly, bi-monthly, annual, etc.) for students who’re not on the council to voice their concerns and ideas.

Also, if you’re not currently on student council, ask members of student council if they need help with their events.  It’s a great way to test out student council to see if it’s right for you, and it's also a great way to show you’re fit to be on student council/leading student council.

With my advice, you won't be quite so lonely!

How to Run a Winning Election

The two steps I mentioned above will start you on the path to becoming president of your class, but to run a winning election you’ll need to do more.

#1: Get Your Name Out There

To win an election, you need to market yourself.  Start by creating a slogan, even if it’s as simple as “Lauren for Junior Class President.” You want to use one slogan for your campaign that will be used on all of your marketing materials so that your name becomes recognizable. If you don't come up with one slogan and instead use multiple slogans or designs, people may get confused. You want one good slogan that you'll use across all of your material to ensure a clear, focused campaign that'll create name recognition. Think about all of the US presidential campaigns; the posters always have one design from which they never stray.  

#2: Put Up Posters With Your Slogan

The posters can be super simple; even just a print out of the slogan on normal computer paper will work. However, you should have a lot of them.  The exact number will vary proportionally to the number of students in your class (or school, if you’re running for the overall Student Government President). What I mean by that is if your class has 100 students, 10 posters may be enough, but if you have 1000 students in your class, you may want to put up 50 or more posters. Count on some posters being ripped down or disappearing. Most schools have rules against this, but it’s hard to catch someone ripping down a poster. Plan on making extras.

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#3: Create Something to Hand Out 

This can be a sticker, button, pencil, etc. You can make these super cheaply by buying labels, printing your slogan onto the labels, and handing them out as “stickers” or putting these labels onto pencils. Again, as I said for posters, the number of handouts you should make will vary based on the number of students in your class or school. If you can afford it, I’d recommend making at least one sticker/handout per student in your class.  The campaigns usually last multiple days, so try to make sure you have enough handouts to give a second sticker or pencil to other students who may misplace the first.

NOTE: You may not be able to use all of my suggestions above. Different schools have different campaign rules. For example, some schools don’t allow you to hand anything out. Check with a teacher or school administrator to make sure you know what the rules are.

What’s the Point of Marketing Yourself? 

You won’t win an election if people don’t know who you are and why you’re running. As I said before, students want to elect people they like and know are competent. Even if you’re a leader in the classroom and getting good grades, if you’re in a class of 1000, you may not know half of your classmates. You want the other half of students who don’t know you personally to know your name and to talk about you with their friends.

Posters help create name visibility.  People will start to recognize your name and will hopefully start to talk to their friends about you. 

Handouts (i.e. stickers or pencils) also help create name visibility and offer you an opportunity to meet more students you don’t know.  At lunch time, travel around your cafeteria, walk up to people you don’t know and ask if they’d like a sticker or pencil . It’s a GREAT excuse to talk to people and will give you an opportunity to convince them to vote for you. 

Make sure you tell them why you want to be president. As I mentioned earlier, whatever reason you decided to run (whether it was to improve school dances or improve the lunch menu) tell it to them! Ask them what they’d like to see happen at the school next year. Show them you’ll be a good listener as well as a good leader!

#4: Ace Your Campaign Speech

Some schools have candidates give speeches or debate.   My school did not. If your school allows you to give a speech, definitely do so!

Here are my recommended points to hit in your speech/debate.

• Introduce yourself (It may seem obvious, but it will help students who may not know you).
• “Hi, I’m Lauren Jones, and I’m running for Junior Class President.”
• Say why you want to be president and why you’re qualified. Your qualifications will be  a combination of personal characteristics and past experiences and successes.
• “I'm responsible and a good listener. I served as Sophomore Class VP and fundraised more than $1,000 for the Red Cross.”
• State your platform (what you plan to do differently).
• “I plan to move our school dance to the Marriott Ballroom instead of our gym.”
• Say how you plan to accomplish your goals.
• “I will raise the money to move our dance to the Marriott Ballroom by hosting a school-wide bake sale.”
• End with your campaign slogan.
• “Remember, Lauren for Junior Class President.”  

These should be the main points you hit, but I’d recommend injecting some humor into it to make it more interesting. However, your speech should not be too long (I’d recommend 2-3 minutes maximum).  Make it concise and to the point or you’ll lose your audience.

If you market yourself well along with starting early, building a solid reputation, and maintaining relationships, you'll have yourself a winning campaign!

What’s Next?

If you’re interested in becoming class president in part to put it on your college application, you should learn about what makes an amazing extracurricular activity for your college applications . Also, you should learn  how many extracurricular activities you need for college.

Interested in learning about other great extracurricular opportunities? Learn more about job shadowing , community service , and volunteer abroad programs.

Aiming to get into Harvard and the Ivy League? Read our  How to Get Into Harvard guide  for everything you need to know to get accepted.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?  We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.

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