Oh, to be an elected leader

In my senior year of high school, I was in the second year of vocational electronics and doing quite well for myself with good grades the previous and coming in at the very top of my vocation. We had two excellent teachers, Mr. Batig, and Mr. Nader, who worked synergistically together in lecture, but had exceptional strengths on their own when we were divided into our lab classes.

Mr. Batig was our leader for technical information, but when it came to practical, common-sense knowledge, no better source could be found than Mr. Nader. And it is he I should have heeded that fateful day. He was always making me think, but my ego got in the way of listening to him... I heard every word he said, don't get me wrong. I just didn't listen, and he really knew better.

Encompassing all of the different vocational classes was a youth leadership called the Vocational Industrial Club of America (now apparently SkillsUSA). Each class had to elect a representative, and when I was nominated, me, who had never been picked first for anything... well damn, it sounded just fine to me. Ray Grove was also nominated. Ray was an outgoing person, very active. Clearly the better choice. I knew it. He knew it too.

So did Mr. Nader.

He warned something to the effect of "now be careful who you choose to be your VICA club leader" because someone more active in the organization would make a big difference in the opportunities you have as a class to do extra-curricular activities, fund raising, awards, etc...

I should have stepped out on my own right there, but I so badly wanted to be chosen for something I knew I could win.

I was elected by a small margin. The scales were imbalanced by the fact of there being more people in the split lab I was a part of, even though as a class we were thought of as a whole.

My only involvement with VICA that year was when I won my regional skills competition and went on to win third-place in state. None of this had anything to do with the fact I was also a VICA club leader. I guess I was too involved in classwork, and never even knew of weekly or monthly VICA meetings. I never attended anything.

Ray thought I was an asshole, and I'd have to say he was right.

I only hope that GW Bush comes to similar terms with himself, and admits what an asshole he is before we have to endure any more of his indifferent incompetence.

I was selfish and wanted to be popular. I would have had the same friends and probably even better time in school had I conceded that I wasn't the right person for the job in the first place.

Ray and the rest of his friends probably wouldn't have thought I was an asshole, either.