What the SLC Gave Me (And What It Can Give You)

The year 2020 will forever go down in history for many reasons, but for me, it was the year I took a chance and applied for SADD’s State Student Leadership Council (SLC), and later on the National SLC, and now the ELC. So, in my history book, it was the year everything in my life changed… and as Glinda and Elphaba sing, “I have been changed for good.”

I come from a small little farm town in upstate NY, where any place you go, you bump into a cousin, and our big outings were driving to the nearest Dunkin or McDonald’s. In a small community, it is so important that we look out for each other. That’s why I became involved with SADD. Then a pandemic happened, and in August 2020—one day after my town was flooded (what we have deemed as “Flo-vid”)—I saw an application for the NY State SLC. I applied as a very young leader with minimal experience, was accepted, built up my skills, and then applied for the National SLC.

Let me give you a time jump to where I am now with SADD/my SADD wrapped:

• 4 years on the NY State SLC

• 3 as President

• 4 years on the National SLC

  • 1 as a General Council Member

  • 1 as the VP of TextLess Live More Engagement

  • 1 as National President

  • 1 as National President Emeritus

• 1 year on the TextLess Live More Engagement Board

• Re-launched SADD’s Emerging Leaders Council (formerly the College Advisory Council)

  • Chair for 2 years, and counting

• Working as an NY Community Engagement Specialist, where I oversee the NY SLC, for 3 years and counting

If that list should tell you anything—besides that I am a “try hard”—it should tell you to take a chance and APPLY! Trust me, I know ball.

Let me give you five really good reasons you should apply, based on how SADD has helped me grow professionally and personally.

1. Exponentially grow your network and make lifelong friends

Listen, I have 1,211 connections on LinkedIn. Someone my age has an average of 50 to 200. On the SLCs, you will meet so many people—from fellow council members to partners and staff of SADD, and beyond. I now have friends from all over the world, many of whom I’ve met up with while traveling and still stay in touch with. They have become like a family to me, and I can’t imagine a world where I don’t know them.

I’ve met so many professionals in the fields SADD is involved in, and they all care deeply about cheering me on and making sure I’m set up for success in my future. The relationships I’ve built through the SLCs have shaped who I am and where I’m going.

2. You build skills you can confidently apply to your everyday life

I am the person with the worst luck in airports—my luggage is lost, my flight is delayed, or I get stuck in Detroit, Michigan, or Istanbul, Turkey. So many of the skills I use in my everyday life I learned through my time with SADD. Working with people and learning how to collaborate when you have varying ideas, advocating for yourself and what you care about, and actually calling to make your doctor’s appointments (scariest of all, TBH) are just a few things I can confidently do now.

I can’t give you a set list of what skills you’ll build because it’s different for everyone, but I think one word sums it up: confidence.

3. You make a real impact, and that’s what every recruiter/employer wants

I’ve held about 15 different leadership positions in clubs and organizations from high school to college and have been hired for about six different jobs. When people see “SADD (State or National) Student Leadership Council” on your résumé, they see that:

A) You’re applying yourself outside of the classroom and beyond your local community

B) You’re involved with a nonprofit that helps save lives

People want to work and collaborate with individuals who are dependable and who care, and a line on your résumé that reads “SADD SLC” speaks more about your character than you’ll ever need to say yourself.

4. Leave with plenty of work samples

Whatever field you want to go into, there’s always a chance someone will ask for a work sample, and your time on the SLC gives you tangible pieces to leave with. SLC students have written blogs, created toolkits, designed social media posts, recorded videos, and more—the options are endless.

Most importantly, you’re creating real content that is actively used and shared. This isn’t spec work or an assignment that lives in your drive. You’re gaining hands-on experience you can confidently include in portfolios, applications, and interviews. The best part? Your work reflects your passions. Whether it’s safe driving or mental health advocacy, SADD is a huge supporter of doing what “drives” you (couldn’t resist that pun). Think of how marketable you’re making yourself.

5. SADD needs you to help save lives

Now more than ever, we need student leaders who want to step up and be a positive influence. With social media and technology constantly evolving, we need people who want to put an end to distracted driving. We’re still seeing the lasting effects of the pandemic, so we need new voices who care about mental health awareness. Vaping and underage drinking are taking over countless social events for young people, and we need individuals willing to speak out.

I am officially turning “unc” and don’t have as big of an influence as I did in high school. That’s why we need you—to help save people from making life-ending decisions.

Trust me, after being involved with an organization whose purpose is to encourage positive decisions, applying for the SLC was the most positive and best decision I’ve ever made. Small town, big city—it doesn’t matter where you come from, but what you’re passionate about. So do it. Apply. I would be sad in a world where I was never SADD.

Apply now: https://www.sadd.org/leadership