John C. Van Norman President, Key Club Troy, Michigan

MOST IMPORTANT!!!!!! Do not, under any circumstances, try to make yourself appear to be somebody you're not... Not only do people see right through it, but it makes you look like a fool when they do.

Shannon Hinkle Class President Clarksville, Indiana

It's best for a student to be him or herself when running for an office. If a person takes on a different personality while running, it shows that this person isn't very sincere.

Matt Litz President Bellwood, Pennsylvania

My co-President and I got to our positions by just acting naturally during the election. We acted like ourselves and didn't make any false promises. We made only realistic promises that we could keep, i.e., if any of the group members needed any information that they missed or wanted, I said that they could come to me at any time and any place and I would give it to them. I kept that promise and was always real, not fake.

Vanessa Harrison Co-President, Minneapolis Urban League African American Student Organization Minneapolis, Minnesota

Well, my friend thought for sure she was going to win the position of President and she didn't. The reason she didn't is because she was one of those types who always had to be right or knew everything. And everybody liked her -- or so she thought -- but they didn't all vote for her. She tried too hard to be everybody's friend. Sometimes she doesn't act like herself, she puts on a show. That is the reason the other person won. You have to totally be yourself, and people will like you and accept you for who you are.

Christy Wadley Voter Athens, Michigan

First of all, the people to be elected MUST come across real. They have to be genuine. None of those ugly, fake smiles like people do when they wanna be elected. They have to be somewhat cool, dress casual but nice at the same time, and during a speech, give the audience a feeling of relation to the speaker -- like they're one of them.

Michael Crosswhite Voter Belleview, Florida

Be yourself. People can see right through you when you're acting.

Kenneth G. Pittman State Mu Alpha Theta Treasurer Knoxville, Tennessee

You need to be truthful... otherwise people think you're fake and that really doesn't help you win. Be yourself, otherwise, people think your speech is fake, and then they start to think that the things you promise or hope to change won't happen... and you'll lose.

Julie Cameron Voter Canton, Michigan

I won the Secretary race at a school I had only been at for one year. The main thing needed to win a school election, I think, is an honest and sincere campaign. You need to know what the students want and you cannot be judgmental of people who are not like you. Through all of it, I have gained a lot of friends who are all so different.

Katie Straw Student Body Secretary Fort Smith, Arkansas

Don't promise things you can't deliver and don't say things just because you think it's what others want to hear. You'll be appreciated so much more if you're an honest person.

Shaneen Rowe SGA Executive Board Member Rochester, New York

Be honest and truthful about what you can actually do once you're in office, don't just say what you think they want to hear and then not fulfill your promises. Nobody likes a liar, and everyone can tell when you're just going through the motions and don't really believe in what you're saying.

Amanda Doss FBLA Treasurer Bossier City, Louisiana

The most important thing that people can do is have a passion for their subject. I would have to say the winners at my school were almost always the people who had a genuine passion for what they were running for.

Lindsey Sherline Voter Beverly Hills, Michigan

I believe that the most important thing is to be honest. If you are running for an office and someone asks you your opinion about a topic, give it to them honestly, even if your viewpoint doesn't happen to agree with theirs or with the majority of your school's. People will respect you for not lying to them to get their vote.

Sean Carano Class President Maple Heights, Ohio

I find that the most important aspect of any candidate is how sympathetic and compassionate he/she is rather than how intelligent, powerful, or persuasive. The best candidate is somebody the students can relate to -- which usually is NOT the most elite and popular one.