Free Essay About Hong Kong Student Association Elections

The Hong Kong Student Association aims at promoting a culture of Hong Kong and facilitate the amelioration of the members’ lives. The participants of the elections are the active members who are admitted to the association without discrimination of their religion, sexual orientation, sex and color. The elections are held in every year unless in the case of an impeachment process for an elected leader as stipulated in the constitution. The campus politics just like the national politics involve numerous processes and intense campaigning since there is a competitor running for the same seat. The students’ unions have been attributed with many elections more than any other organization and as a leader in the elective post I was more focused on increasing the popularity of my candidacy and encouraging students to vote. This is because the elections in the campus present the first democratic process that the majority of the students are in, since the majority are underage to participate in the national politics. Therefore, this paper will focus on my participation in the elections of the Hong Kong Student Association, their connection to the national politics, lessons learned from the experience and explain why civic education is imperative.
As a candidate in an elective position, I understand the empowering roles involved in the representation of the students since one represents the student issues to the administration. With an understanding that some of the students have never participated in the democratic process I have to introduce these students in the democratic process and encourage them to participate in the elections. Elections are essential since they ensure that the student affairs are for according to the wishes of the students. In the past, leaders of the Hong Kong Student Association were elected based on their ideas, views and popularity and my present focus was the development of a manifesto that would express my ideas and views to the students. I understand my roles and responsibilities clearly as the student leader since I will have to present student concerns to the institution and also to the community, through support of student activities such as campaigns. My position would focus on the attainment of a social, educational and institutional changes.The student politics are highly related to politics since they involve the first stage through which people who later participate in the national democratic processes such as elections get a grasp of what they entail. Therefore, they play an imperative role in the inculcation of the essential civic education that enables them to participate in these processes effectively. In most of the cases, the majority of the participants are also involved in politics as young voters who comprise the largest number of voters. Therefore, the elections are much attached to politics. During the campaigns, there are numerous teachings aimed at educating the voters and encouraging them to participate in the democratic process since it is their legal right. It enables the students to change various issues affecting them in the institution such the course, library and houses of residents. Since the leaders are in the community activities, they also influence various community issues such as security, transportation and local council among other issues affecting the society. These issues are of great interest the local politicians and the students seek leaders with the ability to fight for their needs within the institutions and externally. They seek to elect a student representative system that can represent their plight.
The whole process has exposed me to numerous learning opportunities and understanding of political processes. I had to endure long campaign periods moving from one lecture hall to the other selling my ideas and views encompassed in the manifesto. In numerous cases, I had to make numerous stopovers on the walking paths expressing my interests to the students and why I was the right candidate for the position. I have been able to learn political processes and understanding of the importance of a democratic process. In most of the instances, I have learned that the majority of the participants in the campus are excited about the process since it is their first time to engage in the democratic process. Additionally, I have come to acknowledge that the ability of winning an election is the development of a manifesto that expresses one’s ideas and views effectively. The inability of a candidate to express their ideas and views reduces their popularity that results in the ultimate failure in elections. The ability of a candidate to express their views and ideas with optimism is essential if one is to win an election. The student elections also present an essential opportunity where young voters can attain civic education regarding political processes. The association comprises student from diverse communities presenting an essential opportunity for teaching the importance of diversity in the political systems.
Civic educations play an imperative role in the effective democratic system. It promotes public awareness and encourages eligible voters to engage in the democratic process. This is because there has been a general reluctance of voters to vote because of ignorance and various other factors and poor democratic systems. There has been concern that the US has experienced a decline in civic educations, which threatens the democratic process since the young people will have little knowledge of the importance of democratic processes. Civic education, especially in the US has experienced a significant decline with the majority of the young people discording political processes for various other activities such as volunteering. According to recent studies, students express that, rather than engage in the voting process, they would better engage in some other activities. Voting as an essential part of civic education enables the voters to study the candidates enabling them to understand each candidate and their suitability for the positions they are seeking. The voting process also involves understanding of the propositions, which are on the ballot. The voting process significantly affects governing of the student body through the election of the candidates to work for the students.
A good civic education encompasses the teaching of civic knowledge, civic skills that include intellectual and participatory skills and civic dispositions through formal instructions and informal curriculum. Civic education promotes and respects human rights where the dignity of the citizens is acknowledged. Civic education improves citizens’ understanding of the constitution, which forms the foundations of the American political system. Civic education promotes the ability of the citizens to know the values, principles and ideals set in the constitution. Therefore, the citizens can use these ideals, values and principles to judge the performance of the government or the ruling authority. The Hong Kong Student Association also has a constitution accessed by all members and it played an imperative role in improving participation of the students in the elections.