Sammy for Treasurer

The scariest part about running for office definitely has to be the speech. After a week of campaigning at school the time had come. I snuck over to hear it for myself and I'm so happy I did. I was waiting in the library when Sam came in and I immediately knew she was upset. Before school started her friends were messing around and pulled her french braid out. I could see her un-raveling before my eyes. I quickly rebraided her hair and gave her a hug.
Before she knew it, it was her turn. I was crawling out of my skin with nervousness for her. Like I said before, never would I have done this! She stepped right up to the podium.

They do it by video and it broadcasts to every classroom in the school.

She wrote her own speech. It had to be less than a minute.

Hi, my name is Samantha Woodard and I'm running for Treasurer. If I get voted for Treasurer I will try my best to be a good officer. I will try to be at every meeting and event I can. I will try to go to school every day and do my job. Because character counts and I will do that. It's a great opportunity to just get to run for Treasurer. But remember, you can count on me because it just makes cents.

She was done and looked up and gestured me over as she walked away. I went over to her and her big brown eyes were welling up with tears. "Are you okay?" I asked her. "I was so scared mom!" And my eyes also welled up because I was so proud of her. We hugged for longer than her speech was and then she went back to support the rest of the kids that had to give their speeches.

Alas, she didn't win. And she was heartbroken. And she told me that she will try again next year. You go Sammy!

When the winners were announced Monday morning and Megan heard that she hadn't won, she got permission from her teacher to go check on Sammy. Sammy's teacher let her out of class for a minute and Megan held her while she cried. And got her tissues TWO times. I love these two.