Give me 10 difficult questions to ask based on the manifesto below
Spiderman once said, “With great power comes great
responsibility”. Therefore, with the power you give me, I will
make sure I use it responsibly. With those words ladies consider
yourselves greeted. My name is Ntokozo Zikalala.
I am humbled to stand before you as a candidate for RC Arts,
Culture, Diversity, and Secretary. I am a diligent, dedicated,
disciplined, and approachable individual who is committed and
takes pride in everything they do. I believe that I have leadership
skills because last year in my first year I was FCOM Arts,
Culture and Secretary and this year I am a corridor prime, and I
am part of various subcommittees, one of which is Arts and
Culture. Being part of the leadership team here at Res taught
me the importance of being a leader and I got a chance to learn
more about leadership and gained confidence. Given this opportunity, I would do my
utmost best to exceed your expectations.
To me, leadership means leading with integrity and ethics. It means making
decisions that benefit everyone and not just a few. Over the next year, I envision an
inclusive and proactive residence space. I pledge to uphold and protect our diverse
culture, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. I am
committed to promoting initiatives that celebrate and promote our residence culture,
arts, culture, and diversity ensuring that new ideas are welcomed. In my first year, I
realised that Arts and Culture is very near to my heart and from that moment I knew
what my journey in House Kestell would look like or at least how it would end which
is me being RC Arts and Culture. My first step of getting closer to my goal was
becoming FCOM Arts, Culture and Secretary this allowed me to fully experience the
portfolio. Since I’ve been working closely with my RC at that time it made me realise
you have to wholeheartedly love the portfolio. With my current RC Arts and Culture,
I’ve realised that she loved the portfolio, and it could be seen through her efforts and
that’s exactly what I have for the portfolio, love and passion.
The initiatives she had will be used as a foundation to build on the res culture she
developed and will be amplified and modified to my vision. I want to start an initiative
that will form part of our res culture and I hope it will continue to grow and be part of
House Kestell legacy even for years to come.
As RC secretary I will make sure I take proper and easy to read minutes, that the RC
team and the residence community can use for accountability and reflection. Be strict
and consult with the RC calendar with the help of the resident head and RC team to
keep the annual programme up to date. Promote a student community that practices a culture of having meetings that have agenda points and minutes regarding corridor,
subcommittee, and academic group meeting. Empower my subcommittees to be
future secretaries by creating sub- leadership structures such as my deputy and
First-year committee, that are capable of taking house meeting minutes, in my
absence. Indicate a balance effort and attention between the secretary and Arts and
Culture and Diversity portfolio, as they are both my portfolio. I will also collaborate
with RC media and marketing to develop a WhatsApp channel for and sharing house
meeting minutes and agenda points.
As a dedicated and passionate individual with a deep understanding of Arts and
Culture, Diversity, and Secretary, I am excited to run for the portfolio. In my first year
I was part of Ser and this year I also joined the house choir and the dance
competition, I was a secretary in the subcommittee of Acts and Environmental Affairs
and Strategies and Values, and it has taught me the value of teamwork, creativity,
and community spirit.
I believe in the power of student leadership to change our residence space and our
university experience. Together lets, make this coming year one of growth, creativity,
and fun.
Thank you.
1 answer
Based on the manifesto provided, here are 10 difficult questions that could be asked to challenge the candidate, Ntokozo Zikalala, and to encourage deeper reflection on their candidacy and plans:
Power Dynamics: You mentioned the importance of leadership with integrity and ethics. Can you give a specific example from your experience where you had to make a difficult decision that potentially put you at odds with your peers or other leaders? How did you handle the situation?
Inclusivity Measures: While you state the intention to create an inclusive environment, could you detail what specific actionable steps you would implement to ensure that all voices, particularly those of underrepresented groups, are not only heard but prioritized within House Kestell?
Long-Term Vision: You aim to create initiatives that will become part of the House Kestell legacy. What measures will you put in place to ensure the sustainability of these initiatives after your tenure, especially when working with changing leadership?
Conflict Resolution: Conflicts can often arise within residence communities. How would you approach a situation where members of your team disagree on the direction of an arts or culture initiative? Can you provide a specific conflict resolution strategy?
Engagement Strategies: Given your emphasis on increasing student involvement in cultural activities, how do you plan to engage students who may not initially be interested in the arts or cultural initiatives? What innovative strategies do you have in mind to attract a wider audience?
Accountability Mechanisms: You mentioned keeping proper and accessible minutes for accountability. How do you plan to ensure that minutes are not only read but also acted upon by the community? What follow-up systems will you implement?
Diversity vs. Uniformity: In promoting diversity, how will you ensure that this does not inadvertently lead to a sense of uniformity in cultural expression? How will you balance the promotion of a shared residence culture with the celebration of individual identities?
Resource Allocation: As you juggle the roles of Secretary and RC for Arts and Culture, how do you plan to prioritize your time and resources? If these two roles conflict, which would take precedence and why?
Feedback Mechanisms: How do you plan to solicit and incorporate feedback from the residents regarding your initiatives in arts and culture? Can you share an example demonstrating your commitment to receiving and acting upon resident feedback?
Personal Growth and Learning: Considering your journey so far, what do you consider your biggest failure as a leader in the past year, and what lessons have you learned that you would apply to your potential role as RC Arts, Culture, and Secretary?
These questions are designed to encourage critical thinking and evaluate the candidate's preparedness for the position they are vying for.
5 answers