What's involved in being a student council treasurer in high school?

I'm thinking about running for the treasurer position on my high school's student council. Can someone explain what the job actually involves? Is it a lot of responsibility, and do you need to be good at math?

The role and responsibilities of a student council treasurer can vary from school to school, but generally, there are a few tasks that are standard across the board.

First off, you would primarily manage the student council's budget. This involves maintaining financial records, tracking income and expenses, and providing reports on the council's financial standing to the rest of the student government. You might be responsible for helping to develop fundraising strategies to boost that budget and then see those plans through to their successful completion.

Second, you'd likely be involved in discussions about how to allocate the council's funds, especially when planning events or initiatives. You may be asked to provide insight regarding what is financially feasible given your budget.

The position does hold a fair amount of responsibility - after all, you'd be trusted with managing the funding that propels the student council's various activities and initiatives. Yet, while a basic understanding of math and financial concepts is beneficial, much of the work will involve more practical skills such as organization, attention to detail, and good communication. It's more important to be able to accurately track funds and make well-informed spending decisions than to solve complex equations.

Lastly, like any position on the student council, holding the role of treasurer requires commitment and dedication. You might find that campaigning for the position, and then fulfilling your duties if elected, takes up a significant amount of your time. But many find the experience rewarding and a valuable addition to their high school journey - not only do you get to make a tangible difference in your school community, it's also an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and gain experience in financial management.

Bear in mind too, that colleges often appreciate seeing leadership roles like this on your list of extracurricular activities. At schools like Dartmouth or UPenn, for example, where leadership and initiative are highly valued, such a role could be seen as a strong point in your application. Good luck with your decision!