INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Don't run for class president your first year out. Try one of the other positions, instead. If you're new at the school, try volunteering for a position that's not elected your first year, such as yearbook or newspaper. It will be a good way to get to know classmates and the school and gain experience before you run. You may also wish to start your own club or organization. Spearheading an initiative like this will allow you to stand out from the crowd as someone who is willing to invest his own time to improve the student experience. For example, if you like writing, run for secretary. If you're a leader, try president or vice president. It is best to attempt to win a position in which you will naturally excel. If you make reasonable pledges that are appealing to the majority of people, many of those same people will vote for you (for example, say you'll create a short break between classes during each day). However, don't pledge to do something you know you can't do, like getting rid of homework; most people won't believe you and those who do will be disappointed if you can't make it happen. Always be aware of the limitations of your office. You don't want to make promises now only to find out later that you don't have the authority. Most school elections give the candidates an opportunity to deliver a speech to their classmates. This speech will likely be one of the most important components of your campaign. Here are some tips for delivering a quality speech: When you make a speech, keep it short, and to the point. Tell the voters why you are the best candidate for the office you're running for. Speak clearly and stand confidently like you know you are deserving of the office you're seeking. When making a speech, don't try to plead, bribe, blackmail, or make promises you cannot fulfill. Know what you can and cannot do in the office you're seeking. Add humor to your speech. Don't lie. Be honest. If you make impossible promises you aren't able to keep, no one will vote for you in the future. Make hand gestures and move around your audience while making speeches. This will help keep their attention. If you get elected president, make all of your possible promises come true, and try to make a good one, so you can get elected once more. Make a note of the things you promised to do while campaigning. Tackle those issues one by one, checking off your initiatives as you go. Be prepared to fight for something you promised the student body. Perhaps you said you would try to increase the amount of time between classes, but the school's administration says it can't be done. Don't just give up. Ask questions of the administration and challenge any inconsistencies in their explanation. Your classmates voted for you so that you could represent them. Even if you can't get them what they want, you can at least say you tried your best.

SUMMARY: Start small. Recognize your strengths and interests. Make pledges. Prepare and deliver a quality speech. Follow through.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In order to study for a nursing school entrance exam, you need to know which test you will be taking. The most common nursing school entrance exams are: National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (NLN PAX) Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET) Nursing school entrance exams are different. Knowing the parameters of each test will allow you to focus on specific areas while studying. For example, the HOBET exam gauges your social skills and ability to cope with stress while the TEAS test is simply gauging your basic math, reading and science skills. You can purchase study materials from any reputable bookstore or online resource. Ask the academic advisor at your prospective school for any recommendations for study guides. Use these materials to make flash cards and notes and absorb as much about the test material as possible. Also, you can form study groups if you know other people who are preparing for the same test. as much as possible before the exam. Nursing school entrance exams are content driven, which means that they will test what you already know or should know. Techniques that can be successful for studying content include memorization, using acronyms, and using associations. Another type of studying is "chunking," which is breaking a large amount of material down into smaller units instead of trying to absorb everything at once. Avoid cramming. Make sure you give yourself enough time to study. If you have already worked and volunteered in the field, you will likely already know a lot of the information, but don't use that as an excuse to wait to the last minute to study. We've all heard the phrase "practice makes perfect." Find a practice test for the type of nursing school entrance exam you will be taking online, in your study guide or at a local community center or college. Taking this practice test can help you identify areas in which your performance was weak and fix it before taking the actual exam. Take as many different practice tests as you can, as they will cover different material. If you identify areas of weakness, spend additional time studying this material and seek out the help of a tutor. Arrange an exam date that will give you plenty of time to study, but will also allow you to submit your application materials, along with the test score, to your prospective school before the submission deadline. It is wise to check your calendar and make sure you do not have any scheduling conflicts on the day of your exam or in the days that immediately precede it. Preparation is a huge part of success on standardized tests and your will want to be sure you have the days leading up to exam free for study and preparation.

SUMMARY:
Identify which exam you need to take. Know the nuances of that exam. Acquire the necessary materials and support. Study Take practice exams. Schedule the exam.