Fall term is coming to a close, meaning it’s convention season, which is the best time of year. A weekend to get away from your normal life and hang out with your Jewish friends. But there’s always the looming election—or at least in my region, since we do board elections at conventions. I’ve served my fair share of terms on board but have also lost a few times, including a regional election, so I know how it hurts. The next few paragraphs will tell YOU exactly how to deal with losing an election.

1. Don’t be overconfident going in. It can be easy to believe you’ll win because of how you feel about your ideas, but in a contested election, it’s anyone's game. Obviously, though, be confident with your speech and really sell yourself, because you put in so much work to run. Leave everything in that room; this is YOUR moment.
2. Take some time to heal. It really does hurt to lose, even if not in the exact moment. Go home and have some comfort food, watch a funny movie, or go to the gym. Whatever helps you release tension and emotion, because it’s not good to keep that all inside.
3. Know your worth. It may feel like the end of the world in the moment, but it really is just an election. Losing doesn’t define you as a person, and it doesn’t make your proposed ideas any less great. You did the work and put yourself out there, which is much more than others will do. I’m sure you did amazing and are so much more than it.
4. Give the term your all. Whether you got elected in a dropdown or didn’t get on board, BBYO is still worth your time and energy. Keep showing up to events and do as much as you can. If you're in a lower position on board, great! Be the best board member you can be, as everyone is vital to the chapter and region’s success. If you didn’t get on, that’s okay too! Apply for convention steering, international opportunities, or just enjoy being a general member.

It’s so easy to feel defeated after losing a position that you worked so hard to run for, but sometimes in life, you don’t win. Keep enhancing your ideas and try again the next term, because it’s not worth it to give up. Enjoy every term you have, even if you lose sometimes, because you don’t have that much time in BBYO. Good luck!