Destiny Hallenbeck’s farewell to College Democrats
Dear College Democrats of New York,
It has been a true honor to serve as your President over the past eighteen months. Everything we have accomplished over that time span is remarkable but should not be a surprise. I learned quickly as president the passion College Democrats of New York have for making substantive positive change in our world. That energy is infectious and is a testament to the power that our generation will have in the decades to come.
51,723 calls. 78 phone banks. 26 candidates. 30 chapters.
College Democrats made 51,723 calls this election cycle for Democrats up and down the ballot. We won the White House. We won a supermajority in the New York State Senate. Every College Democrat should be incredibly proud of that. Not only did we work our butts off to elect Democrats, we held elected officials accountable for their actions. We can sleep well at night knowing we were and remain to be on the right side of history.
Throughout my presidency, I stressed that College Democrats was a family. No matter how hard we worked, at the end of the day, we needed to treat each other well. If we did not care about each other, our electoral feats were not going to be possible. I hope you can pass this message on to other endeavors and campaigns you will be a part of. We work feverishly to elect Democrats but at the end of the day, we need to uphold the values of our party in every facet.
Furthermore, the only qualification that I asked for within College Democrats of New York leadership was a passion for electing Democrats and a work ethnic needed to make our goals a reality. You did not need to go to a private school or have political connections. If you were willing to work hard, it did not matter how much money or experience you had. I believe this is what sets us apart from our counterparts. We are not the party of elites. College Democrats of New York opens doors for so many to politics. We need to continue to stay inclusive and welcoming to all who believe in Democratic values.
During my two years in College Democrats of New York, my life has changed in more ways than I can describe. I am incredibly grateful for the friends and mentors I have met along the way. It has been a true pleasure serving as your president. Continue to put in the work and advocate for positive change.
In Solidarity,