Siman Nuurali - Sadiq and the Big Election

Hi, Im Sadiq! My family and I live in Minnesota, but my parents are from Somalia. Sometimes we speak Somali at Home.

Id like you to meet my family and learn some interesting facts and words from our culture.

• Somali people come from many different clans.
• Many Somalis are nomadic. That means they travel from place to place. They search for water, food, and land for their animals.
• Somalia is mostly desert. It doesnt rain often there.
• The camel is an important animal to Somali people. Camels can survive a long time without food or water.
• Around ninety-nine percent of all Somalis are Muslim.

Sadiq walked into class on Friday morning. Some kids were standing in groups talking about their plans for the weekend. Others were settling into their chairs when Ms. Battersby came in.

Okay, everyone, please be seated! said Ms. Battersby. I have an exciting announcement. Do you know what are?

Sadiqs friend Manny raised his hand.

Its when you vote for someone to do something, Manny said.

Good answer, Manny! said Ms. Battersby. We vote for people to be leaders. Next week, we will be having our own elections. Our class will have a student .

Thats awesome! said Manny.

Yes, Manny, it is, said Ms. Battersby. Our student government will have four different roles, including . Does anyone know what the president does?

They run the world! said Zaza.

Not quite, Zaza, said Ms. Battersby, smiling.

Zaza shrugged and smiled back.

A president leads the government in making rules to help people, Ms. Battersby said. The U.S. government makes rules for the country. The student government makes rules for the class. We will have a will help the president lead.

Student government sounds like a lot of work, said a shy girl named Suliat.

Can we choose to be what we want? asked Aadya.

You can run for what you like, Aadya, Ms. Battersby said. But people have to vote for you. And Suliats right. It can be a lot of workand a lot of fun!

I want to be in charge so I can cancel school, said Owen, laughing.

Nice try, Owen, said Ms. Battersby, shaking her head. That is not what government is for. You have to try and make things better. You cant use it to cancel things.

Ms. Battersby explained how voting would work. The students could submit their names for the election next week.

The kids were still chatting excitedly as they took out their books for the science lesson.

Salaam, Hooyo! said Sadiq, walking in the door after school.

Salaam, Sadiq, said Hooyo. How was your day, qalbi?

It was great! said Sadiq. Ms. Battersby said we will have elections for student government. I am thinking about running.

What do you want to run for? asked Hooyo.

I havent decided, said Sadiq. There are four spots. President, vice president, treasurer, and secretary.

Well, those all sound great, said Hooyo. She finished writing a and pointed to an envelope on the table. Hand me that, please.

What are you mailing, Hooyo? asked Sadiq.

I am paying the electric bill, she replied. These are our bills for the month. I send checks to cover the cost.

Is it really hard to do? asked Sadiq.

It can be if I dont well, said Hooyo.

What does it mean to budget? asked Sadiq.

I calculate all our bills for the month, said Hooyo. She placed the check in the envelope as she explained.

I make sure we have enough money to pay them. I also try to save a little every month. Thats why your baba and I go to work. We use the money we earn to take care of our family. Hooyo smiled at Sadiq.

Budgeting sounds like a hard job, said Sadiq. Is that what a treasurer does?

Yes, it is, qalbi, said Hooyo. Is that what you want to run for?

I was thinking about it, said Sadiq, tilting his head. But now I am not so sure. I like math. But Im not interested in budgets.

Well, thats okay, said Hooyo. You can run for one of the other positions.

Ill think about it, said Sadiq. Thanks, Hooyo.

Sadiq went upstairs to talk to his sister, Aliya. Maybe she would have some advice. When he got to her room, she was watching a video on her tablet.

What are you watching? he asked.

Its for my history class, replied Aliya. I have to take notes and write a report.

Sadiq flopped on his sisters bed. He liked Aliyas room. The green color on the walls reminded him of the soccer field.

Aliya stopped working. Whats going on with you? she asked.

I want to run for student government, he said. I thought about being treasurer. But now Im not sure.

How about secretary? asked Aliya. You could take notes for all the meetings.

Is that what a secretary does? asked Sadiq, frowning.

Aliya nodded. It helps keep a record of decisions the group makes. I like taking notes for my homework. It helps me remember what Im learning.

I dont want to take notes all the time. My hand would get tired! said Sadiq. I dont think I want to be the secretary.

You will run out of positions soon, said Aliya, grinning.

I have two more I can think about, said Sadiq. He tossed a pillow at his sister.

Sadiq! shouted Aliya, laughing.

Sadiq went to the room he shared with his brother, Nuurali. He turned on the computer to do some research. Sadiq wanted to learn about presidents.

Sadiq learned that presidents listen to what people need. He learned that presidents sign laws. He learned that presidents try to make things better for everyone. That sounded great to Sadiq!

I think I want to run for president, he whispered to himself.

It was a bright, sunny morning as Sadiq walked to school. He saw Zaza ahead of him and ran to catch up. Soon Manny joined them too.

I am really excited about student government, said Sadiq. I wonder whos going to run.

I think it would be a lot of fun, said Zaza. Are you guys going to run?

Well, I Sadiq started.

Im running for president! interrupted Manny. I think I would make a really good one.

Sadiq was surprisedand worried. Could he run against Manny? Would they still be friends? Maybe he shouldnt run for president after all.

I talked to my baba, and he thinks I would be great! Manny continued.

Were you going to say something, Sadiq? asked Zaza.