I never expected to join student government when I came to Scripps, but I am now approaching my final college semester and serving as the student body president of Scripps Associated Students (SAS).
I began my journey in the spring of 2023 when I was appointed to the role of Vice President of Student Activities (VPSA) after the previous position holder went abroad. Usually, students come into their positions based on the result of an election that happens in late March/early April of every school year, so this was an unconventional situation.
I served as the VPSA through the spring 2024 election, when I ran for President. I decided to run for this position because I love this campus and wanted to do everything I could to make it a wonderful environment for the student body.
SAS hosts both 1C and 5C events, and we recently had our first off-campus 21+ event- it was quite successful. We also work on initiatives to benefit our campus, and I meet regularly with administration and faculty members. Positions like the Faculty-Staff Relations Chair and the Diversity and Inclusivity Chair strive to make real change by forming relationships with staff members and affinity group leaders, respectively, while the class presidents build community with their peers.
As President, I manage the student government and provide guidance and leadership. I see it as my job to ensure that we are on task and motivated to support Scripps. I am particularly proud of our renovation of the Student Union, a Scripps-only space above our dining hall that was looking quite bare-walled and sterile before we cleaned it. Then, our Student Organizations Commissioner and Community Building Chair hosted art-making events, bought posters and lamps, and I contributed a new ping-pong table with my budget in order to make the Student Union feel as homey and inviting as possible. Since our makeover, we have seen an increase in activity in the space and have received positive feedback from our student body. I am glad that SAS was able to come together to make positive changes on our campus, and I am excited to see what the next semester brings.