Jasmine Minchez spent the past year learning the ins and outs of student leadership from former Associated Student Organization President Gayane Zazyan. Now, Minchez is following in Zazyan’s footsteps, while bringing her unique perspective to the role of ASO president.
“I had a really great role model,” Minchez said. “I saw in our president last year that she took an initiative in a lot of new things. So, instead of just the daily responsibilities that I think any person can do with an ASO, I saw her really step out of the box to try new events, like reach out to professors, just really enforce creating community. I also want to do the same thing, with just trying new things for Pierce and ASO so more students can know about it.”
Minchez started as an ASO senator in the second semester of her first year. She went on to become vice president in her second year. As ASO president for this school year, Minchez said she wants to help students make the most out of their community college experience.
“Community college often has this rep of being very transient, and it’s a big transition stage. So I just want to make sure that when you’re here, you’re making the most of it,” Minchez said.
ASO Vice President Chloe Bassirat said she believes Minchez has the passion to be president.
“She’s very innovative when it comes to creating ideas and coming up with things that help ASO,” Bassirat said.
Student Engagement Coordinator and Counselor Lara Conrady Wong said she knows that Minchez has the right experience for the role of president.
“She comes with some experience because of her position last year as vice president. So it’s like the training curve is really short for her, because she already knows what to expect,” Conrady Wong said.
One of the roles Minchez focuses on as president is to advocate for the students on campus.
Minchez works to ensure that there is a student in the room at every meeting, because she said students need to give their input too and be the voice for their peers.
“I hope that all students feel assured that ASO is doing their best to represent an advocate for students on our campus,” Wong said.
Minchez hopes ASO continues to grow after current students and staff leave. As for current students, she wants to support them as they fulfill their goals.
“I’m looking forward to seeing where everybody goes,”Minchez said. “Because the whole point of us being here is to grow our dreams.”
