Cafe Victoria

Since finishing graduate school, I have been enjoying yoga, catching up on my television watching, hanging out with friends, and jumping in full speed into my role as the President-Elect of the CA Community College Student Affairs Association. The President-Elect position is similar to the vice president role. I am serving with a great group of fellow student affairs professionals. The best part is I’m forming friendships with all of them. It is so important for me to keep networking since I am a single person department which happens a lot on community college campuses. Since budgets are so small, many times, one person is managing student government and student activities. During our CCCSAA board bi-weekly conference calls, I share any challenges I might be facing with my students or the programs I am leading. Otherwise, I probably would not be calling out for help.

The one thing I am learning from this experience is I like being a mentor and helping new advisors become familiar with the field of Student Affairs and Student Life. This December will make it seven years in my role as the Coordinator of Student Life. As the President-Elect, I’ve taken on co-coordinating the professional conference in Napa next March, am in charge of the professional and student scholarships, and just finished with co-organizing the Advisor reception at the Student Senate Fall General Assembly. We had 60 advisors there! Adrienne, the President and Carlos, the Student Senate Liaison and I did an awesome job. We were able to create an experience for advisors to discuss hot topics, such as free speech and balancing work and life outside of work, and have fun networking at the same time.

I’ve also realized that for many years now, I have managed my office, advised student leaders and studied leadership. But this President-Elect experience will be my own personal leadership experience. So far, it’s a lot of fun!

This past weekend, I and seven other students attended the Fall General Assembly sponsored by the Student Senate of the CA Community College (SSCCC). It was held at the Double Tree Hotel in San Jose. My new favorite thing is Double Tree Chocolate Walnut cookies. Soo good! My other new favorite thing is this whole idea of the Student Senate General Assemblies. This was my first time attending the annual conference. I usually would send two students by themselves. This year, I decided to join them. I am really glad I did and that we sponsored more then just two students.

The Student Senate group of student leaders really impressed me. Through out the assembly, my students joined many other students from 74 out of the 110 community colleges to write resolutions, attend workshops, run for senator-at-large positions (there were 25 candidates alone!) and vote on 22 different resolutions. The resolutions address counseling needs such as more freshmen seminars, support towards equity and diversity regarding the Umoja Community and AB540 programs, decreasing international student fees, student involvement at the Board of Trustee level and Environmental/Sustainability issues. There were 6 resolutions alone addressing sustainability issues! My students alone presented 5 resolutions.

As I watch the students’ debate, take action and network across college campuses, I kept thinking that the media needs to be here. Today’s community college students are putting a new face to who the community college student is. The community college student is no longer lost or unmotivated. Today’s community college students are serious about their education. They are willing to learn and can be an inspiration for us all.

To find out more about the action being taken at the CA statewide level by community college students, visit the Student Senate web site at www.studentsenateccc.org

Celebrating: 1 year wedding anniversary!! One of the many highs today was eating the top layer of our wedding cake, which has been frozen in our fridge since the wedding night.  You would be surprised but ours tastes really good!!

Reading: Nancy Pelosi’s “Know Your Power”

Working on: the Save the Date flyers regarding the CCCSAA Professional Conference next March, and Scholarship applications to be handed out this coming weekend at our annual Student Leadership Conference in San Diego.

Balancing: House hunting, relaxing, and working evening events such as the weekly Presidental Debates.

Looking forward to: Maui!!

Thankful for: Matthias, our families, friends and Rock Band.

This past week there was no full moon but it sure felt like it to me. I had some lows but I also had some highs that I am really thankful for.
•    Playing the Wii Tennis and Baseball with my sister
•    Looking at all the great Victorian Houses around the streets of Cole Valley, San Francisco while catching up with Marta
•    Be reminded of how amazing Emmylou Harris and Shawn Colvin sound live in concert.
•    Enjoying a great dinner and company with Matthias at the Boon Fly Café between Napa and Sonoma and then getting to sneak into the still new Carneros Resort.
•    Being able to reach out to my Mom.