Long Beach City college’s ASB President Jan Paolo Canteras moved to Long Beach from the Philippines in 2015 to pursue a better education and reconnect with his mother who he hadn’t seen in 10 years.
Canteras’ mother petitioned to bring him out of the poverty he was living in and closer to her in Long Beach.
After seeing LBCC in a local newspaper, Paolo decided to enroll for the Fall 2016 semester.
The 24-year-old said that the hardest part about moving was that he struggled with English.
“The English we learn in the Philippines is fourth grade level,” Canteras said.
After beginning school, the psychology and sociology major quickly decided that he needed to do something to help him adapt to the new culture surrounding him.
Cantera’s decided he wanted to join student life and found himself signing up to join The Order of Tong social club.
After getting a feel for student life at LBCC, Paolo decided to join the ASB cabinet as secretary for the 2017-2018 school year.
After completing his first year in the ASB cabinet Canteras was motivated to run for ASB President for the 2018-2019 school year.
As his term comes to an end now, Canteras says that his biggest accomplishment as ASB President was uniting the cabinet members from the Liberal Arts Campus and the Pacific Coast Campus.
There are representatives from different departments and Canteras had the idea to elevate their positions so they are in charge of the same department on both campuses.
Canteras also explained that he wanted to raise awareness for events on and around campus to increase the turnout.
“I feel like the event awareness and participation has been better around campus and I think that definitely goes hand in hand with the work our ASB President is doing,” LBCC student Manaia McCabe said.
In speaking about Canteras, Dr. Alisia Kirkwood Interim Dean of Student Affairs said, “He is a phenomenal student leader who takes feedback well because he recognizes that as an advocate for others he has a responsibility to learn and grow. ”
Canteras explains as ASB President he is often faced with questions from the student body.
“A lot of the previous presidents were really hesitant of talking to the Viking Newspaper, but I feel like it’s supposed to be a partnership… I have nothing to hide,” Canteras said.
Advice Canteras has for incoming students is, “Trust the process. It’s okay if you don’t know a lot when coming here, or if you have that sense of fear.”
In the fall, Canteras will be transferring to UC Riverside on a full scholarship to continue his studies.