Long Beach City College students from the Associated Student Body and the latest John Fylpaa Leadership Institute cohort converged in the Nordic Lounge on Mar. 22 for the one-day Dr. Beverly O’Neill Student Leadership Conference.
The event featured a keynote session from former students and two breakout sessions that featured various topics on leadership, activism and student success.
It wrapped with an afternoon session of panelists who served in past ASB leadership positions.
“Being a leader is something that essentially comes naturally to me. The feeling of having someone look up to you knowing that they can trust you in a team setting is beyond empowering. However, it’s not about being that person people look at the answers for, but to step up and take initiative to provide those answers,” said Anaya Lewis, a second year health science major.
Lewis recalled exemplifying leadership traits early in life during her elementary school days.
“As early as fourth grade, I started a food campaign to end hunger for people in my community, as this was the first food drive my school at the time ever had. The following year during fifth grade, I was elected to be my school’s first president of our first student council,” said Lewis.
Lewis was one of 20 selected for the current JFLI cohort, which is a seven-month immersive program focused on leadership through community service hours and periodic retreats to develop practical leadership skills, connect with prominent city leaders and receive a transcript notation and recognition at the annual ASB banquet.
Dre Houston, a biology major and ASB student member, appreciated attending the one-day event he signed up for through the Viking Engagement site.
“The event is an immersion to gain some perspectives on leadership, but it’s also about networking,” said Houston.
Samuel Perez, President of the LBCC French Club and future transfer student to Cal State University of Long Beach, was also selected for the competitive JFLI cohort and scholarship.
“I want to tell future generations… get in touch with yourself, and most importantly, build your network,” said Perez as he recounted his academic journey over the years.
“This is my second major since 1986 when I was in university, and I am still in touch with the same mentors and network that help me when I have any questions or anything, or in need of a resource. Do this; that’s what I built,” said Perez.
Students can find upcoming student events from the LBCC calendar and peruse available ASB student clubs by visiting their LBCC single sign-on site and clicking on the Viking Engagement tile towards the lower part of the page.