![\"asgpres1-bw\"](\"http:\/\/sjcctimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/ASGpres1-BW-475x267.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The election is over and even though some students
\nare disappointed that the country decided against
\nelecting a woman president they can find comfort in
\nthe fact that San Jose City College did.
\n\u201cI voted for Luna because she understands what
\nis important,\u201d said Andrew Phelps, president of the
\nMental Health Client Association, a SJCC student
\norganization.
\nIn May, City College students elected Iriana Luna, a
\n20-year-old pre-med Latina, ASG president.
\n\u201cShe is completely invested and she is willing to
\nsacrifice her time for students,\u201d Director of Student
\nActivities David Sanchez said.
\nAs president, Luna encourages student involvement.
\n\u201cIf students don\u2019t see a club that they like they can
\ncreate one and we\u2019re always open to new clubs,\u201d Luna
\nsaid. \u201cThe clubs that are functioning are doing great
\nthings; SACNAS just won two national awards.\u201d
\nAs the eldest of her three siblings Luna is no stranger
\nto leadership. She starts her day at 3 a.m. on days she
\nworks and sleeps in until 5 a.m. on her days off.
\n\u201cSeeing how much my parents had to work, how
\nmuch they had to struggle, I can\u2019t complain,\u201d Luna
\nsaid.
\nLuna said her parents inspire her to work hard to
\npursue her childhood dream, a career in medicine.
\n\u201cEver since I was little, I wanted to be a doctor,\u201d
\nLuna said. \u201cYou don\u2019t really see a lot of Latino faces
\nwhen you go to the doctor.\u201d
\nApart from being president this semester Luna is
\ntaking physics, calculus and women\u2019s literature and
\nafter graduation Luna said she hopes to transfer into a
\nfour year institution.
\n\u201cI really want to study at UC Santa Cruz because
\nthey\u2019re one of the few campuses with community
\nstudies, which is what I want to study,\u201d Luna said.
\n\u201cI hope to begin working and volunteering more at
\nhospitals and community-based organizations.\u201d
\nWhen she\u2019s not at school or work, Luna said
\nspending time with her family is important.
\n\u201cI think it\u2019s crucial to do (spend time with family)
\nbecause they give me a lot of support,\u201d said Luna.
\n\u201cPlus it\u2019s great to hear what my siblings are doing, and
\nit\u2019s a refreshing time to relax.\u201d
\nLuna also likes to spend her free time outdoors,
\nreading and appreciating art.
\n\u201cIt helps keep me connected to beauty in the world
\naround us that we often times pass on,\u201d Luna said. \u201cI
\nenjoy reading memoirs because they help me grow in
\nhow I view the world. Paintings and drawings let me
\nimmerse myself into the vision of the artist.\u201d
\nFor young women aspiring to become leaders,
\nLuna has some words of wisdom.
\n\u201cI always remember what my parents told me
\ngrowing up. \u2018If something was easy then everyone
\nwould do it,\u2019\u201d Luna said. \u201cAs a leader sometimes
\nyou have to make difficult calls or have to be in
\nuncomfortable situations; however, there are very
\nfew people who put themselves in leadership roles so
\ndon\u2019t give up!\u201d
\nLuna encourages ladies to not be afraid to speak out
\nwhen decisions are being made.
\n\u201cTo be a leader, you must have the courage to do
\nwhat you believe is right,\u201d Luna said. \u201cDecision
\nmaking is something that as women we may feel
\nuncomfortable doing because of the societal norms;
\nhowever, we must break from this model and voice
\nour opinions. It is essential to do this with tact and
\ndiplomacy!\u201d
\nFinally, the most important piece of advice Luna
\nsaid she can give is to learn from others.
\n\u201cObserve and analyze the way other leaders,
\nboth men and women, handle situations and how
\nthey lead,\u201d Luna said. \u201cDon\u2019t ever think you know
\nit all; from every situation and every person there
\nis something to be learned.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The election is over and even though some students are disappointed that the country decided against electing a woman president they can find comfort in the fact that San Jose City College did. \u201cI voted for Luna because she understands what is important,\u201d said Andrew Phelps, president of the Mental Health Client Association, a SJCC…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":502,"featured_media":11244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[379],"tags":[],"staff_name":[665],"class_list":["post-11222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-showcase","staff_name-melissa-maria-martinez"],"yoast_head":"\n