Allan Hancock College student Emma Patterson is beginning her tread in the waters of politics. Patterson, a full-time Allan Hancock College student from Arroyo Grande, was sworn in as the new student trustee on Oct. 19. She’ll serve as a representative for Hancock students on the Board of Trustees until June 2011.
Patterson is a political science major, and she plans either to become a politician or to work in government.
“I think that it’s important to be involved in local politics because that’s where progress starts,” Patterson, 20, said in a press statement.
Patterson has been a huge part of the leadership program at the college, where she served as the student activities commissioner for the college’s associated Student Body Government during the 2010 spring semester.
“When I first got involved in the leadership program at Hancock, it was to make friends and also give back to the college,” she said in the statement. “But the more I learned, the more I realized that I truly have the power to change things for the better.”
She’s had a history of giving back. Diagnosed with leukemia at 2 years old, and in remission since she was 5, she says the experience taught her to be thankful.
“When you’re given a chance at life, it’s only naturally to want to help other people, too,” she said.
Before appointment to the Board of Trustees, Patterson had already been a longtime volunteer at the American Cancer Society’s Camp Reach for the Stars in Cambria.
She plans on creating a club on the college campus that will be dedicated to following local politics, which she plans to call “Follow Pol-Lo.” If the club starts, politicians and other people involved with local, county, and state government would be in demand to speak to the club.
Patterson wants to be a member of a board that will be accessible to the students.
“I want students to feel free to come up to me and let me know what’s important to them,” she said, “so that I can truly represent their interests.”
This week’s School Scene was compiled by Intern Henry Houston. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Nov 4-10, 2010.