“This article originally appeared in The Shield, the student newspaper of Westmont High School in Campbell, CA (Area B), and was written by a student leader. As Activities Directors, we often underestimate the influence and impact we have on our students. Laura Saldaña, the Area B Coordinator and Activities Director at Westmont, exemplifies this influence. I truly believe this piece could have been written about any of us who are working hard to be true culture heroes on our campuses.”
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At some point in our lives, we are all faced with one specific question: “What do you want to be when you’re older?” Some have difficulty answering this question, while others have specific or general ideas about what they want to do. What is important to note besides all is that it’s okay not to know what you want to do. Our lives are a sheet of paper which have only minimally been written on. You can try to pursue something and then determine that it isn’t right for you. You can write a new sentence at any moment. Many people eventually decide to pursue a career which they are passionate about. In many instances, our passions are influenced by an event(s) and, or person(s). As of now, I have a general plan for my future career. This plan is one in which I pursue something I am deeply passionate about and that passion has been positively influenced by many people and events. This career is that of a Teacher/Activities Director.
On July 7, 2022, I walked into room 46 at Westmont High School. This room at the time was the ASB Room and the room of Activities Director /ASB Teacher Laura Saldaña. This day will forever mark a special place in my heart and embedded memories that will run through my mind forever. ASB stands for “Associated Student Body and Government”. In the class are 65 students total along with the teacher, Mrs. Saldaña. These 65 students are split up about evenly between Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen and each member of ASB goes through an application process which consists of an application form, group interview, and individual interview, and eventually, the executive board along with Mrs. Saldaña thoroughly decide the members for the upcoming school year. When I applied as an 8th grader, I had no idea what ASB was except that it was fun and looks good for colleges from senior Matthew Taylor, a member then of ASB and current member during the 2024-2025 school year. After the application process I was accepted into the program and the rest is history. From my freshmen year to junior year which is my third consecutive year in the class, I have developed my qualities as an individual exponentially. From being a part of the Spirit Leaders at football games to being a member of the Athletic Recognition Committee, I’ve developed as a person; however, what has impacted me the most is the influences people and experiences have given me. Naturally, as underclassmen and generally as a younger individual, you look up to the people older than you and more often than not, the oldest available. As a freshman in ASB, that was the senior class. These people help lay out the ideas and foundation that reveal the amount of growth that one experiences throughout high school along with influencing the direction you will approach in high school. For me, the entire senior class set in stone my love for ASB which holds true to this day. This has and continues to grow during my time at ASB from all of the other classes in the program, both younger and older. Another part of ASB that has shaped my passion for staying involved in student leadership is the experiences. There is laughter and tears put into the class.
During the summer of 2023, I was invited to attend the CADA (California Activities Director Association) Conference (CADA Leadership Camp) for ASB. There were hundreds of ASB programs from all over the state and even a school from Canada. At the conference, I realized how much the ASB program means to me and how impactful it has been in my life. An interaction with the people running the conference in which they talked about my ASB director Mrs. Saldaña sparked an idea that I had never considered prior. The people running the conference told me that my teacher is known throughout the state by other Activities Directors and she is widely known to be one of the best at her job. The rest of the summer I realized how much Mrs. Saldaña does for the school and students and how impactful she has been in my life with the people she has introduced me to and the experiences has given to students. I want to pursue a career as an Activities Director because I want to be able to provide students with the same experiences, memories, and opportunities that I received as a student. I want to help students grow as people. I want them to thrive and succeed in life. Before becoming an Activities Director, Mrs. Saldaña was a history teacher, and at an opportunity, she became an Activities Director. I plan to do the same. I have a huge interest in Psychology and History and at the moment, both are up in the air for which subject to teach but the thing is determined, when the opportunity comes, I will become an Activities Director.
The journey to discovering our passions and career paths is a deeply personal and evolving process. It’s not about having all the answers right away, but rather about embracing the experiences, people, and moments that guide us along the way. For me, ASB and the profound influence of Mrs. Saldaña have illuminated my path toward becoming a teacher and Activities Director. Through the growth and opportunities I’ve experienced, I’ve realized the powerful impact student leadership can have on an individual’s life. I aspire to give future students the same memories and opportunities that have shaped me, fostering their growth and success just as others have done for me.
