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Ventura College Associated Student Government (ASVC) President Carlo Plascencia found his calling when he joined ASVC as its finance director in 2019. It was in this position that he discovered his passion for the legal field.

“When it comes to why I joined the student government, I thought about all the drastic changes within society that were happening, which motivated me to want to be a voice of the people,” he explains. “Something that I learned from my position is that not everything is as easy as it seems--there are a lot of processes. That is for anything in life, as it is not easy to predict outcomes. But if prepared and well-thought-out, the execution of anything can come out more positive.”

Carlo realized this lesson while trying to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been his biggest challenge as president so far. He’s highly aware of how the pandemic has reshaped how people live⁠—from adapting to an unorthodox schedule to not being able to see friends⁠—which helps guide his work.

As he looks back on the year, he talks about how both he and his peers supported each other with vital encouragement and a sense of solidarity. Carlo credits the accomplishments of the ASVC board to the collaborative efforts his team made to reach common goals for the good of all students.

“Serving as the president inspired me to try to really push for what students wanted, especially during these difficult times,” says Carlo. “It gave me a sense of honor because, at the end of the day, my fellow students chose me. Therefore, I am obligated to do the best for them.”

Currently, Carlo is working toward an associate degree in law and sociology. He will graduate this year and will transfer to UC Santa Cruz where he will major in legal studies.

In addition to ASVC, he is the president of Ventura College’s I.D.E.A.S. club, which centers on civil rights and social action. A natural advocate, Carlo plans to pursue a career in the legal field so he can represent people to the best of his abilities. Just as important for him is satisfying his thirst for knowledge and experience.

“Student government changed my life because it gave me a different perspective. I was never interested in joining clubs or associations, but once I did, it made my experience so much better. I saw that the work I was doing was going toward helping people or an establishment, which ultimately brought me joy.”