Name: Jeff L.
High School: Liberty High School
Grade: 12
Current JSA Position: JSA Pacific Northwest (PNW) Governor
Other JSA Positions You've Held: Greater Pacific Region (GPR) Mayor and Liberty High School Chapter Vice President
What motivated you to run for the position of governor, and what goals do you hope to achieve during your term?
I ran for governor because I saw it as the easiest way to impact JSA, an organization I've been involved in since day one of high school. I could impact our state operations and contribute on the national level, helping and developing other JSA states. The most significant goals I hope to achieve during my term would be to revive our previous large roster of chapters and connect Pacific Northwest (PNW) to the rest of the other JSA states. I hope through collaborating with my fellow governors, I can help delegates get to meet people from other JSA states and connect with National JSA.
As a member of the Council of Governors (CoG), how do you envision contributing to the growth and development of JSA on a national level?
This year, I get to work with our national director of chapter internal affairs, and together, we'll be able to work on a problem plaguing JSA pretty heavily since the pandemic. Through our work, we'll be able to help states retain and build new chapters, increasing our membership. Additionally, I'm looking forward to creating more connections with the other states so that the PNW can connect with the national JSA. I've been very fortunate to get to know a lot of the governors better than I thought I would, and I hope this can help with helping my delegates understand National JSA and participate more.
What do you wish every student knew about JSA that would encourage them to get involved?
Many organizations proclaim or offer student leadership, but JSA is one of the, if not the only, almost 100% student-led organizations. From the chapter level to the national level, most of the leadership is done by students, which empowers us to take action for our future. You can take the initiative to get involved by joining your state's cabinet, working your way up to director, being an elected official, or applying for a national director position. The opportunities for leadership in JSA are endless; if you intend to remain involved for some time, I recommend you pursue some. Through this leadership, you learn so many things, from running events to how to lead and work with people; these skills can be applied to other organizations you're involved in.
What extracurriculars or hobbies are you involved in outside of JSA?
One of the things that take up most of my time is swimming. I'm the captain of our school's varsity swim team, and I also taught swimming as my part-time job for a while. I've since moved on from teaching for a school to owning a swim business, offering private lessons to a diverse pool of clients. I'm also involved in our school's DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) program, and this past year, I placed fifth at nationals for my event. For fun, I enjoy playing music, both piano and the drums, and composing songs. I also enjoy going out with my friends, and while my schedule keeps me pretty busy, I always prioritize finding the time for them.
