Sometimes it only takes recounting a joyful experience to profoundly impact one’s life. Just ask Marilyn Rubio, the newly-elected president of LSC-University Park’s Student Government Association (SGA). The experiences of those around her not only led her to LSC-University Park, but also to growing into one of the college’s active student leaders.

Rubio, who is entering her second year at LSC-University Park, comes from a large family of six children. It was her older sister, Ana Perez, whose success at LSC-University Park motivated Rubio to start her own educational journey at the college.

“Ana attended LSC-University Park and earned her associate degree. She always spoke very highly of the campus and the professors,” said Rubio. “When it was time for her to go on to university, she continuously wished she could take LSC-University Park with her. When I first stepped on campus, I knew it would be a great experience.”

Rubio had similar warm experiences in the classroom and in student life during her first year at LSC-University Park. Every group and registered student organization (RSO) with whom she met were both welcoming and helpful. She is grateful the RSOs work closely and brainstorm new ideas together.

“The past SGA vice president, Gabriela Gonzalez, would always talk about how fun SGA was,” Rubio said. “When she told me her SGA stories, they were always full of new friends and learning experiences. Ever since then, I just felt the need to be a part of the SGA team in any way that I could.”

Now, Rubio has been elected to lead SGA and plans to continue enriching student life at the college. She is committed to improving communications between students, faculty and staff, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. She wants the student organizations to focus on social media as a key communication tool.

“The thing that I know is we can lean on each other if we need it,” said Rubio. “Most of our lives will be online now; however, we still plan to support the students to the best of our abilities.”

In addition to her taking the SGA helm, Rubio was selected to be an LSC-University Park Ambassador for the 2020-21 academic year. In this role, she will serve, support, promote and represent LSC-University Park at select college functions – in many cases, virtually.

Rubio has big plans for her life, and she believes SGA will provide the trajectory needed for educational and life success. After earning her Associate of Science at LSC-University Park, she plans to attend the  University of Houston followed by medical school to study dermatology. She was inspired after seeing her younger brother’s acne improve after he saw a dermatologist.

“My brother is a changed man,” she added. “He’s out there and he is so confident. If I can keep just one teenager from going through the very visible and the almost-always embarrassing world of acne, that’s a win for me.”